Bonanza Creek Energy,Inc. false 0001509589 --12-31 0001509589 2021-11-01 2021-11-01

 

 

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): November 1, 2021

 

 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-35371   61-1630631

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

410 17th Street, Suite 1400

Denver, Colorado

  80202
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (720) 440-6100

Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.

(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:

 

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(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share   CIVI   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 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). 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. ☐

 

 

 


Introductory Note

On November 1, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly named Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (the “Company”), completed (i) its previously announced “merger of equals” with Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Extraction”), pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 9, 2021, by and among the Company, Raptor Eagle Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Raptor Eagle Merger Sub”), and Extraction (as amended, the “Extraction Merger Agreement”), and (ii) its previously announced acquisition of CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Crestone Peak”), pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 6, 2021, by and among the Company, Raptor Condor Merger Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 1”), Raptor Condor Merger Sub 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 2”), Crestone Peak Resources LP (“CPR”), Crestone Peak, Crestone Peak Resources Management LP and Extraction (the “Crestone Merger Agreement” and together with the Extraction Merger Agreement, the “Merger Agreements”) (collectively, the “Closing”). Upon consummation of the Extraction Merger, the Company changed its name from “Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.” to “Civitas Resources, Inc.” On November 2, 2021, the first trading day following the Closing Date, common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Company Common Stock”) began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the new name and new ticker symbol “CIVI.”

Extraction Merger

Pursuant to the Extraction Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Extraction Merger (as defined below) (the “Extraction Merger Effective Time”), (i) Raptor Eagle Merger Sub merged with and into Extraction (the “Extraction Merger”), with Extraction continuing its existence as the surviving corporation as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company following the Extraction Merger (the “Extraction Surviving Corporation”), (ii) each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Extraction (the “Extraction Common Stock”) issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time was converted into the right to receive 1.1711 shares of Company Common Stock for each of share of Extraction Common Stock (the “Extraction Exchange Ratio”), with cash paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, if any, and (iii) each holder of Extraction Common Stock received a total dividend equalization payment, as part of the Extraction Merger consideration, of approximately 0.017225678 shares of Company Common Stock per share of Extraction Common Stock related to the Company’s June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2021 dividends, with cash paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, if any. Following the Extraction Merger and prior to the Crestone Peak Merger (as defined below), persons who were stockholders of Extraction immediately prior to the Extraction Merger owned approximately 50% of the combined company and persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the Extraction Merger owned approximately 50% of the combined company.

Additionally, pursuant to the Extraction Merger Agreement, at the Extraction Merger Effective Time, each outstanding award of restricted stock units (including those subject to performance-based vesting conditions) issued pursuant to Extraction’s 2021 Long Term Incentive Plan

 

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(the “Extraction Equity Plan”) that was outstanding immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time and that by its terms did not settle by reason of the occurrence of the closing of the Extraction Merger (each, an “Extraction RSU Award”) was assumed by the Company and converted into a number of restricted stock units with respect to shares (rounded to the nearest number of whole shares) of Company Common Stock (such restricted stock unit, a “Converted RSU”) equal to the product of the number of Extraction Common Stock subject to the Extraction RSU Award immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time multiplied by the Extraction Exchange Ratio, effective as of the Extraction Merger Effective Time.

As of the Extraction Merger Effective Time, each Converted RSU continued to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including vesting and forfeiture) that were applicable to the corresponding Extraction RSU Award immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time. However, any Extraction RSU Award subject to performance-based vesting conditions continued to be measured pursuant to the same terms and conditions of the underlying Extraction RSU Award in effect as of immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time. In addition, Converted RSUs subject to performance-based vesting conditions held by certain Extraction executives provide that, in the event such individual’s employment is terminated for death, disability, by the Company for any reason other individual for good reason, in each case, on or within twelve months following the Closing Date, the portion of such individual’s Converted RSU subject to performance-based vesting conditions shall, effective as of such individual’s termination date, immediately vest in full based on deemed achievement of any applicable performance goals at the maximum level of performance. Further, effective as of immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time, each award of deferred stock units granted under the Extraction Equity Plan and held by a member of the Extraction board who is not a designee of Extraction for appointment to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) as of the Extraction Merger Effective Time immediately vested in full.

Additionally, at the Extraction Merger Effective Time, in accordance with the terms of (i) the Extraction Tranche A warrants to purchase Extraction Common Stock, issued pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement by and between Extraction and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as warrant agent, dated as of January 20, 2021 (the “Tranche A Warrants”), and (ii) the Extraction Tranche B warrants to purchase Extraction Common Stock, issued pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement by and between Extraction and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as warrant agent, dated as of January 20, 2021 (the “Tranche B Warrants,” and, together with the Tranche A Warrants, the “Extraction Warrants”), that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time, were cancelled and the Company executed a replacement warrant agreement for the Tranche A Warrants and a replacement warrant agreement for the Tranche B Warrants (each, a “Replacement Warrant Agreement”) and issued to each holder of the Extraction Warrants a replacement warrant (each, a “Replacement Warrant”) that is exercisable for a number of shares of Company Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Company Common Stock that would have been issued or paid to a holder of the number of shares of Extraction Common Stock into which such Extraction Warrant was exercisable immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time. Each Replacement Warrant has an exercise price as set forth in the applicable Replacement Warrant agreement, subject to adjustment as set forth therein.

The Replacement Warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time on or before 5:00 p.m., New York time, on (x) January 20, 2025, in the case of the Replacement Warrants for the Tranche A Warrants, or (y) January 20, 2026, in the case of the Replacement Warrants for the Tranche B Warrants. The number shares of Company Common Stock for which a Replacement Warrant is exercisable, and the exercise price of such Replacement Warrant, are subject to customary adjustments from time to time upon the occurrence of certain events, including the payment of in-kind dividends or distributions, splits, subdivisions or combinations of shares of Company Common Stock. A holder of a Replacement Warrant, in its capacity as such, is not entitled to any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company, except to the extent expressly provided in the applicable Replacement Warrant agreement.

Crestone Peak Merger

Pursuant to the Crestone Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Crestone Peak Merger (as defined below) (the “Crestone Merger Effective Time”), (i) Merger Sub 1 merged with and into Crestone Peak (the “Merger Sub 1 Merger”), with Crestone Peak continuing its existence as the surviving corporation as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company following the Merger Sub 1 Merger (the “Crestone Surviving Corporation”), and (ii) subsequently, the Crestone Surviving Corporation merged with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Merger Sub 2 Merger” and together with the Merger Sub 1 Merger, the “Crestone Peak Merger” and together with the Extraction Merger, the “Transactions”), with Merger Sub 2 continuing its existence as the surviving entity as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Crestone Surviving Entity”).

 

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Pursuant to the Crestone Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger Sub 1 Merger (the “Merger Sub 1 Merger Effective Time”), the shares of Crestone Peak common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Crestone Peak Common Stock”) (excluding shares of Crestone Peak Common Stock held by Crestone Peak as treasury shares or by the Company or Merger Sub 1 immediately prior to the Merger Sub 1 Merger Effective Time), issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Merger Sub 1 Merger Effective Time were converted into the right to collectively receive 22,500,000 shares of Company Common Stock (the “Crestone Peak Merger Consideration”). In addition, at the effective time of the Merger Sub 2 Merger (the “Merger Sub 2 Merger Effective Time”), each share of common stock of the Crestone Surviving Corporation issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Merger Sub 2 Merger Effective Time was automatically cancelled and each unit of Merger Sub 2 issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Sub 2 Merger Effective Time remained issued and outstanding and represents the only outstanding units of the Crestone Surviving Entity immediately following the Merger Sub 2 Merger.

The Crestone Merger Agreement does not provide for specific treatment of equity compensation awards in connection with the Crestone Peak Merger. Certain Crestone Peak employees held profits interest and phantom equity awards based upon the Class B units of CPR vested in connection with the Crestone Peak Merger under the terms and conditions of the governing equity compensation plans. No employees received settlement payments with respect to any outstanding profits interests, but the outstanding phantom equity awards vested in connection with the Crestone Peak Merger and certain Crestone Peak employees received an aggregate amount of approximately $1.5 million in cash for settlement with respect to the outstanding phantom equity awards in connection with the Crestone Peak Merger.

Following the completion of the Extraction Merger and the Crestone Peak Merger, persons who were stockholders of the Company, Extraction and Crestone Peak immediately prior to the Crestone Peak Merger own approximately 37%, 37% and 26% of the combined company, respectively.

The foregoing description of the Merger Agreements, the Replacement Warrant Agreements and the Transactions does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreements, which are attached as Exhibit 2.1 and Exhibit 2.2 hereto, and the Replacement Warrant Agreements, which are attached as Exhibit 10.1 and 10.2 hereto.

The foregoing description of the Extraction Equity Plan and the Extraction RSU Awards is a summary only, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Extraction Equity Plan and the form of Extraction RSU Award, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

The events described in this Current Report on Form 8-K took place in connection with the completion of the Transactions.

For additional information about the Merger Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Transactions, please read the Company’s proxy statement/prospectus dated September 28, 2021 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 28, 2021 (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”).

 

Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Amended and Restated Company Credit Agreement

Contemporaneously with the Crestone Merger Effective Time, in connection with the Transactions, the Company, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), and a syndicate of financial institutions, as lenders, entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021 (the “New Credit Agreement”) having an Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) of $2.0 billion. The New Credit Agreement, among other things: (i) increases the aggregate elected commitments to from

 

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$400.0 million to $800.0 million, (ii) increases the available borrowing base from $500.0 million to $1.0 billion, (iii) extends the maturity date of the New Credit Agreement to November 1, 2025 and (iv) amends the borrowing base adjustment provisions such that, between borrowing base determinations, downward adjustments related to the incurrence of certain permitted indebtedness will only take into account such indebtedness that exceeds $500.0 million through April 2022 and, thereafter, if the Company’s pro-forma leverage ratio is less than 1.50:1. Under the New Credit Agreement, the Company’s credit facility will be guaranteed by all restricted domestic subsidiaries of the Company including by the Extraction Surviving Corporation, the Crestone Surviving Entity, and all their respective subsidiaries, and will be secured by first priority security interests on substantially all assets, including a mortgage on at least 90% of the total value of the proved oil and gas properties evaluated in the most recently delivered reserve reports prior to the amendment effective date, including any engineering reports relating to the oil and gas properties of the Extraction Surviving Corporation, the Crestone Surviving Entity, their respective subsidiaries, of each of the Company, all restricted domestic subsidiaries of the Company, the Extraction Surviving Corporation and the Crestone Surviving Entity, in each case, subject to customary exceptions.

The foregoing description of the New Credit Agreement is a summary only, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the New Credit Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Supplemental Indentures

In connection with the entry into the New Credit Agreement, the Company, the Extraction Surviving Corporation, the Crestone Surviving Entity, and all of the respective subsidiaries of the Extraction Surviving Corporation and the Crestone Surviving Entity (the “New Guarantors”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (“Computershare”), entered into a first supplemental indenture (the “5.000% First Supplemental Indenture”), dated November 1, 2021, to that certain indenture, dated October 13, 2021 (the “5.000% Indenture”), between the Company, the guarantors party thereto and Computershare, pursuant to which the New Guarantors agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Company’s 5.000% Senior Notes due 2026 and the 5.000% Indenture.

Additionally, in connection with the entry into the New Credit Agreement, the Company, the New Guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (“US Bank”), entered into a second supplemental indenture (the “7.500% Second Supplemental Indenture” and together with the 5.000% First Supplemental Indenture, the “Supplemental Indentures”), dated November 1, 2021, to that certain indenture, dated April 1, 2021 (as amended, the “7.500% Indenture”), between the Company, the guarantors party thereto and US Bank, pursuant to which the New Guarantors agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Company’s 7.500% Senior Notes due 2026 and the 7.500% Indenture.

The foregoing description of the Supplemental Indentures is a summary only, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Supplemental Indentures, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Registration Rights Agreements

Kimmeridge Registration Rights Agreement

As previously announced, concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Extraction Merger Agreement, the Company and Kimmeridge Chelsea, LLC, an affiliate of Kimmeridge (the “Kimmeridge RRA Holder”), entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Kimmeridge Registration Rights Agreement”), which became effective at the Extraction Merger Effective Time. Pursuant to the terms of the Kimmeridge Registration Rights Agreement, among other things and subject to certain restrictions, the Company is required to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 registering for resale the shares of the Company Common Stock issuable to the Kimmeridge RRA Holder upon consummation of the Extraction Merger and to conduct one underwritten offering or facilitate one block trade upon the request of the Kimmeridge RRA Holder. The Kimmeridge Registration Rights Agreement also provides the Kimmeridge RRA Holder with customary piggyback registration rights.

The foregoing summary of the Kimmeridge Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Kimmeridge Registration Rights Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.6 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Crestone Registration Rights Agreement

Pursuant to the terms of the Crestone Merger Agreement, the Company and the Initial Holders (as defined in the CP Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below)) (the “CP RRA Holders”), entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “CP Registration Rights Agreement”), concurrent with the closing of the Crestone Peak Merger. Pursuant to the terms of the CP Registration Rights Agreement, among other things and subject to certain restrictions, the Company will be required to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 registering for resale the shares of the Company Common Stock issuable to the CP RRA Holders upon their request following consummation of the Crestone Peak Merger and to conduct or facilitate, as applicable, an aggregate of two underwritten offerings or block trades upon the request of certain of the CP RRA Holders. The CP Registration Rights Agreement also provides the RRA Holders with certain customary piggyback registration rights.

The foregoing description of the CP Registration Rights Agreement is a summary only, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the CP Registration Rights Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.7 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Replacement Warrant Agreements

Pursuant to the terms of the Extraction Merger Agreement, the Company and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., entered into the Replacement Warrant Agreements, concurrent with the closing of the Extraction Merger.

The foregoing description of the Replacement Warrant Agreements is a summary only, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Replacement Warrant Agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Board Observer and Confidentiality Agreement

In connection with the closing of the Crestone Peak Merger on November 1, 2021, the Company and CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources Canada Inc. (the “CPP Holder”), entered into a Board Observer and Confidentiality Agreement (the “Board Observer and Confidentiality Agreement”), concurrent with the closing of the Crestone Peak Merger. Pursuant to the terms of the Board Observer and Confidentiality Agreement, among other things and subject to certain restrictions, the CPP Holder will be permitted to designate a non-voting observer (the “Board Observer”) to the Board for so long as the CPP Holder owns an amount of shares of Company Common Stock that is equal to 10% or more of the total outstanding shares of Company Common Stock. The Board Observer will initially be David Chambers.

The foregoing description of the Board Observer and Confidentiality Agreement is a summary only, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Board Observer and Confidentiality Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.8 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

 

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Item 1.02

Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

Termination of the Tax Plan

Pursuant to the terms of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan entered into on November 9, 2020 by and between the Company and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. (the “Tax Plan”), upon the closing of the Extraction Merger, the Rights (as defined in the Tax Plan) associated with each share of Company Common Stock expired, which had the effect of terminating the Tax Plan in accordance with its terms at the Extraction Merger Effective Time.

 

Item 2.01

Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

As discussed in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K, on November 1, 2021, the Company completed its previously announced merger of equals with Extraction pursuant to the terms of the Extraction Merger Agreement and the acquisition of Crestone Peak pursuant to the terms of the Crestone Merger Agreement.

At the Extraction Merger Effective Time, each eligible share of Extraction Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time was automatically converted into the right to receive 1.1711 shares of Company Common Stock, with cash paid in lieu of the issuance of any fractional shares, and each holder of Extraction Common Stock received a total dividend equalization payment of approximately 0.017225678 shares of Company Common Stock per share of Extraction Common Stock related to the June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2021 dividends as part of the Extraction Merger consideration, with cash paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, if any.

At the Merger Sub 1 Merger Effective Time, the issued and outstanding shares of Crestone Peak Common Stock (excluding shares of Crestone Peak Common Stock held by Crestone Peak as treasury shares or by the Company or Merger Sub 1 immediately prior to the Merger Sub 1 Merger Effective Time), were converted into the right to collectively receive 22,500,000 shares of Company Common Stock.

The foregoing description of the Transactions, the Merger Agreements, and the transactions contemplated thereby, is a summary only, does not purport to be complete, and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreements. The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.

 

Item 2.03

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

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 3.02

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02. The Company issued the Crestone Peak Merger Consideration in reliance on the exemptions from registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof.

 

Item 3.03

Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note, Item 1.01 and Item 1.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

Item 5.02

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

Departure of Directors; Appointment of Directors

As contemplated by the Extraction Merger Agreement, James Craddock, Paul Keglevic and Audrey Robertson resigned from the Board effective as of immediately prior to the Extraction Merger Effective Time. Effective as of the Extraction Merger Effective Time, the Board increased to eight members and appointed Benjamin Dell, Morris R. Clark, Carrie M. Fox and Howard A. Willard, III, whose biographies are included below.

 

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As contemplated by the Crestone Merger Agreement, effective as of the Crestone Merger Effective Time, the Board increased to nine members and appointed James Trimble, whose biography is included below.

As of the Extraction Merger Effective Time:

 

   

Mr. Dell was appointed as chairman of the Board;

 

   

Mr. Clark and Jeffrey Wojahn were appointed as members of the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) and Mr. Clark was appointed as the Chair of the Audit Committee;

 

   

Mr. Willard and Brian Steck were appointed as members of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”), Ms. Hudak was removed as a member of the Compensation Committee, and Mr. Willard was appointed as the Chair of the Compensation Committee;

 

   

Mr. Dell and Mr. Willard were appointed as members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”) and Mr. Steck was appointed as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; and

 

   

Mr. Dell and Ms. Fox were appointed as members of the Environmental, Social and Governance Committee of the Board (the “ESG Committee”), Mr. Wojahn was removed as a member of the ESG Committee, and Ms. Hudak was appointed as Chair of the ESG Committee.

As of the Crestone Merger Effective Time:

 

   

Mr. Trimble was appointed as a member of the Audit Committee and as a member of the ESG Committee.

Mr. Dell, age 44, joined the board of directors of Extraction (the “Extraction Board”) in January 2021. Mr. Dell is a Managing Partner of Kimmeridge, a private equity firm focused on unconventional oil and gas assets in the US upstream energy sector. Prior to founding Kimmeridge in 2012, Mr. Dell was a Senior Equity Research Analyst for oil and gas exploration and production at Sanford C. Bernstein starting in 2003. Previously, Mr. Dell was in the M&A and finance group with British Petroleum (BP). Mr. Dell began his career at BP as an exploration and geophysicist across several of BP’s regional business units. He holds a degree in Earth Sciences from St. Peter’s College, Oxford.

Ms. Fox, age 38, joined the Extraction Board in January 2021. Since November 2020, she has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Driltek Inc., a privately held global onshore and offshore upstream operations and decommissioning company. Ms. Fox also founded Cygnet Resources, a real property investment company, in September 2020. Previously, Ms. Fox served as the Vice President of Business Development of California Resources Corporation from 2014 to August 2020. From 2012 to 2014, Ms. Fox served as the Reservoir Management Team Leader for Occidental Petroleum. Ms. Fox also served as Occidental Petroleum’s Manager of California State Governmental Affairs from 2010 to 2012 and as their Reservoir and Production Engineer from 2006 to 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from California Polytechnic State University.

Mr. Willard, age 58, joined the Extraction Board in January 2021. Mr. Willard was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Altria Group, Inc. from May 2018 to April 2020. Previously, Mr. Willard was Altria’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from March 2015 to May 2018 and their Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from January 2011 to February 2015. Mr. Willard joined Altria in 1992 as Assistant Controller and progressed through a series of more senior positions. Mr. Willard previously worked at Salomon Brothers and Bain & Co. Mr. Willard also served as board member of SABMiller plc from 2009 to July 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.

Mr. Clark, age 53, joined the Extraction Board in January 2021. Mr. Clark previously served as Vice President and Treasurer of Marathon Oil Corporation from 2014 to March 2019. From 2007 to 2014, Mr. Clark served as Assistant Treasurer of Marathon and began his career at Marathon in 2002 as Senior Tax Counsel. Prior to joining Marathon, Mr. Clark served as Senior Tax Counsel at Enron North America, as a Tax Attorney at the law firm of Bracewell & Patterson, and as a Senior Accountant with Touche Ross & Company (the predecessor Deloitte & Touche). Mr. Clark also serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern University, a Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School, and a Master of Laws from New York University School of Law.

 

 

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Mr. Trimble, age 73, joined the Crestone Peak board of directors in 2016, and has served as its Chairman since 2018. He was previously the Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of Stone Energy Corporation from 2017 to 2018. Mr. Trimble was President and Chief Executive Officer of PDC Energy, Inc. (“PDC”) from 2011 to 2015. Prior to PDC, he founded and also led several oil and gas companies focused primarily on drilling in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. In addition, Mr. Trimble served as the Senior Vice President of Exploration and Production for Cabot Oil and Gas for 17 years. Mr. Trimble holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Mississippi State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas. He is active and has served on the board of several professional organizations including the Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania, the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the American Petroleum Institute, the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association. He is an honorably discharged Officer from the United States Army after serving 10 years of active and reserve duties. Mr. Trimble has served on the Board of Directors for Callon Petroleum Corporation since March 2012 (NYSE: CPE), Crestone Peak since October 2016 (private E&P), Stone Energy from March 2017 to May 2018 (NYSE: SGY) until its merger with Talos Energy (NYSE: TALO) and on the Talos board until May 2021. He was formerly on the board of directors of C&J Energy Services (“CJES”) (NYSE: CJES), PDC (NASDAQ: PDCE), Grand Gulf Energy Limited (ASX: GGE), Seisgen Exploration, Inc. (private company), and Blue Dolphin Energy Company (NASDAQ: BDCO). Mr. Trimble was an officer of PDC in September 2013, when each of twelve partnerships for which PDC was the managing general partner filed for bankruptcy in the bankruptcy court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, and was on the board of CJES when it filed for bankruptcy in the court of the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division in July 2016.

In connection with their appointments, the Company has entered or will enter into its standard form of indemnity agreement with each of the new directors, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 hereto and incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02. The new directors will receive the non-employee director compensation detailed below for serving on the Board prorated to reflect their partial year of service in 2021.

Mr. Dell, Mr. Clark, Ms. Fox, Mr. Willard and Mr. Trimble (collectively, the “New Directors” and each, a “New Director”) are not related to any existing officer or director of the Company, or each other. There are no transactions or relationships between or among any of the New Directors and the Company that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

The Board assessed the independence of each New Director under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the independence standards of the NYSE, and has determined that each of the New Directors are independent.

As of the Closing, the Board has nine members consisting of Mr. Dell as Chairman, Mr. Steck, Mr. Greager, Mr. Wojahn, Ms. Hudak, Mr. Clark, Ms. Fox, Mr. Willard and Mr. Trimble.

Director Compensation

The Company adopted a non-employee director compensation program (the “Director Compensation Program”) effective as of November 1, 2021. Pursuant to this program, non-employee directors will not receive any cash compensation for board service, but will receive the following cash compensation for service as chairs of the committees, as applicable:

 

Position    Annual
Retainer
 

Audit Committee Chair

   $ 25,000  

Compensation Committee Chair

   $ 20,000  

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair

   $ 15,000  

ESG Committee Chair

   $ 20,000  

 

9


The Company will also reimburse non-employee directors for their ordinary, necessary and reasonable out-of-pocket travel expenses to cover in-person attendance at and participation in Board meetings, in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

In addition, the Director Compensation Program also provides that non-employee directors will receive grants of deferred stock units (“DSUs”). Each year on the day of the Company’s annual stockholder meeting, the Board or Compensation Committee will grant each continuing non-employee director who will continue to serve on the Board DSUs with an approximate grant date fair market value (“GDFV”) of $300,000, determined using a 30-trading day volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) for the period ending on the day before the grant date. The DSUs will vest 25% each quarter.

In connection with the adoption of the Director Compensation Program, each continuing Company director and Mr. Trimble received an interim award of DSUs with a GDFV of $175,000, determined using a 30-trading day VWAP for the period ending on October 31, 2021. The DSUs vest one-third on January 1, 2022, one-third on April 1, 2022 and one-third on the date of the 2022 Company annual stockholder meeting. In satisfaction of services provided to Crestone prior to November 1, 2021, Mr. Trimble also received a one-time award of unrestricted stock with a GDFV of $83,333, determined using a 30-trading day VWAP for the period ending on October 31, 2021.

The description above is a summary and is qualified in its entirely by the Director Compensation Program and the LTIP Amendment (as defined below), which are filed as Exhibit 10.10 and Exhibit 10.11 to this Current Report and are incorporated herein by reference.

Departure of Executive Officers; Appointment of Executive Officers

In connection with the Extraction Merger, at the Extraction Merger Effective Time:

 

   

Brant DeMuth resigned from the office of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company;

 

   

Scott Landreth resigned from the office of Treasurer of the Company;

 

   

Matt Owens was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the Company;

 

   

Marianella Foschi was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the Company;

 

   

Cyrus “Skip” Marter was appointed as General Counsel and Secretary of the Company;

 

   

Sandra Garbiso was appointed as Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer of the Company; and

 

   

Brian Cain was appointed as Chief Sustainability Officer of the Company.

In connection with their appointments, the Company has entered or will enter into its standard form of indemnity agreement with each of the new executive officers, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 hereto and incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

Mr. Owens, age 35, was a founder of Extraction and served as its President and Chief Operating Officer beginning in January 2021. Previously, he was Extraction’s President and Chief Executive Officer from February 2020 to January 2021. From Extraction’s formation until April 2019, he served as Extraction’s President and from April 2019 to March 2020 he served as Extraction’s Acting Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Owens was also a member of Extraction’s board from its formation until January 2021. Mr. Owens has also served as a director of Triple Crown Resources, LLC, a private producer in the Midland Basin, since April 2017. From 2008 to 2010, he served as Operations Engineer for Gasco Energy, working deep, high-pressured gas in the Uinta Basin. While at Gasco Energy, he drilled and completed over 50 wells in the Mancos, Blackhawk and Mesaverde formations. From

 

10


2010-2012, Mr. Owens worked at PDC Energy, Inc., an oil and gas exploration and development company with a primary focus on the Wattenberg Field, as an Operations Engineer, leading the horizontal completion and production activities in the Wattenberg Field. He completed over 45 horizontal Codell and Niobrara wells and was responsible for optimizing production for the program. Mr. Owens holds a BS degree in petroleum engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

Ms. Foschi, age 34, served as Extraction’s Chief Financial Officer beginning in January 2021 and was Extraction’s Vice President, Finance from September 2019 to January 2021. She previously served as Director of Finance at Extraction from May 2015 until September 2019. Prior to joining Extraction, from 2012 to 2015 Ms. Foschi was an Associate at The Blackstone Group in Houston, focused on mezzanine debt and equity investments across the energy sector. While at The Blackstone Group, Ms. Foschi was responsible for investing $1.5 billion of private capital in the energy sector. From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Foschi was an energy investment banker at Credit Suisse where she developed her expertise in debt, equity and advisory assignments for exploration and production, midstream and oilfield services companies. Ms. Foschi holds a Bachelor in Business Administration (Finance) and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, both from the University of Texas.

Brian Cain, age 40, will serve as Chief Sustainability Officer for the Company. He served as Vice President of External Affairs and ESG Policy for Extraction where he oversaw the Extraction’s peer-leading ESG program, directs government and community relations, and serves as company spokesperson. Prior to joining Extraction in 2017, Mr. Cain served as Vice President, Energy Practice, for Hill & Knowlton Strategies from 2014-2017, where he advised leading energy companies on public policy issues, media and crisis strategy. Mr. Cain had previously served in global spokesperson and policy issues advocacy roles for Anadarko Petroleum and Chevron Phillips. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Tulane University. In 2019, Mr. Cain was recognized as a Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 winner.

Mr. Owens, Ms. Foschi, and Mr. Cain are not related to any existing officer or director of the Company, or each other. There are no transactions or relationships between or among Mr. Owens, Ms. Foschi, and Mr. Cain and the Company that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

The names and titles of the Company’s executive officers as of the Closing are as follows:

 

   

Eric Greager, President and Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Matt Owens, Chief Operating Officer;

 

   

Marianella Foschi, Chief Financial Officer;

 

   

Sandra Garbiso, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer;

 

   

Cyrus “Skip” Marter, General Counsel and Secretary;

 

   

Brian Cain, Chief Sustainability Officer; and

 

   

Dean Tinsley, Senior Vice President, Operations.

Executive Compensation

In connection with the resignations and appointments of the Company’s executive officers as described above, the Company amended the executive officers’ cash compensation and equity award targets to the following, effective November 1, 2021.

 

Executive Officer   Title   Base Salary Effective
November 1, 2021
    Equity Award Target
Effective November 1, 2021
Eric Greager   President and Chief Executive Officer   $ 800,000     4X of Base Salary
Matt Owens   Chief Operating Officer   $ 700,000     3X of Base Salary
Marianella Foschi   Chief Financial Officer   $ 575,000     3X of Base Salary
Sandi Garbiso   Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer   $ 500,000     2X of Base Salary
Cyrus (Skip) Marter   General Counsel and Secretary   $ 650,000     2X of Base Salary
Dean Tinsley   Senior Vice President, Operations   $ 560,000     2X of Base Salary

 

11


Mr. Greager, Ms. Garbiso, Mr. Marter, and Mr. Tinsley shall remain entitled to receive a bonus under the Company’s 2021 Short-Term Incentive Plan (“STIP”), based on (i) their weighted average base salary and STIP target for the period January 1 through October 31, 2021, prorated downward by applying the fraction of 304/365, multiplied by (ii) the Company’s 2021 STIP performance percentage as determined by the Compensation Committee. Otherwise, no executive officer shall participate in the Company’s STIP going forward.

Starting in 2022, equity awards to executive officers will be allocated as follows, using the awards’ grant-date fair value: (i) one-quarter in time-based restricted stock units, with ratable vesting over three years; (ii) one-half in performance stock units tied to the Company’s absolute total shareholder return (“TSR”), with three-year cliff vesting; and (iii) one-quarter in performance stock units tied to the Company’s relative TSR, with three-year cliff vesting. Executive officers will be entitled to participate in the Company’s benefit plans in a manner consistent with other employees of the Company. Subject to availability, executive officers will also be entitled to a reserved parking space associated with the Company’s Denver office.

The Company has assumed, as of November 1, 2021, the employment agreements that were originally effective by and between Extraction and Mr. Owens and Ms. Foschi, respectively, pursuant to a first amendment to each agreement (the “Employment Agreement Amendments”) that will generally replace Extraction references with that of the Company (as amended, the “Employment Agreements”). The Employment Agreements would provide the officers with potential severance benefits in the event of a qualifying termination (described below), and would require the officers to comply with customary restrictive covenants following a termination of employment.

Upon a termination due to death or disability pursuant to the Employment Agreements, Mr. Owens and Ms. Foschi would be entitled to (i) a severance payment equal to 1.0 times the sum of the applicable officers base salary on the date of termination and (ii) pro-rata accelerated vesting of any outstanding equity-based compensation awards. Each executive would be entitled to receive the following severance benefits upon a termination by the executive for “good reason” or by the Company without “cause” (each as defined in the Employment Agreement and each, a “Qualifying Termination”), subject to providing a release in favor of the Company: (a) all accrued but unpaid rights; (b) a severance payment equal the executive’s annual base salary times a multiple of 2.0x for Mr. Owens and 1.5x for Ms. Foschi; (c) accelerated vesting of any outstanding equity-based awards (including full acceleration for time-based and pro-rata acceleration for performance-vesting awards) held by the executive as of the date of termination; and (d) continued coverage under our group health plan for any COBRA period (up to 18 months) elected for the executive and the executive’s spouse and eligible dependents, at no greater premium cost than that which applies to active senior executive employees. In addition, if such Qualifying Termination occurred within the 12-month period after a change in control of the Company, the severance entitlements would be modified to provide a severance payment of 3.0x base salary for Mr. Owens and 2.0x for Ms. Foschi.

The description of the Employment Agreements and the Employment Agreement Amendments above is a summary and is qualified in its entirely by the Employment Agreements and the Employment Agreement Amendments, which are filed as Exhibits 10.11, 10.12, 10.13 and 10.14 to this Current Report and are incorporated herein by reference.

Equity Incentive Plans

As described above, the Company has assumed and converted each Extraction RSU Award into a Converted RSU. In connection with such assumption and conversion of outstanding awards, effective November 1, 2021, the Company has also assumed the form restricted stock unit agreements that governed the Extraction RSU Awards, and the Extraction Equity Plan, including all shares of Extraction Common Stock that were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Extraction Equity Plan not subject to outstanding awards at the time of the Extraction Merger. The reserved shares available for issuance pursuant to the Extraction Equity Plan were adjusted by the Extraction Exchange Ratio, and will continue to be available for grants of new awards to eligible individuals pursuant to the Extraction Equity Plan.

In connection with the adoption of the Director Compensation Program described above, the Company has also adopted a First Amendment to the Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. 2021 Long Term Incentive Plan (effective June 2, 2021) (the “Civitas LTIP”), effective November 1, 2021 (the “LTIP Amendment”). The LTIP Amendment clarified the name change that was applicable to the Civitas LTIP and all applicable form award agreements and plan documents associated with the Civitas LTIP, and allowed the Company to determine whether dividend rights granted pursuant to the Civitas LTIP should be reinvested, paid currently or paid in accordance with the terms of an associated award.

The description above is a summary and is qualified in its entirely by the Extraction Equity Plan, the form of Extraction RSU Award and the LTIP Amendment, which are filed as Exhibit 10.3, Exhibit 10.4 and 10.13, respectively, to this Current Report and are incorporated herein by reference.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

 

12


Item 5.03

Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

At the Extraction Merger Effective Time, (i) the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) was amended by that certain Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate (the “Certificate Amendment”), and (ii) the Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company were amended and restated (the “Fifth A&R Bylaws”), in each case to change the name of the Company from Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. to Civitas Resources, Inc.

On November 1, 2021, the Company filed a Certificate of Elimination (the “Certificate of Elimination”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware eliminating all provisions of the Certificate of Designations filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 9, 2020 related to the series of preferred stock designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) established pursuant to the Tax Plan. Such shares previously designated Series A Preferred Stock will be returned to the authorized but undesignated shares of the Company’s preferred stock.

The foregoing description of the Certificate Amendment, the Fifth A&R Bylaws and the Certificate of Elimination does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Certificate Amendment, the Fifth A&R Bylaws and the Certificate of Elimination, which are attached as Exhibit 3.1, Exhibit 3.2 and Exhibit 3.3 hereto, respectively.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Item 5.05

Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

At the Extraction Merger Effective Time, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Company was amended (as amended, the “Amended Code of Ethics”) to change the name of the Company from Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. to Civitas Resources, Inc.

The foregoing description of the Amended Code of Ethics does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended Code of Ethics, which is attached as Exhibit 14.1 hereto.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On November 1, 2021, the Company issued a news release announcing the completion of the Transactions and other matters. A copy of the news release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01.

The information in this Item 7.01 (including the exhibit) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and is not incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)    Financial Statements.

The audited consolidated and combined balance sheets of Extraction as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and the audited consolidated and combined statements of operations, statements of cash flows and statements of changes in equity of Extraction for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the notes related thereto, are incorporated by reference to Extraction’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020, filed on March 18, 2021, and incorporated by reference into this Item 9.01(a).

The unaudited consolidated and combined balance sheets of Extraction as of June 30, 2021 and 2020 and the unaudited consolidated and combined statements of operations, statements of cash flows and statements of changes in equity of Extraction for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the notes related thereto, are incorporated by reference to Extraction’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2021, filed on August 9, 2021, and incorporated by reference into this Item 9.01(a).

The audited consolidated financial statements of Crestone Peak as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for the two years then ended, are incorporated by reference into this Item 9.01(a) from Annex K of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-4 filed on July 14, 2021, and incorporated by reference into this Item 9.01(a).

 

13


The unaudited consolidated and combined balance sheets of Crestone Peak as of June 30, 2021 and 2020 and the unaudited consolidated and combined statements of operations, statements of cash flows and statements of changes in equity of Extraction for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the notes related thereto, are incorporated by reference to Annex L of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-4/A filed on August 27, 2021, and incorporated by reference into this Item 9.01(a).

(b)    Pro Forma Financial Information.

The pro forma financial information required by this Item 9.01(b) for the year ended December 31, 2020 and as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was previously filed in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus under the caption “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements,” and is incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K.

(d)    Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 
No.
 

Description

2.1†   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 9, 2021, by and among Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc., Raptor Eagle Merger Sub, Inc. and Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2021).
2.2†   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 6, 2021, by and among Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc., Raptor Condor Merger Sub 1, Inc., Raptor Condor Merger Sub 2, LLC, Crestone Peak Resources LP, CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc., Crestone Peak Resources Management LP and Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2021).
2.3†   Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 6, 2021, by and among Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc., Raptor Eagle Merger Sub, Inc. and Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2021).
3.1*   Certificate of Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.
3.2*   Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws of Civitas Resources, Inc.
3.3*   Certificate of Elimination of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Civitas Resources, Inc.
4.1*   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2021, by and among Civitas Resources, Inc., Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, and certain guarantor parties thereto.
4.2*   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2021, by and among Civitas Resources, Inc., U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and certain guarantor parties thereto.
10.1*+   Tranche A Warrant Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, between Civitas Resources, Inc. and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.
10.2*+   Tranche B Warrant Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, between Civitas Resources, Inc. and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.
10.3+   Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. 2021 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Extraction’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37907) filed with the Commission on January 20, 2021).
10.4+   Form of Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) Agreement (Time and Performance Vesting) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Extraction’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37907) filed with the Commission on January 20, 2021).
10.5*†   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021, between Civitas Resources, Inc., as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent, and a syndicate of financial institutions, as lenders.

 

14


     
10.6   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2021, by and between Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. and Kimmeridge Chelsea, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2021).
10.7*   Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, between Civitas Resources, Inc., and the persons identified on Schedule I thereto.
10.8*   Board Observer and Confidentiality Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, between Civitas Resources, Inc. and CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources Canada Inc.
10.9*+   Form of Indemnity Agreement between Civitas Resources, Inc. and the directors and executive officers of Civitas Resources, Inc.
10.10*+   Director Compensation Program, dated November 1, 2021.
10.11*+   First Amendment to the Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. 2021 Long Term Incentive Plan.
10.12+   Employment Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2021, by and between Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. and Matthew R. Owens (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Extraction’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37907) filed with the Commission on January 20, 2021).
10.13*+   First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, by and between Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., Civitas Resources, Inc. and Matthew R. Owens.
10.14+   Employment Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2021, by and between Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. and Marianella Foschi (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Extraction’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37907) filed with the Commission on January 20, 2021).
10.15*+   First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, by and between Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., Civitas Resources, Inc. and Marianella Foschi.
14.1*   Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of Civitas Resources, Inc.
23.1*   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP relating to CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc.
23.2*   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP relating to Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc.
23.3*   Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. relating to CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc.
23.4*   Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P. relating to Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc.
99.1**   Press Release, dated November 1, 2021.
104*   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

*

Filed herewith.

**

Furnished herewith.

Schedules and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule or attachment to the Commission upon request.

+

Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.

 

15


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.

 

    CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
Dated: November 3, 2021    

By:

 

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

      Cyrus D. Marter IV
      General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

BONANZA CREEK ENERGY, INC.

November 1, 2021

This Certificate of Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Amendment”) has been duly executed and is filed pursuant to Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) to amend the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) of Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), under the DGCL.

1. The name of the Corporation is “Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.”.

2. The Board of Directors of the Corporation has duly adopted resolutions proposing and declaring advisable this Amendment in accordance with Section 242 of the DGCL.

3. This Amendment has been duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the DGCL.

4. Article I of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1. NAME

The name of this corporation is Civitas Resources, Inc. (the “Corporation”).”

5. This Amendment shall be effective immediately upon filing.

[Signature page follows.]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned authorized person has duly executed this Amendment as of November 1, 2021.

 

BONANZA CREEK ENERGY, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

Name:

 

Cyrus D. Marter IV

Title:

  Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

BONANZA CREEK ENERGY, INC.

Exhibit 3.2

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

 

1.

OFFICES

1.1 Registered Office

The registered office of the Corporation shall be in Wilmington, Delaware, and the initial registered agent shall be The Corporation Trust Company, or such other office or agent as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) shall from time to time select.

1.2 Other Offices

The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as may be necessary or useful in connection with the business of the Corporation.

 

2.

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

2.1 Place of Meetings

All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson or the President. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held by means of remote communication.

2.2 Annual Meetings

The Corporation shall hold annual meetings of stockholders, commencing with the year 2018 on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. At each annual meeting, stockholders shall elect directors of the Corporation and may transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. Any previously scheduled annual meeting of the stockholders may be postponed by action of the Board of Directors taken prior to the time previously scheduled for such annual meeting of the stockholders.

2.3 Special Meetings

Except as otherwise required by applicable law, special meetings of stockholders may be called only in the manner set forth in the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as the same may be amended and restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Notice of every special meeting of the stockholders shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting. Except as otherwise required by law, the business conducted at a special meeting of stockholders shall be limited exclusively to the business set forth in the Corporation’s notice of meeting.

2.4 Notice of Meetings

Notice of any meeting of stockholders, stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and (if it is a special meeting) the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting (except to the extent that such notice is waived or is not required as provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) or these Bylaws), either personally, by mail or by other lawful means. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law.


2.5 Waivers of Notice

Whenever the giving of any notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver thereof by electronic transmission by the person entitled to said notice, delivered to the Corporation, whether before or after the event as to which such notice is required, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice (a) of such meeting, except when the stockholder at the beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting, and (b) if it is a special meeting, of consideration of a particular matter at the meeting that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice, unless the stockholder objects to considering the matter at the beginning of the meeting.

2.6 Submission of Director Nominees and Stockholder Proposals

Stockholders may nominate one or more persons for election as directors at any annual meeting of stockholders or propose business to be brought before the annual meeting of stockholders, or both, only if (a) such business is a proper matter for stockholder action, (b) the stockholder has given timely notice in proper written form of such director nomination(s) or such proposed business, and (c) the stockholder is a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time of giving such notice and is entitled to vote at the annual meeting.

To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to and received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 120 days and not more than 150 days in advance of the first anniversary of the date of the Corporation’s proxy statement released to stockholders for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s annual meeting or if no annual meeting was held during the previous year, delivery of such proposal by the stockholder, to be timely, must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. For purposes of this Section 2.6 of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service, in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), or in a notice pursuant to the applicable rules of an exchange on which the Corporation’s securities are then listed.

To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice shall be in writing and shall set forth (A) the name and address of the stockholder, as set forth in the Corporation’s books and records, who intends to make the nomination(s) or propose the business and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (B) in the case of a nomination of director(s), (1) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee or any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made, (2) any other information relating to such nominee(s) that would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed under the current rules of the SEC, and (3) the nominee(s)’ written consent to serve as director if elected, and (C) in the case of other business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting, (1) a brief description of such business, (2) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (3) any material interest the stockholder has in such business, and (4) any other information that is required to be provided by the stockholder under the current rules of the SEC with respect to stockholder proposals. The Board of Directors, a committee thereof, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person or the proposal of any business not made in compliance with the foregoing procedures.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6 of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations thereunder, and all other policies and procedures of the Corporation with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.6 of these Bylaws.

 

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2.7 Business and Conduct of Meetings

Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice (except to the extent that such notice is waived or is not required as provided in the DGCL or these Bylaws). Business transacted at any annual meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the proxy statement for such annual meeting or brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.

At every meeting of the stockholders, the Chairperson, if there be one, or in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer, or in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the President, such other officer or director of the Corporation designated by the Board of Directors, shall act as chair of the meeting of the stockholders. The Secretary, or, in the absence of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary and the Assistant Secretaries, a person appointed by the chair of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting of the stockholders.

The chair of the meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seems to him or her in order. The chair of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. The chair of the meeting shall fix and announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting.

In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors may appoint one or more inspectors, who need not be stockholders, to act at the meeting and to make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chair of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the person’s best ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law.

2.8 List of Stockholders

After the record date for a meeting of stockholders has been fixed, at least ten days before such meeting, the officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall make a list of all stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder (but not the electronic mail address or other electronic contact information, unless the Board of Directors so directs) and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then such list shall also, for the duration of the meeting, be produced and kept open to the examination of any stockholder who is present at the time and place of the meeting. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then such list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to which of the stockholders are entitled to examine the stock ledger and the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

2.9 Quorum, Adjournment and Postponement

Stockholders may take action on a matter at a meeting only if a quorum exists with respect to that matter. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting, and who are present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Once a share is represented for any purpose at a meeting (other than solely to object (a) to holding the meeting or transacting business

 

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at the meeting, or (b) if it is a special meeting, to consideration of a particular matter at the meeting that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice), it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the meeting and for any adjournment of that meeting unless a new record date is or must be set for the adjourned meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

The chair of the meeting or holders of a majority of the shares represented at the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is a quorum. No notice of the time and place of adjourned meetings need be given if the time and place, if any, thereof are announced at the meeting at which adjournment is taken. At the adjournment meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of the adjourned meeting and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Any previously scheduled meeting of the stockholders may be postponed, and unless the Certificate of Incorporation or any certificate of designations otherwise provides, any special meeting of the stockholders may be cancelled, by resolution of the Board of Directors upon public notice given prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.

2.10 Voting and Proxies

Unless otherwise provided in the DGCL or in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the other provisions of these Bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote on each matter, in person or by proxy, for each share of the Corporation’s capital stock that has voting power and that is held by such stockholder. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed appointment of proxy shall be irrevocable if the appointment form states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.

If authorized by the Board of Directors, and subject to such guidelines as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication, participate in a meeting of stockholders and be deemed present in person and vote at such meeting whether such meeting is held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication; provided that (a) the Corporation implements reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (b) the Corporation implements reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (c) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action is maintained by the Corporation.

2.11 Required Vote

When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders, all matters shall be determined, adopted and approved by the affirmative vote (which need not be by ballot) of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote with respect to the matter, unless the proposed action is one upon which, by express provision of law or of the Certificate of Incorporation, a different vote is specified and required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control with respect to that vote on that matter. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of such class or classes present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class or classes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

 

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2.12 Stockholder Actions by Written Consent

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or any certificate of designations, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of the Corporation and may not be effected by a written consent or consents by stockholders in lieu of a meeting.

2.13 Treasury Stock

The Corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own capital stock owned by it or any subsidiary, and such shares shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

3.

DIRECTORS

3.1 Powers

The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things, subject to any limitation set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise may be provided in the DGCL.

3.2 Number and Election

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.

3.3 Nomination of Directors

The Board of Directors shall nominate candidates to stand for election as directors, and other candidates also may be nominated by any Corporation stockholder pursuant to Section 2.6. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 3.4 hereof, and each director elected shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until the director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders.

3.4 Vacancies and Resignation

Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although fewer than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or series thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof then in office, or by a sole remaining director so elected. Each director so chosen shall hold office until the next election of directors, and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified, or until the director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. In the event that one or more directors resign from the Board, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office until the next election of directors, and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified, or until the director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

Any director may resign at any time by notice given in writing to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice by the Corporation or at such later time as therein specified.

 

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3.5 Meetings

3.5.1 Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors or the Chairperson.

3.5.2 Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer or the President on one day’s notice to each director, either personally or by telephone, express delivery service (so that the scheduled delivery date of the notice is at least one day in advance of the meeting), telegram, facsimile transmission, electronic mail (effective when directed to an electronic mail address of the director), or other electronic transmission, as defined in Section 232(c) (or any successor section) of the DGCL (effective when directed to the director), and on five days’ notice by mail (effective upon deposit of such notice in the mail). The notice need not describe the purpose of a special meeting.

3.5.3 Telephone Meetings

Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the board by any communication by means of which all participating directors can simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

3.5.4 Action Without Meeting

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board. The action must be evidenced by one or more consents in writing or by electronic transmission describing the action taken, signed or otherwise consented to by each director, and delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minute book.

3.5.5 Waiver of Notice of Meeting

A director may waive any notice required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws before or after the date and time stated in the notice. Except as set forth below, the waiver must be in writing, signed by the director entitled to the notice, or made by electronic transmission by the director entitled to the notice, and delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minute book. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a director’s attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any required notice to the director of the meeting unless the director at the beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.

3.6 Quorum, Vote and Organization of Meetings

At all meetings of the board, a quorum of the Board of Directors consists of a majority of the total number of directors prescribed pursuant to Section 3.2 of these Bylaws. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws.

At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson or, in the Chairperson’s absence, another director selected by the Board of Directors, shall preside. The Secretary shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board of Directors. If the Secretary is absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the person presiding at the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

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3.7 Committees of Directors

The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more directors. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. If a member of a committee shall be absent from any meeting, or disqualified from voting thereat, the remaining member or members present and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote, appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of such absent or disqualified member. Committee members may be removed from a committee by a majority vote of the directors then in office.

Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approving or adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the Corporation; and unless the resolution designating the committee, these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the DGCL.

Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors, when required. Unless otherwise specified in the Board resolution appointing the Committee, all provisions of the DGCL and these Bylaws relating to meetings, action without meetings, notice (and waiver thereof), and quorum and voting requirements of the Board of Directors apply, as well, to such committees and their members.

3.8 Compensation of Directors

The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

3.9 Chairperson

The members of the Board of Directors will appoint one of their number as the Chairperson. The Chairperson shall (when present) preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders. The Chairperson shall perform such duties as usually appertain to the office or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

 

4.

OFFICERS

4.1 Positions

The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and such other officers as the Board of Directors (or an officer authorized by the Board of Directors) from time to time may appoint, including one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. Each such officer shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be set forth below and such other powers and duties as from time to time may be specified by the Board of Directors or by any officer(s) authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the duties of such other officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that in no event shall the President and the Secretary be the same person. As set forth below, each of the Chief Executive Officer, President, and/or any Vice President may execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts on behalf of the Corporation, if required, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise executed and except where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.

 

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4.2 Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and general control of all of its business subject to the ultimate authority of the Board of Directors, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board of Directors. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall keep the Board of Directors fully informed and shall consult with them concerning the business of the Corporation, and in general shall perform all other duties normally incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

4.3 President

The President shall have full responsibility and authority for management of the day-to-day operations of the Corporation. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the President may, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, perform duties and exercise powers of the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall perform all such other duties as are incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors from time to time.

4.4 Vice President

In the absence of the President or in the event of the President’s inability or refusal to act, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the President. The Vice President shall perform all such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors from time to time.

4.5 Secretary

The Secretary shall have responsibility for preparation of minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders and for authenticating records of the Corporation. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary may also attest all instruments signed by any other officer of the Corporation.

4.6 Treasurer

The Treasurer shall have responsibility for the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall see to it that full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements are kept in books belonging to the Corporation. The Treasurer shall render to the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, and the Board of Directors, upon request, an account of all financial transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

4.7 Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers

The Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurer, if any are appointed, shall in general perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Secretary or the Treasurer, respectively, by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors. The Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurer, shall, in the absence of or upon the inability or refusal to act by the Secretary or the Treasurer, respectively, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary or Treasurer, respectively.

4.8 Term of Office

Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officer’s successors are chosen and qualify or until such officer’s earlier resignation or removal.

 

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Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later date specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors whenever, in its judgment, the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed.

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, may be filled at any time and from time to time by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.

4.9 Compensation

The compensation of officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or by any committee of the Board of Directors authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the compensation of such other officers.

4.10 Fidelity Bonds

The Corporation may secure the fidelity of any or all of its officers or agents by bond or otherwise.

 

5.

CAPITAL STOCK

5.1 Certificates of Stock; Uncertificated Shares

The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a book-entry system maintained by the registrar of such stock, or shall be represented by certificates, or a combination of both. To the extent that shares of stock are represented by certificates, such certificates, whenever authorized by the Board, shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board. Any certificates representing shares of stock shall be signed in the name of the Corporation by the Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Any or all the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar whose signature or facsimile signature appears on a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

5.2 Transfer

Transfers of shares shall be made on the share register or transfer books of the Corporation, which may be maintained by a third party registrar or transfer agent, upon surrender for cancellation of the certificate with an assignment and power of transfer thereon or attached thereto endorsed by the person(s) named in the certificate or, if such shares are uncertificated, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of such uncertificated shares. No transfer shall be made that is inconsistent with the provisions of applicable law.

5.3 Lost Certificates

The Board of Directors, Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, President or Secretary may direct a new certificate of stock to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation and alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming that the certificate of stock has been lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issuance of a new certificate, the board or any such officer may, as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or such owner’s legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the board or such officer shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond or indemnity, in such sum or on such terms and conditions as the board or such officer may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or on account of the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

 

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5.4 Record Date

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty days nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting, unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

5.5 Stockholders of Record

The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, to receive notifications, to vote as such owner, and to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise may be provided by the DGCL.

 

6.

INDEMNIFICATION; INSURANCE

6.1 Right to Indemnification

Each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner (limited or general) or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, shall be (and shall be deemed to have a contractual right to be) indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation (and any successor to the Corporation by merger or otherwise) to the fullest extent authorized by, and subject to the conditions and (except as provided herein) procedures set forth in the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but any such amendment shall not be deemed to limit or prohibit the rights of indemnification hereunder for past acts or omissions of any such person insofar as such amendment limits or prohibits the indemnification rights that said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA truces or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith; provided, however, that the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person (except for a suit or action pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof) only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Persons who are not directors or officers of the Corporation and are not so serving at the request of the Corporation may be similarly indemnified in respect of such service to the extent authorized at any time by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

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The indemnification conferred in this Section 6.1 also shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation (and such successor) the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in the defense of or other involvement in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if and to the extent the DGCL requires, the payment of such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts so paid in advance if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 6.1 or otherwise; and provided further, that, such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid in advance upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

6.2 Right of Claimant to Bring Action Against the Corporation

If a claim under Section 6.1 is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring an action against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such action. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in connection with any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed or is otherwise not entitled to indemnification under Section 6.1, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. The failure of the Corporation (in the manner provided under the DGCL) to have made a determination prior to or after the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL shall not be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. Unless otherwise specified in an agreement with the claimant, an actual determination by the Corporation (in the manner provided under the DGCL) after the commencement of such action that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct shall not be a defense to the action, but shall create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

6.3 Non-exclusivity

The rights to indemnification and advance payment of expenses provided by Section 6.1 hereof shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and advance payment of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

6.4 Survival of Indemnification

The indemnification and advance payment of expenses and rights thereto provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 6.1 hereof shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, partner or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the personal representatives, heirs, executors and administrators of such person.

6.5 Insurance

The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner (limited or general) or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person or incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, and related expenses, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

 

11


6.6 Reliance on Provisions

Each person who shall act as a director or officer of the Corporation, or as the legal representative of such person, or who while a director or officer serves at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be deemed to be doing so in reliance upon rights of indemnification provided by this Section 6. Any repeal or modification of the provisions of this Section 6 shall not adversely affect any right or benefit of any potential claimant existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

 

7.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1 Inspection of Books and Records

Any stockholder, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the Corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records, and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean a purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney or other agent shall be the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing which authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the Corporation at its registered office or at its principal place of business.

7.2 Dividends

The Board of Directors may declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the laws of the State of Delaware.

7.3 Reserves

The Board of Directors of the Corporation may set apart, out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends, a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.

7.4 Execution of Instruments

All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, and promissory notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

7.5 Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

7.6 Reliance on Books, Reports and Records

Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation as provided by law, including reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers, by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care.

7.7 Time Periods

In applying any provision of these Bylaws which require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

 

12


7.8 Seal

The Board of Directors shall determine if the Corporation shall have a corporate seal and, if so determined, the corporate seal shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall approve and may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.

7.9 Amendment of Bylaws

These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be approved at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders, provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting and, in the case of a meeting of the Board of Directors, in a notice given not less than two days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that, in the case of alterations, amendments, repeals or the adoption of new Bylaws by the Board of Directors, notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws or any provision of applicable law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members of the Board of Directors shall be required to alter, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws or to approve new Bylaws. In the case of alterations, amendments, repeals or the adoption of new Bylaws by the stockholders, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the total voting power of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote on the matter shall be required to alter, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws or to approve new Bylaws.

7.10 Severability

If any provision or provisions of these Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

13


The foregoing Fifth Amended & Restated Bylaws were adopted by the Board of Directors on November 1, 2021.

 

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV
/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV
General Counsel and Secretary

 

14

Exhibit 3.3

CERTIFICATE OF ELIMINATION

OF

SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

OF

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

(Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law)

Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certifies as follows:

1. Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and the authority granted in the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (as may be amended, amended and restated or supplemented from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”), the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), by resolutions duly adopted, previously authorized the issuance of 42,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”).

2. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 151(g) of the DGCL, the Board adopted, among other things, the following resolutions:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that none of the authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, and none of the authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be issued subject to the Certificate of Designations previously filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 9, 2020 (the “Certificate of Designations”);

FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certificate containing certain of these resolutions (the “Certificate of Elimination”) is hereby approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects as the act and deed of the Company, and the Company is hereby authorized and directed to file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware the Certificate of Elimination with the effect under the DGCL of eliminating from the Certificate of Incorporation all matters set forth in the Certificate of Designations; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Authorized Officers are, and each of them individually hereby is, authorized and directed, for and on behalf of the Company and in its name, to execute, deliver and file the Certificate of Elimination at such time as they deem appropriate and with such modifications as any Authorized Officer shall approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by the execution and delivery of the Certificate of Elimination to the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and to take such further actions as they may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolutions in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

3. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 151(g) of the DGCL, all references to the Series A Preferred Stock in the Certificate of Incorporation are hereby eliminated, and the shares that were designated to such series are hereby returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of the Company.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Civitas Resources, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Elimination to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officer on this 1st day of November 2021.

 

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV
Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

CERTIFICATE OF ELIMINATION OF

SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

OF CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

First Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of November 1, 2021, among each of the entities listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (collectively, the “Guaranteeing Subsidiaries,” and each a “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), each a subsidiary of Civitas Resources, Inc. (f/k/a Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of October 13, 2021, providing for the issuance of 5.000% Senior Notes due October 15, 2026 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances a Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally Guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Note Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture without the consent of Holders of the Notes.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, the other Guarantors, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 10 thereof.

3. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, manager, officer, member, employee, incorporator or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture or the Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

4. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.


5. COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture, and each party hereto may sign any number of separate copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

6. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The headings of the Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Supplemental Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

7. THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, the other Guarantors and the Company.

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY:
CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.,
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

  Name: Cyrus D. Marter IV
  Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

 

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]


GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARIES:
EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.
RAPTOR CONDOR MERGER SUB 2, LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES GP INC.
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES LP
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES HOLDINGS LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES OPERATING LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES MIDSTREAM LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES ACQUISITION COMPANY I LLC
COLLEGIATE HOLDINGS LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES WATKINS MIDSTREAM LLC

CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES WATKINS HOLDINGS LLC

8 NORTH, LLC

7N, LLC

TABLE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES, LLC
NORTHWEST CORRIDOR HOLDINGS, LLC
XTR MIDSTREAM, LLC
EXTRACTION FINANCE CORP.
AXIS EXPLORATION, LLC
XOG SERVICES, LLC
MOUNTAINTOP MINERALS, LLC

 

By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

  Name: Cyrus D. Marter IV
  Title:   President and Secretary

 

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]


EXISTING GUARANTORS:
BONANZA CREEK ENERGY OPERATING COMPANY, LLC
By: Civitas Resources, Inc., as sole member
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

  Name: Cyrus D. Marter IV
  Title:   General Counsel and Secretary
HIGHPOINT RESOURCES CORPORATION
By: Civitas Resources, Inc., as sole stockholder
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

  Name: Cyrus D. Marter IV
  Title:   General Counsel and Secretary
ROCKY MOUNTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE, LLC
HOLMES EASTERN COMPANY, LLC
By: Bonanza Creek Energy Operating Company, as sole member
By: Civitas Resources, Inc., as sole member
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

  Name: Cyrus D. Marter IV
  Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]


HIGHPOINT OPERATING CORPORATION
By: Highpoint Resources Corporation, as sole stockholder
By: Civitas Resources, Inc., as sole stockholder
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

  Name: Cyrus D. Marter IV
  Title:   General Counsel and Secretary
FIFTH POCKET PRODUCTION, LLC
By: Highpoint Operating Corporation, as sole member
By: Highpoint Resources Corporation, as sole stockholder
By: Civitas Resources, Inc., as sole stockholder
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

  Name: Cyrus D. Marter IV
  Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]


COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Karla D. Sjostrom

  Name: Karla D. Sjostrom
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

Additional Guarantors

 

1.

Crestone Peak Resources GP Inc., a Delaware corporation

2.

Crestone Peak Resources LP, a Delaware limited partnership

3.

Crestone Peak Resources LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

4.

Crestone Peak Resources Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

5.

Crestone Peak Resources Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

6.

Crestone Peak Resources Midstream LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

7.

Crestone Peak Resources Acquisition Company I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

8.

Collegiate Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

9.

Crestone Peak Resources Watkins Midstream LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

10.

Crestone Peak Resources Watkins Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

11.

8 North, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

12.

7N, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

13.

Table Mountain Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

14.

Northwest Corridor Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

15.

XTR Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

16.

Extraction Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation

17.

Axis Exploration, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

18.

XOG Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

19.

Mountaintop Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

20.

Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation

21.

Raptor Condor Merger Sub 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

[Exhibit A to First Supplemental Indenture - Additional Guarantors]

Exhibit 4.2

Execution Version

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of November 1, 2021, by and among each of the entities listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (the “New Guarantors”), each a subsidiary of Civitas Resources, Inc. (f/k/a Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (or its successor) (the “Company”), the Company, on behalf of itself and the Subsidiary Guarantors (the “Existing Guarantors”) under the Indenture referred to below, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS the Company has heretofore executed and delivered an Indenture dated as of April 1, 2021, as amended by the first supplemental indenture thereto, dated as of April 1, 2021, by and among the Company, the Trustee and the subsidiary guarantors party thereto (as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified through the date hereof, the “Indenture”), by and among the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee, providing for the issuance of 7.50% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, on November 1, 2021, Raptor Eagle Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, merged with and into Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Extraction”), pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 9, 2021, by and among the Company, Extraction and certain other parties thereto (the “Extraction Merger”);

WHEREAS, on November 1, 2021, Raptor Condor Merger Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation, merged with and into CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CP America”), and CP America merged with and into Raptor Condor Merger Sub 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Merger Sub 2”), pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 6, 2021, by and among the Company, CP America, Merger Sub 2 and certain other parties thereto (the “CP America Merger”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Extraction Merger and the CP America Merger, the Company changed its name from “Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.” to “Civitas Resources, Inc.”;

WHEREAS Section 4.14 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Company is required to cause the New Guarantors to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantors shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein and therein; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 8.01(d) of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Company and the Existing Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture without the consent of Holders;


NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantors, the Trustee and, on behalf of itself and the Existing Guarantors, the Company mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

SECTION 1. Definitions. For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise herein expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (i) the terms and expressions used herein shall have the same meanings as corresponding terms and expressions used in the Indenture; and (ii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

SECTION 2. Agreement to Guarantee. The New Guarantors hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agree, jointly and severally with all other Subsidiary Guarantors, to guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article Eleven of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture.

SECTION 3. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

SECTION 4. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

SECTION 5. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the New Guarantors.

SECTION 6. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 7. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:   /s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV
  Name: Cyrus D. Marter IV
  Title: General Counsel and Secretary

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE


NEW GUARANTORS:
EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.
RAPTOR CONDOR MERGER SUB 2, LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES GP INC.
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES LP
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES HOLDINGS LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES OPERATING LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES MIDSTREAM LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES ACQUISITION COMPANY I LLC
COLLEGIATE HOLDINGS LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES WATKINS MIDSTREAM LLC
CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES WATKINS HOLDINGS LLC 8 NORTH, LLC 7N, LLC
TABLE MOUNTAIN RESOURCES, LLC
NORTHWEST CORRIDOR HOLDINGS, LLC
XTR MIDSTREAM, LLC
EXTRACTION FINANCE CORP.
AXIS EXPLORATION, LLC
XOG SERVICES, LLC
MOUNTAINTOP MINERALS, LLC
By:   /s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV
 

Name: Cyrus D. Marter IV

 

Title: President and Secretary

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Kathy L. Mitchell

  Name: Kathy L. Mitchell
  Title: Vice President

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE


Exhibit A

New Guarantors

 

1.

Crestone Peak Resources GP Inc., a Delaware corporation

 

2.

Crestone Peak Resources LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

3.

Crestone Peak Resources LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

4.

Crestone Peak Resources Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

5.

Crestone Peak Resources Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

6.

Crestone Peak Resources Midstream LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

7.

Crestone Peak Resources Acquisition Company I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

8.

Collegiate Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

9.

Crestone Peak Resources Watkins Midstream LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

10.

Crestone Peak Resources Watkins Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

11.

8 North, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

12.

7N, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

13.

Table Mountain Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

14.

Northwest Corridor Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

15.

XTR Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

16.

Extraction Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation

 

17.

Axis Exploration, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

18.

XOG Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

19.

Mountaintop Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

20.

Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation

 

21.

Raptor Condor Merger Sub 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

EXHIBIT A TO

THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

WARRANT AGREEMENT

between

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

BROADRIDGE CORPORATE ISSUER SOLUTIONS, INC.,

as Warrant Agent

Dated as of November 1, 2021

Tranche A Warrants to Purchase Common Stock


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.  Definitions

     1  

2.  Warrant Certificates

     6  

2.1

  Original Issuance of Warrants      6  

2.2

  Form of Warrant Certificates      6  

2.3

  Execution and Delivery of Warrant Certificates      7  

2.4

  Global Warrant Certificates      7  

3.  Exercise and Expiration of Warrants

     9  

3.1

  Right to Acquire Common Stock Upon Exercise      9  

3.2

  Exercise and Expiration of Warrants      9  

3.3

  Application of Funds upon Exercise of Warrants      11  

3.4

  Payment of Taxes      12  

3.5

  Cancellation of Warrant Certificates      12  

3.6

  Shares Issuable      12  

3.7

  Cashless Exercise      12  

3.8

  Cost Basis Information      13  

4.  Dissolution, Liquidation or Winding up

     13  

5.  Adjustments

     13  

5.1

  Adjustments      13  

5.2

  Fractional Interest      18  

5.3

  No Other Adjustments      18  

6.  Loss or Mutilation

     18  

7.  Reservation and Authorization of Common Stock

     19  

8.  Warrant Transfer Books

     20  

9.  Warrant Holders

     21  

9.1

  No Voting or Dividend Rights      21  

9.2

  Rights of Action      22  

9.3

  Treatment of Holders of Warrant Certificates      22  

10.  Concerning the Warrant Agent

     22  

10.1

  Rights and Duties of the Warrant Agent      22  

10.2

  Limitation of Liability      25  

10.3

  Indemnification      25  

10.4

  Right to Consult Counsel      26  

10.5

  Compensation and Reimbursement      26  

10.6

  Warrant Agent May Hold Company Securities      26  

10.7

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      26  

10.8

  Appointment of Countersigning Agent      27  

11.  Notices

     28  

11.1

  Notices Generally      28  

 

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11.2

  Required Notices to Holders      30  

12.  Inspection

        30       

13.  Amendments

        30       

14.  Waivers

        31       

15.  Successor to Company

        31       

16.  Headings

        31       

17.  Counterparts

        31       

18.  Severability

        32       

19.  No Redemption

        32       

20.  Persons Benefiting

        32       

21.  Applicable Law

        32       

22.  Entire Agreement

        32       

23.  Force Majeure

        33       

24.  Further Assurances

        33       

25.  Confidentiality

        33       

 

 

ii


WARRANT AGREEMENT

This Warrant Agreement (as may be supplemented, amended or amended and restated pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, this “Agreement”), dated as of November 1, 2021, between Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (and any Successor Company (as defined below) that becomes successor to the Company in accordance with Section 15) (the “Company”), and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., a corporation having its principal offices in Edgewood, New York (the “Warrant Agent,” which term includes any successor thereto permitted under this Agreement). Capitalized terms that are used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in Section 1 hereof.

WITNESSETH THAT:

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Sixth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliates Pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, Docket No. 1505 of Case No. 20-11548 (CSS) relating to a reorganization under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code, Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Extraction”), issued and delivered Tranche A Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,907,845 shares of its common stock pursuant to a Warrant Agreement, dated January 20, 2021, between Extraction and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the warrant agent for Extraction (the “Extraction Warrant Agreement”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.24 of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 9, 2021 (as amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Raptor Eagle Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Extraction, the Company is required to make all necessary and appropriate provisions to provide for the assumption by the Company of the due and punctual performance of Extraction’s covenants under the Extraction Warrant Agreement;

WHEREAS, in order to comply with such obligation under the Merger Agreement, the Company proposes to issue and deliver Warrants (as defined below) to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,402,709 shares of its Common Stock (as defined below), subject to adjustment as provided herein, and the Warrant Certificates (as defined below) evidencing such Warrants;

WHEREAS, each Warrant shall entitle the registered owner thereof to purchase one (1) share of the Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein;

WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Warrant Agent act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, exchange, transfer, substitution and exercise of Warrants; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Warrant Agent desire to enter into this Agreement, which shall replace and supplement the Extraction Warrant Agreement in its entirety.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the Company and the Warrant Agent agree as follows:

 

1


1.

Definitions.

Action” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(c).

Adjustment Events” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

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

Agent Members” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of, or exercise of any Warrants evidenced by, any Global Warrant Certificate, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer, exchange or exercise.

Appropriate Officer” means (i) the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer or Secretary or any Vice President of the Company or (ii) any other person designated as such by the Board of Directors from time to time.

Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a legal holiday in the State of New York or a day on which banking institutions and trust companies in the state in which the Corporate Agency Office is located are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whichever is the relevant statute for the particular purpose.

Common Stock” means, subject to the provisions of Section 5.1(f), the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

Company” means the company identified in the preamble hereto.

Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Appropriate Officer and delivered to the Warrant Agent.

Constituent Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f)(i)(A).

Corporate Agency Office” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

 

2


Countersigning Agent” means any Person authorized by the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Warrant Agent to countersign Warrant Certificates.

Current Market Price” means on any date:

(i) if the reference is to the per share price of Common Stock on any date herein specified and if on such date the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading on any U.S. national securities exchange or traded and quoted in the over-the-counter market in the United States:

(A) for the purpose of any computation under this Agreement (except under Section 5.2), the average of the Quoted Prices for the 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on such date or, if such date is not a Trading Day, on the next preceding Trading Day; or

(B) for the purposes of any computation under Section 5.2, the Quoted Price for such date or, if such date is not a Trading Day, for the next preceding Trading Day; or

(ii) if the reference is to the per share price of Common Stock on any date herein specified and if on such date the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any U.S. national securities exchange or traded and quoted in the over-the-counter market in the United States, the amount which a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction on such date (neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell) for one (1) share of the Common Stock as determined as of such date by the Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company in good faith, whose determination shall be final and conclusive and evidenced by a certificate of such officer delivered to the Warrant Agent.

For the avoidance of doubt, no appraisal of any Person or third-party (other than the Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company as further described in clause (ii)) above shall be permitted or required to determine the Current Market Price.

Definitive Warrant Certificate” means a Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Holder thereof that does not bear the Global Warrant Legend and that does not have a “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached thereto.

Depositary” means DTC and its successors as depositary hereunder.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

Exercise Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(f).

Exercise Form” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c).

 

3


Exercise Period” means the period from and including the Original Issue Date to and including the Expiration Date.

Exercise Price” means the exercise price per share of Common Stock, initially set at $91.91, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.1.

Expiration Date” means the earlier to occur of (i) the Scheduled Expiration Date and (ii) a Winding Up.

Extraction” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Extraction Original Issue Date” means January 20, 2021, the date on which warrants were originally issued by Extraction under the Extraction Warrant Agreement.

Extraction Warrant Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

Global Warrant Certificate” means a Warrant Certificate deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, that bears the Global Warrant Legend and that has the “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached thereto.

Global Warrant Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.4(a).

Holder” means any Person in whose name at the time any Warrant Certificate is registered upon the Warrant Register and, when used with respect to any Warrant Certificate, the Person in whose name such Warrant Certificate is registered in the Warrant Register.

Merger Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Non-Surviving Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f).

Original Issue Date” means November 1, 2021, the date on which Warrants are originally issued under this Agreement.

outstanding” when used with respect to any Warrants, means, as of the time of determination, all Warrants theretofore originally issued under this Agreement, as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.1, except (i) Warrants that have been exercised pursuant to Section 3.2(a), (ii) Warrants that have expired, terminated or become void pursuant to Section 3.2(b) or Section 4 and (iii) Warrants that have otherwise been acquired by the Company; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of the outstanding Warrants have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the provisions of this Agreement, Warrants held directly or beneficially by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective employees shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding.

 

4


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

Quoted Price” means, on any Trading Day, with respect to the Common Stock, the VWAP of the Common Stock on such Trading Day on the principal U.S. national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any U.S. national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices in the over-the-counter market in the United States as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm that shall be selected from time to time by the Company for that purpose.

Recipient” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(e).

Required Warrant Holders” means Holders of Warrant Certificates evidencing a majority of the then-outstanding Warrants.

Scheduled Expiration Date” means January 20, 2025 (the fourth (4th) anniversary of the Extraction Original Issue Date) or, if not a Business Day, then the next Business Day thereafter.

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

Subsidiary” means a Person more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock, shares or other equity interests (including partnership interests) which ordinarily have voting power for the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock, shares or other equity interests (including partnership interests) have such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Substituted Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f)(i)(A).

Successor Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.

Surviving Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f).

Trading Day” means a day on which trading in the Common Stock (or other applicable security) generally occurs on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock (or other applicable security) is then listed or traded; provided that if the Common Stock (or other applicable security) are not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f).

VWAP” means the volume-weighted average price for trading hours of the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof), determined without regard to pre-open or after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the trading hours of the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof).

 

5


Warrant Agent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Warrant Certificates” means those certain warrant certificates evidencing the Warrants, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto, which, for the avoidance of doubt, are either Global Warrant Certificates or Definitive Warrant Certificates.

Warrant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

Warrants” means those certain warrants to purchase initially up to an aggregate of 3,402,709 shares of Common Stock at the Exercise Price, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5, issued hereunder.

Winding Up” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.

 

2.

Warrant Certificates.

2.1 Original Issuance of Warrants.

(a) On the Original Issue Date, one or more Global Warrant Certificates evidencing the Warrants shall be executed by the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent for countersignature, and the Warrant Agent shall, upon receipt of a Company Order and at the direction of the Company set forth therein, countersign (by manual or electronic signature) and deliver such Global Warrant Certificates for original issuance to the Depositary, or its custodian, for crediting to the accounts of its participants for the benefit of the holders of beneficial interests in the Warrants on the Original Issue Date pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary on the Original Issue Date.

(b) Except as set forth in Section 2.4, Section 3.2(d), Section 6 and Section 8, the Global Warrant Certificates delivered to the Depositary (or a nominee thereof) on the Original Issue Date shall be the only Warrant Certificates issued or outstanding under this Agreement.

(c) Each Warrant Certificate shall evidence the number of Warrants specified therein, and each Warrant evidenced thereby shall represent the right, subject to the provisions contained herein and therein, to purchase one (1) share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.

2.2 Form of Warrant Certificates.

The Warrant Certificates evidencing the Warrants shall be in registered form only and substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, shall be dated the date on which countersigned by the Warrant Agent, shall have such insertions as are appropriate or required or permitted by this Agreement and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends and endorsements typed, stamped, printed, lithographed or engraved thereon (which does not impact the Warrant Agent’s rights, duties or immunities) as the officers of the Company executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which the Warrants may be listed, or to conform to usage.

 

6


2.3 Execution and Delivery of Warrant Certificates.

(a) Warrant Certificates evidencing the Warrants which may be countersigned and delivered under this Agreement are limited to Warrant Certificates evidencing 3,402,709 Warrants except for Warrant Certificates countersigned and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, one or more previously countersigned Warrant Certificates pursuant to Section 2.4, Section 3.2(d), Section 6 and Section 8.

(b) The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign (by manual or electronic signature) and deliver Warrant Certificates as required by Section 2.1 or by Section 2.4, Section 3.2(d), Section 6 or Section 8.

(c) The Warrant Certificates shall be executed in the corporate name and on behalf of the Company by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any one of the Vice Presidents of the Company under corporate seal reproduced thereon (if the Company has a corporate seal) and attested to by the Secretary or one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Company, either manually or by electronic signature printed thereon. The Warrant Certificates shall be countersigned, either by manual or electronic signature, by the Warrant Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company whose signature shall have been placed upon any of the Warrant Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Warrant Agent and issue and delivery thereof, such Warrant Certificates may, nevertheless, be countersigned by the Warrant Agent and issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though such person had not ceased to be such officer of the Company, and any Warrant Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by such person as, at the actual date of the execution of such Warrant Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such person was not such officer.

2.4 Global Warrant Certificates.

(a) Any Global Warrant Certificate shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the “Global Warrant Legend”).

(b) So long as a Global Warrant Certificate is registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Agreement with respect to the Warrants evidenced by such Global Warrant Certificate held on their behalf by the Depositary or its custodian, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent as the absolute owner of such Warrants, and as the sole Holder of such Warrant Certificate, for all purposes. Accordingly, any such Agent Member’s beneficial interest in such Warrants will be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Agent Members, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall have any responsibility or liability with respect to such records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Agent Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Warrant Agent or any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any security.

 

7


(c) Any holder of a beneficial interest in Warrants evidenced by a Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in the Warrants evidenced by such Global Warrant Certificate may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Depositary as the Holder of such Global Warrant Certificate (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in Warrants evidenced thereby shall be reflected solely in such book-entry form.

(d) Transfers of a Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be limited to transfers in whole, and not in part, to the Depositary, its successors, and their respective nominees except as set forth in Section 2.4(e). Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be transferred in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary.

(e) A Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be exchanged for Definitive Warrant Certificates only if the Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act and (ii) a successor to the Depositary registered as a clearing agency under Section 17A of the Exchange Act is not able to be appointed by the Company within 90 days or the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and a successor to the Depositary is not able to be appointed by the Company within 90 days. In any such event, each Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be surrendered to the Warrant Agent for cancellation in accordance with Section 3.5, and the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, upon the Company’s instruction, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary, in exchange for such beneficial owner’s beneficial interest in such Global Warrant Certificate, Definitive Warrant Certificates evidencing, in the aggregate, the number of Warrants theretofore represented by such Global Warrant Certificate with respect to such beneficial owner’s respective beneficial interest. Any Definitive Warrant Certificate delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Warrant Certificate pursuant to this Section 2.4(e) shall not bear the Global Warrant Legend. Interests in any Global Warrant Certificate may not be exchanged for Definitive Warrant Certificates other than as provided in this Section 2.4(e).

(f) The holder of a Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder of a Warrant Certificate is entitled to take under this Agreement or such Global Warrant Certificate.

(g) Each Global Warrant Certificate will evidence such of the outstanding Warrants as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it evidences the aggregate number of outstanding Warrants from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate number of outstanding Warrants evidenced thereby may from time to time be reduced, to reflect exercises or expirations. Any endorsement of a Global Warrant Certificate to reflect the amount of any decrease in the aggregate number of outstanding Warrants evidenced thereby will be made by the Warrant Agent (i) in the case of an exercise, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures as required by Section 3.2(c) or (ii) in the case of an expiration, in accordance with Section 3.2(b).

 

8


(h) The Company initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Warrant Certificates.

(i) Every Warrant Certificate authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Warrant Certificate or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.4 or Section 8 or Section 10, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Warrant Certificate, and a Global Warrant Certificate may not be exchanged for a Definitive Warrant Certificate, in each case, other than as provided in Section 2.4(e). Whenever any provision herein refers to issuance by the Company and countersignature and delivery by the Warrant Agent of a new Warrant Certificate in exchange for the portion of a surrendered Warrant Certificate that has not been exercised, in lieu of the surrender of any Global Warrant Certificate and the issuance, countersignature and delivery of a new Global Warrant Certificate in exchange therefor, the Warrant Agent, on the Company’s instruction, may endorse such Global Warrant Certificate to reflect a reduction in the number of Warrants evidenced thereby in the amount of Warrants so evidenced that have been so exercised.

(j) Beneficial interests in any Global Warrant Certificate may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global Warrant Certificate in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

(k) At such time as all Warrants evidenced by a particular Global Warrant Certificate have been exercised or expired, terminated or become void in whole and not in part, such Global Warrant Certificate shall, if not in custody of the Warrant Agent, be surrendered to or retained by the Warrant Agent for cancellation in accordance with Section 3.5.

 

3.

Exercise and Expiration of Warrants.

3.1 Right to Acquire Common Stock Upon Exercise. Each Warrant Certificate duly issued by the Company shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Holder thereof, subject to the provisions thereof and of this Agreement, to acquire from the Company, for each Warrant evidenced thereby, one (1) share of Common Stock at the Exercise Price, subject to adjustment as provided in this Agreement. The Exercise Price, and the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of each Warrant, shall be adjusted from time to time as required by Section 5.1.

3.2 Exercise and Expiration of Warrants.

(a) Exercise of Warrants. Subject to and upon compliance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, a Holder of a Warrant Certificate may exercise all or any whole number of the Warrants evidenced thereby, on any Business Day from and after the Original Issue Date until 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date, for the shares of Common Stock obtainable thereunder.

(b) Expiration of Warrants. The Warrants, to the extent not exercised prior thereto, shall automatically expire, terminate and become void as of 5:00 p m., New York time, on the Expiration Date. No further action of any Person (including by, or on behalf of, any Holder, the Company, or the Warrant Agent) shall be required to effectuate the expiration of Warrants pursuant to this Section 3.2(b).

 

9


(c) Method of Exercise. In order for a Holder to exercise all or any of the Warrants represented by a Warrant Certificate, the Holder thereof must (i) (x) in the case of a Global Warrant Certificate, deliver to the Warrant Agent an exercise form for the election to exercise such Warrants substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (an “Exercise Form”), setting forth the number of Warrants being exercised and otherwise properly completed and duly executed by the Holder thereof and deliver such Warrants by book-entry transfer through the facilities of the Depositary to the Warrant Agent in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and otherwise comply with the Applicable Procedures in respect of the exercise of such Warrants or (y) in the case of a Definitive Warrant Certificate, at the Corporate Agency Office, (I) deliver to the Warrant Agent an Exercise Form, setting forth the number of Warrants being exercised and otherwise properly completed and duly executed by the Holder thereof as well as any such other necessary information the Warrant Agent may reasonably require, and (ii) surrender to the Warrant Agent the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrants; and (iii) pay to the Warrant Agent an amount equal to all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 3.4 prior to, or concurrently with, exercise of such Warrants by wire transfer in immediately available funds, to the account (No. 4124218686; ABA No. 121000248; Reference: Warrant Exercise; For Further Credit Name: Civitas RES INC.) of the Company at the Warrant Agent or such other account as the Warrant Agent shall have given notice to the Company and such Holder in accordance with Section 11.1(b). For the avoidance of doubt, any exercise of any Warrant shall be “net share settled” pursuant to a cashless exercise as described in Section 3.7.

(d) Partial Exercise. If fewer than all the Warrants represented by a Warrant Certificate are exercised, (i) in the case of exercise of Warrants evidenced by a Global Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent shall cause the custodian of DTC to endorse the “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached to such Global Warrant Certificate to reflect the Warrants being exercised and (ii) in the case of exercise of Warrants evidenced by a Definitive Warrant Certificate, such Definitive Warrant Certificate shall be surrendered and a new Definitive Warrant Certificate of the same tenor and for the number of Warrants which were not exercised shall be executed by the Company. The Warrant Agent shall countersign the new Definitive Warrant Certificate, registered in such name or names, subject to the provisions of Section 8 regarding registration of transfer and payment of governmental charges in respect thereof, as may be directed in writing by the Holder, and shall deliver the new Definitive Warrant Certificate to the Person or Persons in whose name such new Definitive Warrant Certificate is so registered. The Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, will supply the Warrant Agent with Definitive Warrant Certificates duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

(e) Issuance of Common Stock. Upon due exercise of Warrants evidenced by any Warrant Certificate in conformity with the foregoing provisions of Section 3.2(c), the Warrant Agent shall, when actions specified in Section 3.2(c)(i) have been effected and any payment specified in Section 3.2(c)(ii) is received, deliver to the Company the Exercise Form received pursuant to Section 3.2(c)(i), deliver or deposit any funds, in accordance with Section 3.3, received as instructed in writing by the Company and advise the Company by telephone at the end of such day of the amount of funds so deposited to its account. The Company shall thereupon, as promptly

 

10


as practicable, and in any event within two (2) Business Days after the Exercise Date referred to below, (i) determine the number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to exercise of such Warrants pursuant to Section 3.7 and (ii) (x) in the case of exercise of Warrants evidenced by a Global Warrant Certificate, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Recipient (as defined below) in accordance with the Applicable Procedures shares of Common Stock in book-entry form to be so held through the facilities of DTC in an amount equal to, or, if the Common Stock may not then be held in book-entry form through the facilities of DTC, duly executed certificates representing, or (y) in the case of exercise of Warrants evidenced by Definitive Warrant Certificates, execute or cause to be executed and deliver or cause to be delivered to the Recipient (as defined below) a certificate or certificates representing, in case of (x) and (y), the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise (based upon the aggregate number of Warrants so exercised), as so determined, together with an amount in cash in lieu of any fractional share(s), if the Company so elects pursuant to Section 5.2. The shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or certificate or certificates representing shares of Common Stock so delivered shall be, to the extent possible, in such denomination or denominations as such Holder shall request in the applicable Exercise Form and shall be registered or otherwise placed in the name of, and delivered to, the Holder or, subject to Section 3.4, such other Person as shall be designated by the Holder in such Exercise Form (the Holder or such other Person being referred to herein as the “Recipient”).

(f) Time of Exercise. Each exercise of a Warrant shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the day on which each of the requirements for exercise of such Warrant specified in Section 3.2(c) has been duly satisfied (the “Exercise Date”). At such time, shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or the certificates for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise as provided in Section 3.2(e) shall be deemed to have been issued and, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Recipient shall, as between such Person and the Company, be deemed to be and entitled to all rights of the holder or record of such Common Stock.

3.3 Application of Funds upon Exercise of Warrants. All funds received by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by the Warrant Agent in the performance of services (the “Funds”) shall be held by the Warrant Agent in its name as agent for the Company. Until paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Warrant Agent will hold the Funds through such accounts in: deposit accounts of commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion or with an average rating above investment grade by S&P (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moody’s (Long Term Rating) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.). The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit made by the Warrant Agent in accordance with this paragraph, including any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party. The Warrant Agent may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits. The Warrant Agent shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to the Company, any holder or any other party. The Warrant Agent shall forward funds received for Warrant exercises in a given month by the fifth (5) Business Day of the following month by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company or as the Warrant Agent otherwise may be directed in writing by the Company.

 

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3.4 Payment of Taxes. The Company shall pay any and all taxes (other than income taxes) that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on exercise of Warrants pursuant hereto. The Company or the Warrant Agent shall not be required, however, to pay any tax or other charge imposed in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or any certificates for shares of Common Stock or payment of cash or other property to any Recipient other than, in the case of the Company, the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing the exercised Warrant, and in case of such transfer or payment, the Warrant Agent and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or any certificate or pay any cash until (a) such tax or charge has been paid or an amount sufficient for the payment thereof has been delivered to the Warrant Agent or the Company or (b) it has been established to the Company’s or Warrant Agent’s satisfaction that any such tax or other charge that is or may become due has been paid.

3.5 Cancellation of Warrant Certificates. Any Definitive Warrant Certificate surrendered for exercise shall, if surrendered to the Company, be delivered to the Warrant Agent. All Warrant Certificates surrendered or delivered to or received by the Warrant Agent for cancellation pursuant to this Section 3.5 or Section 2.4(e) or Section 2.4(j) shall be promptly cancelled by the Warrant Agent and shall not be reissued by the Company. The Warrant Agent shall destroy any such cancelled Warrant Certificates in accordance with the Warrant Agent’s standard procedures for destroying securities certificates and deliver its certificate of destruction to the Company, unless the Company shall otherwise direct in writing.

3.6 Shares Issuable. The number of shares of Common Stock “obtainable upon exercise” of Warrants at any time shall be the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Warrants are then exercisable. The Company will confirm the number of shares obtainable upon exercise if so requested by the Warrant Agent. The number of shares of Common Stock “into which each Warrant is exercisable” shall be one (1) share, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.1.

3.7 Cashless Exercise. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, upon exercise of any Warrants the Company shall issue to the Holder a number of shares of Common Stock with respect to the Warrants being exercised computed using the following formula:

 

   X = (Y (A-B)) ÷ A
Where X =    the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Holder in respect of the Warrants being exercised;
Y =    the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Warrants being exercised by the Holder are exercisable (on the Exercise Date);
A =    the Current Market Price of one (1) share of Common Stock (on the Exercise Date); and
B =    the applicable Exercise Price (as adjusted through and including the Exercise Date).

 

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If the foregoing calculation results in a negative number, then no Common Stock shall be issued upon exercise pursuant to this Section 3.

The Company shall calculate and transmit to the Warrant Agent the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued on such exercise, and the Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under this Agreement to calculate, confirm or verify such amount.

3.8 Cost Basis Information. The Company hereby instructs the Warrant Agent to record cost basis for newly issued shares at the time of exercise in accordance with instructions by the Company. If the Company does not provide such cost basis information to the Warrant Agent, as outlined above, then the Warrant Agent will treat those shares issued hereunder as uncovered securities or the equivalent, and each holder of such shares will need to obtain such cost basis information from the Company.

 

4.

Dissolution, Liquidation or Winding up.

Unless Section 5.1(f) applies, if, on or prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (or any other Person controlling the Company) shall propose a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up (a “Winding Up”) of the affairs of the Company, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent and all Holders in the manner provided in Section 11.1(b) at least ten (10) business days prior to the date on which such Winding Up is expected to become effective or, if earlier, the record date for such Winding Up. Such notice shall also specify the date as of which the holders of record of the shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to exchange their shares for securities, money or other property deliverable upon such Winding Up, on which date (i) each Holder of Warrant Certificates shall receive the securities, money or other property which such Holder would have been entitled to receive had such Holder been the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock into which the Warrants were exercisable immediately prior to such Winding Up (net of the then applicable Exercise Price) and (ii) the rights to exercise the Warrants shall terminate.

Unless Section 5.1(f) applies, in case of any such Winding Up of the Company, the Company shall deposit with the Warrant Agent any funds or other property which the Holders are entitled to receive pursuant to the above paragraph, together with a Company Order as to the distribution thereof. After receipt of such deposit from the Company and after receipt of surrendered Warrant Certificates evidencing Warrants, and any such other necessary information as the Warrant Agent may reasonably require, the Warrant Agent shall make payment in the appropriate amount to such Person or Persons as it may be directed in writing by the Holder surrendering such Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to pay interest on any money deposited pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4 except such as it shall agree with the Company to pay thereon. Any moneys, securities or other property which at any time shall be deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section 4 shall be, and are hereby, assigned, transferred and set over to the Warrant Agent in accordance with Section 3.3 hereof; provided, that, moneys, securities or other property need not be segregated from other funds, securities or other property held by the Warrant Agent except to the extent required by law.

 

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5.

Adjustments.

5.1 Adjustments. In order to prevent dilution of the rights granted under the Warrants and to grant the Holders certain additional rights, the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time only as specifically provided in this Section 5.1 (the “Adjustment Events”) and the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of Warrants shall be subject to adjustment from time to time only as specifically provided in this Section 5.1.

(a) Subdivisions and Combinations. In the event the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date while any Warrants remain outstanding and unexpired in whole or in part, effect a subdivision (by any stock split or otherwise) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock (other than (x) a subdivision upon a Transaction to which Section 5.1(f) applies or (y) a stock split effected by means of a stock dividend or distribution to which Section 5.1(b) applies), then and in each such event the Exercise Price in effect at the opening of business on the day after the date upon which such subdivision becomes effective shall be proportionately decreased. Conversely, if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date while any Warrants remain outstanding and unexpired in whole or in part, effect a combination (by any reverse stock split, combination, subdivision or otherwise) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock (other than a combination upon a Transaction to which Section 5.1(f) applies), then and in each such event the Exercise Price in effect at the opening of business on the day after the date upon which such combination becomes effective shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustment under this Section 5.1(a) shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day after the date upon which the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

(b) Common Stock Dividends. In the event the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date while any Warrants remain outstanding and unexpired in whole or in part, make or issue to the holders of its Common Stock a dividend or distribution payable in, or otherwise make or issue a dividend or other distribution on any class of its capital stock payable in, shares of Common Stock (other than a dividend or distribution upon a Transaction to which Section 5.1(f) applies), then and in each such event the Exercise Price in effect at the opening of business on the day after the date for the determination of the holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to receive such dividend or distribution shall be decreased by multiplying such Exercise Price by a fraction (not to be greater than 1):

(i) the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding at the close of business on such date for determination; and

(ii) the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding at the close of business on such date for determination plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.

Any adjustment under this Section 5.1(b) shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day after the date the holders of shares of Common Stock receive such dividend or distribution.

 

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(c) Reclassifications. A reclassification of the Common Stock (other than any such reclassification in connection with a Transaction to which Section 5.1(f) applies) into shares of Common Stock and shares of any other class of stock shall be deemed, if the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into a larger or smaller number of shares of Common Stock as a part of such reclassification, a subdivision or combination, as the case may be, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock for the purposes and within the meaning of Section 5.1(a) (and the effective date of such reclassification shall be deemed to be “the date upon which such subdivision becomes effective” or “the date upon which such combination becomes effective,” as applicable, for the purposes and within the meaning of Section 5.1(a)).

(d) Other Provisions Applicable to Adjustments. The following provisions shall be applicable to the making of adjustments to the Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock into which each Warrant is exercisable under this Section 5.1:

(i) Treasury Stock. The dividend or distribution of any issued shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company shall be deemed a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock for purposes of Section 5.1(b). The Company shall not make or issue any dividend or distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company. For the purposes of Section 5.1(b), the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company.

(ii) When Adjustments Are to be Made. The adjustments required by Section 5.1(a), Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.1(c) shall be made whenever and as often as any specified event requiring an adjustment shall occur, except that no adjustment of the Exercise Price that would otherwise be required shall be made unless and until such adjustment either by itself or with other adjustments not previously made increases or decreases the Exercise Price immediately prior to the making of such adjustment by at least 1%. Any adjustment representing a change of less than such minimum amount (except as aforesaid) shall be carried forward and made as soon as such adjustment, together with other adjustments required by Section 5.1(a), Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.1(c) and not previously made, would result in such minimum adjustment.

(iii) Fractional Interests. In computing adjustments under Section 5.1, fractional interests in Common Stock shall be taken into account to the nearest one-thousandth (1/1000) of a share.

(e) Adjustment to Shares Obtainable Upon Exercise. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted as provided in this Section 5.1, the number of shares of Common Stock into which a Warrant is exercisable shall simultaneously be adjusted by multiplying such number of shares of Common Stock into which a Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Exercise Price immediately prior to such adjustment, and the denominator of which shall be the Exercise Price immediately thereafter.

 

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(f) Changes in Common Stock. In case at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date while any Warrants remain outstanding and unexpired in whole or in part, the Company shall be a party to or shall otherwise engage in any transaction or series of related transactions constituting: (1) a merger of the Company into, a direct or indirect sale of all of the Company’s equity to, or a consolidation of the Company with, any other Person in which the previously outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) cancelled, reclassified or converted or changed into or exchanged for securities or other property (including cash) or any combination of the foregoing, or a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) (a “Non-Surviving Transaction”), or (2) any merger of another Person into the Company in which the previously outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be cancelled, reclassified or converted or changed into or exchanged for securities of the Company or other property (including cash) or any combination of the foregoing (a “Surviving Transaction”; any Non-Surviving Transaction or Surviving Transaction being herein called a “Transaction”) then:

(i) as a condition to the consummation of such Transaction, the Company shall cause such other Person to execute and deliver to the Warrant Agent a written instrument providing that:

(A) so long as any Warrant remains outstanding in whole or in part (including after giving effect to the changes specified under clause (B) below), such Warrant, upon the exercise thereof at any time on or after the consummation of such Transaction, shall be exercisable (on such terms and subject to such conditions as shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the provisions set forth in this Agreement) into, in lieu of the Common Stock issuable upon such exercise prior to such consummation, only the securities (“Substituted Securities”) that would have been receivable upon such Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Warrant was exercisable immediately prior to such Transaction assuming, in the case of any such Transaction, if (as a result of rights of election or otherwise) the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such Transaction is not the same for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to such Transaction, such holder of Common Stock is a Person that is neither (I) an employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary thereof nor (II) a Person with which the Company consolidated or into which the Company merged or which merged into the Company or to which such sale or transfer was made, as the case may be (“Constituent Person”), or an Affiliate of a Constituent Person; and

(B) the rights and obligations of such other Person and the Holders in respect of Substituted Securities shall be substantially unchanged to be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the rights and obligations of the Company and Holders in respect of Common Stock hereunder as set forth in Section 3.1 hereof;

(ii) with respect to any Transaction, such written instrument under clause (i) above shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such written instrument shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section 5. The above provisions of this Section 5.1(f) shall similarly apply to successive Transactions.

 

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(g) Compliance with Governmental Requirements. Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Exercise Price below the then par value of any of the shares of Common Stock into which the Warrants are exercisable, the Company will take any corporate action that may be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of such Common Stock at such adjusted Exercise Price.

(h) Optional Tax Adjustment. The Company may at its option, at any time during the term of the Warrants, increase the number of shares of Common Stock into which each Warrant is exercisable, or decrease the Exercise Price, in addition to those changes required by Section 5.1(a), Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.1(c) as deemed advisable by the Board of Directors of the Company, in order that any event treated for federal income tax purposes as a dividend of stock or stock rights shall not be taxable to the recipients.

(i) Warrants Deemed Exercisable. For purposes solely of this Section 5, the number of shares of Common Stock which the holder of any Warrant would have been entitled to receive had such Warrant been exercised in full at any time or into which any Warrant was exercisable at any time shall be determined assuming such Warrant was exercisable in full at such time.

(j) Notice of Adjustment. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment of the Exercise Price or the number of shares of Common Stock into which a Warrant is exercisable pursuant to this Section 5.1, the Company at its expense shall promptly:

(i) compute such adjustment in accordance with the terms hereof;

(ii) after such adjustment becomes effective, deliver to all Holders, in accordance with Section 11.1(b) and Section 11.2, a notice setting forth such adjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based; and

(iii) deliver to the Warrant Agent a certificate of the Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company setting forth the Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock into which each Warrant is exercisable after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment and the computation by which such adjustment was made (including a description of the basis on which the Current Market Price of the Common Stock was determined). As provided in Section 10, the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to rely on such certificate and shall be under no duty or responsibility with respect to any such certificate, except to exhibit the same from time to time at the Corporate Agency Office (as defined below) to any Holder desiring an inspection thereof during reasonable business hours. The Company hereby agrees that it will provide the Holders and the Warrant Agent with reasonable notice of any Adjustment Event set forth in this Section 5.1. The Company further agrees that it will provide to the Holders and Warrant Agent with any new or amended exercise terms. The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under any Section of this Agreement to determine whether an Adjustment Event has occurred or to calculate any of the adjustments set forth herein.

(k) Statement on Warrant Certificates. Irrespective of any adjustment in the Exercise Price or amount or kind of shares into which the Warrants are exercisable, Warrant Certificates theretofore or thereafter issued may continue to express the same Exercise Price initially applicable or amount or kind of shares initially issuable upon exercise of the Warrants evidenced thereby pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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5.2 Fractional Interest. The Company shall not be required upon the exercise of any Warrant to issue any fractional shares of Common Stock, but may, in lieu of issuing any fractional shares of Common Stock make an adjustment therefore in cash on the basis of the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on the date of such exercise. If Warrant Certificates evidencing more than one Warrant shall be presented for exercise at the same time by the same Holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable upon such exercise thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of Warrants so to be exercised. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Warrant Certificates, expressly waive their right to receive any fraction of a share of Common Stock or a stock certificate representing a fraction of a share of Common Stock if such amount of cash is paid in lieu thereof. On the Extraction Original Issue Date, Extraction provided an initial funding of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the purpose of issuing cash in lieu of fractional shares. From time to time thereafter, Warrant Agent may request additional funding to cover fractional payments. The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation to make fractional payments unless the Company shall have provided the necessary funds to pay in full all amounts due and payable with respect thereto.

5.3 No Other Adjustments. Except in accordance with Section 5.1, the applicable Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of any Warrant will not be adjusted for the issuance of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or carrying the right to purchase any of the foregoing, including, without limitation:

(i) upon the issuance of any other securities by the Company on or after the Original Issue Date or upon the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of any such securities;

(ii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or other securities or any payments pursuant to any management or other equity incentive plan of the Company;

(iii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of the Warrants; or

(iv) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company in connection with a business acquisition transaction.

 

6.

Loss or Mutilation.

If (a) any mutilated Warrant Certificate is surrendered to the Warrant Agent or (b) both (i) there shall be delivered to the Company and the Warrant Agent (A) a claim by a Holder as to the destruction, loss or wrongful taking of any Warrant Certificate of such Holder and a request thereby for a new replacement Warrant Certificate, and (B) such open penalty surety bond and/or indemnity bond as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless and (ii) such other reasonable requirements as may be imposed by the Company or Warrant Agent as permitted by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code have been

 

18


satisfied, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Warrant Agent that such Warrant Certificate has been acquired by a “protected purchaser” within the meaning of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code or bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its written request the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver to the registered Holder of the lost, wrongfully taken, destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, in exchange therefore or in lieu thereof, a new Warrant Certificate of the same tenor and for a like aggregate number of Warrants. At the written request of such registered Holder, the new Warrant Certificate so issued shall be retained by the Warrant Agent as having been surrendered for exercise, in lieu of delivery thereof to such Holder, and shall be deemed for purposes of Section 3.2(c)(ii) to have been surrendered for exercise on the date the conditions specified in clauses (A) or (B) of the preceding sentence were first satisfied. The Warrant Agent may, at its option, issue replacement Warrants for mutilated certificates upon presentation thereof without such indemnity.

Upon the issuance of any new Warrant Certificate under this Section 6, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Warrant Agent and of counsel to the Company) in connection therewith.

Every new Warrant Certificate executed and delivered pursuant to this Section 6 in lieu of any lost, wrongfully taken or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, wrongfully taken or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly executed and delivered hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 6 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights or remedies with respect to the replacement of mutilated, lost, wrongfully taken, or destroyed Warrant Certificates.

 

7.

Reservation and Authorization of Common Stock.

The Company covenants that, for the duration of the Exercise Period, the Company will at all times reserve and keep available, from its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock solely for issuance and delivery upon the exercise of the Warrants and free of preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock and other securities, cash or property as from time to time shall be issuable upon the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants for cash The Company further covenants that it shall, from time to time, take all steps necessary to increase the authorized number of shares of its Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient to deliver all shares of Common Stock deliverable upon exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants, if at any time the authorized number of shares of Common Stock remaining unissued would otherwise be insufficient to allow delivery of all the shares of Common Stock then deliverable upon the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants. The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants will, upon issuance, be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will be free of restrictions on transfer and will be free from all taxes, liens and charges in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously or as otherwise specified herein). The Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such shares of Common Stock may be so issued without

 

19


violation of any applicable law or governmental regulation or any requirements of any U.S. national securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock may be listed (except for official notice of issuance which shall be immediately delivered by the Company upon each such issuance). The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock will, at all times that Warrants are exercisable, be duly approved for listing subject to official notice of issuance on each securities exchange, if any, on which the Common Stock is then listed. The Company covenants that the stock certificates, if any, issued to evidence any shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of Warrants will comply with the Delaware General Corporation Law and any other applicable law.

The Company hereby authorizes and directs its current and future transfer agents for the Common Stock at all times to reserve stock certificates for such number of authorized shares, to the extent as, and if, required. The Company will supply such transfer agents with duly executed stock certificates for such purposes, to the extent as, and if, required.

The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Holders that the issuance of the Warrants and the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof will not constitute a breach of, or a default under, any other material agreements to which the Company is a party on the date hereof.

 

8.

Warrant Transfer Books.

The Warrant Agent will maintain an office or offices (the “Corporate Agency Office”) in the United States of America, where Warrant Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where Warrant Certificates may be surrendered for exercise of Warrants evidenced thereby, which office is 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717, Attn: Corporate Actions Department. The Warrant Agent will give prompt written notice to all Holders of Warrant Certificates of any change in the location of such office.

The Warrants shall be issued in registered form only. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Agency Office a warrant register (the “Warrant Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Warrant Agent may prescribe and such regulations as may be prescribed by law, the Company shall provide for the registration of Warrants and of transfers or exchanges of Warrants as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Warrant Certificate at the Corporate Agency Office, the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Warrant Certificates evidencing a like aggregate number of Warrants.

At the option of the Holder, Warrant Certificates may be exchanged at the Corporate Agency Office upon payment of the charges hereinafter provided for other Warrant Certificates evidencing a like aggregate number of Warrants. Whenever any Warrant Certificates are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, the Warrant Certificates of the same tenor and evidencing the same number of Warrants as evidenced by the Warrant Certificates surrendered by the Holder making the exchange.

 

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All Warrant Certificates issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same obligations, and entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement, as the Warrant Certificates surrendered for such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Warrant Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Warrant Agent) be: (i) duly endorsed and containing a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, or (ii) be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Agent, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, also containing a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association. In addition, in connection with any transfer, the Warrant Agent or the Company may request a written opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company or the Warrant Agent, as applicable, that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and application state securities or “blue sky” laws. Further, to effect such transfer or exchange, all other necessary information or documentation shall be provided as the Warrant Agent may reasonably request.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrants; provided, however, the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement that requires the payment of taxes and/or charges unless and until it is satisfied that all such payments have been made.

The Warrant Agent shall, upon request and at the expense of the Company from time to time, deliver to the Company such reports of registered ownership of the Warrants and such records of transactions with respect to the Warrants and the shares of Common Stock as the Company may request. The Warrant Agent shall, upon reasonable advance notice, also make available to the Company for inspection by the Company’s agents or employees, from time to time as the Company may request, such books of accounts and records maintained by the Warrant Agent in connection with the issuance and exercise of Warrants hereunder, such inspections to occur at the Corporate Agency Office during the Warrant Agent’s normal business hours.

The Warrant Agent shall keep copies of this Agreement and any notices given to Holders hereunder available for inspection, upon reasonable advance notice, by the Holders during normal business hours at the Corporate Agency Office. The Company shall supply the Warrant Agent from time to time with such numbers of copies of this Agreement as the Warrant Agent may request.

 

9.

Warrant Holders.

9.1 No Voting or Dividend Rights.

(a) No Holder of a Warrant Certificate evidencing any Warrant shall have or exercise any rights by virtue hereof as a holder of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends and other distributions as a holder of Common Stock or to receive notice of, or attend, meetings or any other proceedings of the holders of Common Stock.

 

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(b) The consent of any Holder of a Warrant Certificate shall not be required with respect to any action or proceeding of the Company.

(c) Except as provided in Section 4, no Holder of a Warrant Certificate, by reason of the ownership or possession of a Warrant or the Warrant Certificate representing the same, shall have any right to receive any cash dividends, stock dividends, allotments or rights or other distributions paid, allotted or distributed or distributable to the holders of Common Stock prior to, or for which the relevant record date preceded, the date of the exercise of such Warrant.

(d) No Holder of a Warrant Certificate shall have any right not expressly conferred hereunder or under, or by applicable law with respect to, the Warrant Certificate held by such Holder.

9.2 Rights of Action. All rights of action against the Company in respect of this Agreement, except rights of action vested in the Warrant Agent, are vested in the Holders of the Warrant Certificates, and any Holder of any Warrant Certificate, without the consent of the Warrant Agent or the Holder of any other Warrant Certificate, may, in such Holder’s own behalf and for such Holder’s own benefit, enforce and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company suitable to enforce, or otherwise in respect of, such Holder’s right to exercise such Holder’s Warrants in the manner provided in this Agreement.

9.3 Treatment of Holders of Warrant Certificates. Every Holder, by virtue of accepting a Warrant Certificate, consents and agrees with the Company, with the Warrant Agent and with every subsequent holder of such Warrant Certificate that, prior to due presentment of such Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer, the Company and the Warrant Agent may treat the Person in whose name the Warrant Certificate is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes and as the Person entitled to exercise the rights granted under the Warrants, and neither the Company, the Warrant Agent nor any agent thereof shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

10.    Concerning the Warrant Agent. Sections 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 and 10.8 shall survive the expiration of the Warrants and the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Warrant Agent.

10.1 Rights and Duties of the Warrant Agent.

(a) The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent of the Company as set forth in this Agreement. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the appointment as agent of the Company and agrees to perform that agency upon the express terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Warrant Certificates or as the Company and the Warrant Agent may hereafter agree in writing, by all of which the Company and the Holders of Warrant Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound; provided, however, that the terms and conditions contained in the Warrant Certificates are subject to and governed by this Agreement or any other terms and conditions hereafter agreed to by the Company and the Warrant Agent in writing.

 

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(b) The Warrant Agent shall not, by countersigning Warrant Certificates or by any other act hereunder, incur any liability for or in respect of, or be deemed to make any representations as to, validity or authorization of (i) the Warrants or the Warrant Certificates (except as to its countersignature thereon), (ii) any securities or other property delivered upon exercise of any Warrant, (iii) the accuracy of the computation of the number or kind or amount of stock or other securities or other property deliverable upon exercise of any Warrant, (iv) the correctness of any of the representations of the Company made in such certificates that the Warrant Agent receives; or (v) any of the statements of act or recitals contained in this Agreement. The Warrant Agent shall not at any time have any duty to calculate or determine whether any facts exist that may require any adjustments pursuant to Section 5 hereof with respect to the kind and amount of shares or other securities or any property issuable to Holders upon the exercise of Warrants required from time to time. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility to determine the accuracy or correctness of such calculation or with respect to the methods employed in making the same. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock or of any securities or property which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the exercise of any Warrant or upon any adjustment pursuant to Section 5 hereof, and it makes no representation with respect thereto. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any failure of the Company to make any cash payment or to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property upon the surrender of any Warrant Certificate for the purpose of exercise or upon any adjustment pursuant to Section 5 hereof or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in Section 5 hereof.

(c) The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Warrant Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, and all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

(d) The Warrant Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility in the case of the receipt of any written demand from any holder of Warrants with respect to any action or default by the Company, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon the Company.

(e) The Warrant Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorney or agents, and the Warrant Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorney or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in the selection and continued employment thereof.

(f) The Warrant Agent may rely on and shall be held harmless and protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it absent gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in reliance upon any certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission, telegram or other document, or any security delivered to it, and believed by it to be genuine and to have been made or signed by the proper party or parties, or upon any written or oral instructions or statements from the Company with respect to any matter relating to its acting as Warrant Agent hereunder.

 

23


(g) The Warrant Agent shall not be obligated to expend or risk its own funds or to take any action that it believes would expose or subject it to expense or liability or to a risk of incurring expense or liability, unless it has been furnished with assurances of repayment or indemnity satisfactory to it.

(h) The Warrant Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to any registration statement filed with the Commission or this Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law.

(i) The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any Warrants authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the issue and sale, or exercise, of the Warrants.

(j) The Warrant Agent shall act hereunder solely as agent for the Company, and its duties shall be determined solely by the express provisions hereof (and no duties or obligations shall be inferred or implied). The Warrant Agent shall not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust with any of the owners or holders of the Warrants.

(k) The Warrant Agent may rely on and be fully authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing.

(l) In the event the Warrant Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Warrant Agent hereunder, the Warrant Agent, may, in its sole discretion, refrain from taking any action, and shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Company, the holder of any Warrant Certificate or any other person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless the Warrant Agent receives written instructions signed by the Company which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of Warrant Agent.

(m) Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by an Appropriate Officer and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement, and will be indemnified and held harmless for such reliance, and shall not be held liable in connection with any delay in receiving such statement.

 

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(n) The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility to the Company, any Holders of Warrants or any holders of shares of Common Stock for interest or earnings on any moneys held by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

(o) The Warrant Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any event or condition hereunder, including any event or condition that may require action by the Warrant Agent, unless the Warrant Agent shall be specifically notified in writing of such event or condition by the Company, and all notices or other instruments required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Warrant Agent must, in order to be effective, be received by the Warrant Agent as specified in Section 11.1 hereof, and in the absence of such notice so delivered, the Warrant Agent may conclusively assume no such event or condition exists.

10.2 Limitation of Liability.

(a) The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Warrant Agent’s aggregate liability during any term of this Agreement with respect to, arising from, or arising in connection with this Agreement, or from all services provided or omitted to be provided under this Agreement, whether in contract, or in tort, or otherwise, is limited to, and shall not exceed, the amounts paid hereunder by the Company to Warrant Agent as fees and charges, but not including reimbursable expenses, during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from Warrant Agent is being sought. Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for any consequential, indirect, special or incidental damages under any provisions of this Agreement or for any consequential, indirect, punitive, special or incidental damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder even if that party has been advised of or has foreseen the possibility of such damages.

(b) Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 5 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

10.3 Indemnification.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify and to hold the Warrant Agent harmless against any costs, expenses (including reasonable and documented fees of its legal counsel), losses or damages, which may be paid, incurred or suffered by or to which it may become subject, arising from or out of, directly or indirectly, any claims or liability resulting from its actions as Warrant Agent pursuant hereto; provided, however, that such covenant and agreement does not extend to, and the Warrant Agent shall not be indemnified with respect to, such costs, expenses, losses and damages incurred or suffered by the Warrant Agent as a result of, or arising out of, its gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the Company.

 

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(b) Instructions. From time to time, the Company may provide the Warrant Agent with instructions, by Company Order or otherwise, concerning the services performed by the Warrant Agent hereunder. In addition, at any time the Warrant Agent may apply to any officer of the Company for instruction, and may consult with legal counsel for the Warrant Agent or the Company with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement. The Warrant Agent and its agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Company for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by Warrant Agent in reliance upon any Company instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel. Warrant Agent shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Company.

10.4 Right to Consult Counsel. The Warrant Agent may at any time consult with legal counsel satisfactory to it (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the Warrant Agent shall incur no liability or responsibility to the Company or to any Holder for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it absent gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel.

10.5 Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent from time to time compensation for all reasonable fees and expenses relating to its services hereunder as the Company and the Warrant Agent may agree in writing from time to time and to reimburse the Warrant Agent for all of its reasonable expenses and disbursements, including reasonable counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in connection with the preparation, delivery, negotiation, amendment, administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder.

10.6 Warrant Agent May Hold Company Securities. The Warrant Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Warrant Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Warrants or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Warrant Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent or any Countersigning Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

 

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10.7 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) The Warrant Agent may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liability hereunder (except liability arising as a result of the Warrant Agent’s own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction)) after giving 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company. The Company may remove the Warrant Agent upon 30 days’ written notice, and the Warrant Agent shall thereupon in like manner be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder, except as aforesaid. The Warrant Agent shall, at the expense of the Company, cause notice to be given in accordance with Section 11.1(b) to the Company of said notice of resignation or notice of removal, as the case may be. Upon such resignation or removal, the Company shall appoint in writing a new Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 calendar days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation by the resigning Warrant Agent or after such removal, then the Holder of any Warrant Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Warrant Agent. Any new Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a Person (other than a natural person) doing business under the laws of the United States or any state thereof in good standing, authorized under such laws to act as Warrant Agent, and having a combined capital and surplus (together with its Affiliates) of not less than $25,000,000. The combined capital and surplus of such new Warrant Agent shall be deemed to be the combined capital and surplus as set forth in the most recent annual report of its condition published by such Warrant Agent prior to its appointment; provided, however, such reports are published at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of a federal or state supervising or examining authority. After acceptance in writing of such appointment by the new Warrant Agent, it shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named herein as the Warrant Agent, without any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed; but if for any reason it shall be reasonably necessary or expedient to execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed, the same shall be done at the reasonable expense of the Company and shall be legally and validly executed and delivered by the resigning or removed Warrant Agent. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof with the resigning or removed Warrant Agent. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 10.7(a), however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation of the Warrant Agent or the appointment of a new Warrant Agent as the case may be.

(b) Any Person into which the Warrant Agent or any new Warrant Agent may be merged, or any Person resulting from any consolidation to which the Warrant Agent or any new Warrant Agent shall be a party, shall be a successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act; provided, however, that such Person would be eligible for appointment as successor to the Warrant Agent under the provisions of Section 10.7(a). Any such successor Warrant Agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as Warrant Agent to be given in accordance with Section 11.1(b) to each Holder of a Warrant Certificate at such Holder’s last address as shown on the Warrant Register.

10.8 Appointment of Countersigning Agent.

(a) The Warrant Agent may, but is not required to, appoint a Countersigning Agent or Agents which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Warrant Agent to countersign Warrant Certificates issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or pursuant to Section 6, and Warrant Certificates so countersigned shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly executed and delivered hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Agreement to the countersignature and delivery of Warrant Certificates by the Warrant Agent or to Warrant Certificates countersigned by the Warrant Agent, such reference shall be deemed to include countersignature and delivery on

 

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behalf of the Warrant Agent by a Countersigning Agent and Warrant Certificates countersigned by a Countersigning Agent. Each Countersigning Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at the time of appointment be a Person (other than a natural person) doing business under the laws of the United States or any state thereof in good standing, authorized under such laws to act as Countersigning Agent, and having a combined capital and surplus (together with its Affiliates) of not less than $25,000,000. The combined capital and surplus of such new Countersigning Agent shall be deemed to be the combined capital and surplus as set forth in the most recent annual report of its condition published by such Countersigning Agent prior to its appointment; provided, however, such reports are published at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of a federal or state supervising or examining authority.

(b) Any Person into which a Countersigning Agent may be merged or any Person resulting from any consolidation to which such Countersigning Agent shall be a party, shall be a successor Countersigning Agent without any further act; provided, that, such Person would be eligible for appointment as a new Countersigning Agent under the provisions of Section 10.8(a), without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Warrant Agent or the Countersigning Agent. Any such successor Countersigning Agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as Countersigning Agent to be given in accordance with Section 11.1(b) to each Holder of a Warrant Certificate at such Holder’s last address as shown on the Warrant Register.

(c) A Countersigning Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent and to the Company. The Warrant Agent may at any time terminate the agency of a Countersigning Agent by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to such Countersigning Agent and to the Company.

(d) The Warrant Agent agrees to pay to each Countersigning Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 10.8 and the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 10.5.

(e) Any Countersigning Agent shall have the same rights and immunities as those of the Warrant Agent set forth in this Section 10 and in this Agreement.

 

11.

Notices.

11.1 Notices Generally.

(a) Any request, notice, direction, authorization, consent, waiver, demand or other communication permitted or authorized by this Agreement to be made upon, given or furnished to or filed with the Company or the Warrant Agent by the other party hereto or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing (including telecopy communication) and telecopied, sent via trackable or first-class mail or delivered by hand (including by courier service) as follows:

 

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if to the Company, to:

 

Civitas Resources, Inc.

410 17th Street, Suite 1400

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: Cyrus D. Marter IV

if to the Warrant Agent, to:

Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.

51 Mercedes Way

Edgewood, NY 11717

Attention: Corporate Actions Department

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

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

2 Gateway Center

Newark, New Jersey 07102,

and a copy via email to legalnotices@broadridge.com

Attention: General Counsel

or, in either case, such other address as shall have been set forth in a notice delivered in accordance with this Section 11.1(a).

All such communications shall be effective when sent.

Any Person that telecopies any communication hereunder to any Person shall, on the same date as such telecopy is transmitted, also send, by trackable or first class mail, postage prepaid and addressed to such Person as specified above, an original copy of the communication so transmitted.

(b) Except as set forth in the last paragraph of this Section 11.1(b) where this Agreement provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, by trackable or first-class mail, to each Holder affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Warrant Register. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Agreement provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made by a method approved by the Warrant Agent as one which would be most reliable under the circumstances for successfully delivering the notice to the addressees shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Where this Agreement provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Warrant Certificate, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee), pursuant to its Applicable Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

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11.2 Required Notices to Holders. In the event the Company shall:

(a) take any action that would result in an adjustment to the Exercise Price and/or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant pursuant to Section 5.1;

(b) consummate any Winding Up; or

(c) consummate any Transaction (each of (a), (b) or (c), an “Action”);

then, in each such case, the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent and, unless the Company has made a filing with the Commission, including pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K, which filing discloses such Action, the Company shall deliver (or cause to be delivered) to each Holder of a Warrant Certificate, in accordance with Section 11.1(b) hereof, a written notice of such Action, including, in the case of an action pursuant to Section 11.2(a), the information required under Section 5.1(j)(ii). Such notice shall be given promptly after taking such Action.

If at any time the Company shall cancel any of the Actions for which notice has been given under this Section 11.2 prior to the consummation thereof, the Company shall give each Holder prompt notice of such cancellation in accordance with Section 11.1(b), unless the Company has made a filing with the Commission, including pursuant to a current report on Form 8-K, which filing discloses the cancellation of such Actions. For the avoidance of doubt, if at any time the Company shall cancel any of the Actions for which notice has been given under this Section 11.2 prior to the consummation thereof, the Company shall give Warrant Agent prompt notice of such cancellation in accordance with Section 11.1(b).

 

12.

Inspection.

The Warrant Agent shall cause a copy of this Agreement to be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent for inspection by any Holder of any Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Agent may require any such Holder to submit its Warrant Certificate for inspection by the Warrant Agent.

 

13.

Amendments.

(a) This Agreement may be amended by the Company and the Warrant Agent with the consent of the Required Warrant Holders.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Warrant Agent may, without the consent or concurrence of the Holders of the Warrant Certificates, by supplemental agreement or otherwise, amend this Agreement for the purpose of making any changes or corrections in this Agreement that (i) are required to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision or clerical omission or mistake or manifest error herein contained or (ii) add to the covenants and agreements of the Company in this Agreement further covenants and agreements of the Company thereafter to be observed, or surrender any rights or powers reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Agreement; provided, however, that in either case such amendment shall not adversely affect the rights or interests of the Holders of the Warrant Certificates hereunder in any material respect.

 

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(c) The consent of each Holder of any Warrant Certificate evidencing any warrants affected thereby shall be required for any supplement or amendment to this Agreement or the Warrants that would: (i) increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of shares of Common Stock receivable upon exercise of Warrants, in each case other than as provided in Section 5.1; (ii) cause the Expiration Date to be changed to an earlier date; or (iii) modify the provisions contained in Section 5.1 in a manner adverse to the Holders of Warrant Certificates generally with respect to their Warrants.

(d) The Warrant Agent shall join with the Company in the execution and delivery of any such amendment unless such amendment affects the Warrant Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities hereunder, in which case the Warrant Agent may, but shall not be required to, join in such execution and delivery; provided, that as a condition precedent to the Warrant Agent’s execution of any amendment to this Agreement, the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent a certificate from an Appropriate Officer that states that the proposed amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 13. Upon execution and delivery of any amendment pursuant to this Section 13, such amendment shall be considered a part of this Agreement for all purposes and every Holder of a Warrant Certificate theretofore or thereafter countersigned and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

(e) Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Warrant Agent of any such amendment, unless the Company has made a filing with the Commission, including pursuant to a current report on Form 8-K, which filing discloses such adjustment, the Company shall give notice to the Holders of Warrant Certificates, setting forth in general terms the substance of such amendment, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.1(b). Any failure of the Company to mail such notice or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment.

 

14.

Waivers.

The Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Required Warrant Holders, as required pursuant to Section 13.

 

15.

Successor to Company.

So long as Warrants remain outstanding, the Company will not enter into any Transaction unless the acquirer (a “Successor Company”) shall expressly assume by a supplemental agreement, executed and delivered to the Warrant Agent, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Warrant Agent, the due and punctual performance of every covenant of this Agreement on the part of the Company to be performed and observed and shall have provided for exercise rights in accordance with Section 5.1(f)(i). Upon the consummation of such Transaction, the acquirer shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Agreement with the same effect as if such acquirer had been named as the Company herein.

 

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16.

Headings.

The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

17.

Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all of which together constitute one and the same instrument. A signature to this Agreement transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.

 

18.

Severability.

The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof; provided, that, if any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any party or to any circumstance, is adjudged by a court or governmental body not to be enforceable in accordance with its terms, the parties agree that the court or governmental body making such determination will have the power to modify the provision in a manner consistent with its objectives such that it is enforceable, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its reduced form, such provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced; further, provided, that, if such excluded provision shall affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent, the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company.

 

19.

No Redemption.

The Warrants shall not be subject to redemption by the Company or any other Person; provided, that, the Warrants may be acquired by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws, so long as such acquisition does not otherwise violate the terms of this Agreement.

 

20.

Persons Benefiting.

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders from time to time. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement or any part hereof, and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and of the Holders. Each Holder, by acceptance of a Warrant Certificate, agrees to all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement applicable thereto.

 

21.

Applicable Law.

THIS AGREEMENT, EACH WARRANT CERTIFICATE ISSUED HEREUNDER, EACH WARRANT EVIDENCED THEREBY AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO, INCLUDING THE INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY THEREOF, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY RULES OR PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

 

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22.

Entire Agreement.

This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous agreements among all or some of the parties hereto with respect thereto, whether written, oral or otherwise.

 

23.

Force Majeure.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Warrant Agent will not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, disruptions in public utilities, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war, pandemics, epidemics or civil unrest.

 

24.

Further Assurances.

The Company shall perform, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as may be reasonably required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Warrant Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

25.

Confidentiality.

The Warrant Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public warrant holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement including the fees for services set forth in the attached schedule shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law, including, without limitation, pursuant to subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (e.g., in divorce and criminal actions) or to such party’s advisors (including its attorneys). However, each party may disclose relevant aspects of the other party’s confidential information to its officers, affiliates, agents, subcontractors and employees to the extent reasonably necessary to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement and such disclosure is not prohibited by applicable law.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

33


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

 

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC., a Delaware corporation
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV
Title:   General Counsel and Secretary
BROADRIDGE CORPORATE ISSUER SOLUTIONS, INC., as Warrant Agent
By:  

/s/ John P. Dunn

Name:   John P. Dunn
Title:   SVP

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO WARRANT AGREEMENT]


EXHIBIT A

[FACE OF TRANCHE A WARRANT CERTIFICATE]1

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

WARRANT CERTIFICATE

EVIDENCING

TRANCHE A WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

[FACE]

 

No. [___]    CUSIP No. 17888H 111

[UNLESS THIS GLOBAL TRANCHE A WARRANT CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC. (THE “COMPANY”), THE CUSTODIAN OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFER OF THIS GLOBAL TRANCHE A WARRANT CERTIFICATE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, AND NOT IN PART, TO THE COMPANY, DTC, THEIR SUCCESSORS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE NOMINEES.]2

 

1 

To be removed in the versions of the Definitive Warrant Certificates printed in multiple copies for use by the Warrant Agent in preparing Definitive Warrants Certificates for issuance and delivery from time to time to holders.

2 

Include only on Global Warrant Certificate.

 

A-1


CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

No. [___] [__,__,____] Warrants

CUSIP No. 17888H 111

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received, [_________________________], or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Warrants to purchase Common Stock of Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”, which term includes any successor thereto under the Warrant Agreement (as may be supplemented, amended or amended and restated pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, the “Warrant Agreement”), dated as of November 1, 2021, between the Company and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., a corporation having its principal offices in Edgewood, New York (the “Warrant Agent”, which term includes any successor thereto permitted under the Warrant Agreement)) [specified above or such lesser number as may from time to time be endorsed on the “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached hereto]3, and is entitled, subject to and upon compliance with the provisions hereof and of the Warrant Agreement, at such Holder’s option, at any time when the Warrants evidenced hereby are exercisable, to purchase from the Company one (1) share of Common Stock of the Company for each Warrant evidenced hereby, at the purchase price of $91.91 per share (as adjusted from time to time, the “Exercise Price”), payable in full at the time of purchase, the number of shares of Common Stock into which and the Exercise Price at which each Warrant shall be exercisable each being subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5 of the Warrant Agreement.

All shares of Common Stock issuable by the Company upon the exercise of Warrants shall, upon such issuance, be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall pay any and all taxes (other than income taxes) that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on exercise of Warrants. The Company or Warrant Agent shall not be required, however, to pay any tax or other charge imposed in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or any certificates for shares of Common Stock or payment of cash or other property to any Recipient other than the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing the exercised Warrant, and in case of such transfer or payment, the Warrant Agent and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or any certificate or pay any cash until (a) such tax or charge has been paid or an amount sufficient for the payment thereof has been delivered to the Warrant Agent or to the Company, (b) it has been established to the Company’s or Warrant Agent’s satisfaction that any such tax or other charge that is or may become due has been paid or (c) the receipt of any other such information as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Each Warrant evidenced hereby may be exercised by the Holder hereof at the Exercise Price then in effect on any Business Day from and after the Original Issue Date until 5:00 p m., New York time, on the Expiration Date in the Warrant Agreement.

 

3 

Include only on Global Warrant Certificate.

 

A-2


Subject to the provisions hereof and of the Warrant Agreement, the Holder of this Warrant Certificate may exercise all or any whole number of the Warrants evidenced hereby by, in the case of a Global Warrant Certificate, by delivery to the Warrant Agent of the Exercise Form on the reverse hereof, setting forth the number of Warrants being exercised and otherwise properly completed and duly executed by the Holder thereof to the Warrant Agent, and delivering such Warrants by book-entry transfer through the facilities of the Depositary, to the Warrant Agent in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and otherwise complying with the Applicable Procedures in respect of the exercise of such Warrants or, in the case of a Definitive Warrant Certificate, by delivery to the Warrant Agent of the Exercise Form on the reverse hereof, setting forth the number of Warrants being exercised and otherwise properly completed and duly executed by the Holder thereof to the Warrant Agent, and surrendering this Warrant Certificate to the Warrant Agent at its office maintained for such purpose (the “Corporate Agency Office”).

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless this Warrant Certificate has been countersigned by the Warrant Agent by manual or electronic signature of an authorized officer on behalf of the Warrant Agent, this Warrant Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose and no Warrant evidenced hereby shall be exercisable.

 

A-3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this certificate to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

Dated: [_____________ ___], 20[__]

 

     CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
[SEAL]               By:   

                                          

     [Title]
ATTEST:        

Countersigned:

 

   OR      
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., as Warrant Agent         

 

By:                                                                                                                                 By:                                                                                                                 
Authorized Agent       As Countersigning Agent
      By:                                                                                                                 
      Authorized Agent

 

A-4


Reverse of Tranche A Warrant Certificate

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

TRANCHE A WARRANT CERTIFICATE

EVIDENCING

TRANCHE A WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

The Warrants evidenced hereby are one of a duly authorized issue of Warrants of the Company designated as its Tranche A Warrants to Purchase Common Stock (“Warrants”), limited in aggregate number to 3,402,709 issued under and in accordance with the Warrant Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), between the Company and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., a corporation having its principal offices in Edgewood, New York (the “Warrant Agent”, which term includes any successor thereto permitted under the Warrant Agreement), to which the Warrant Agreement and all amendments thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Warrant Agent, the Holders of Warrant Certificates and the owners of the Warrants evidenced thereby and of the terms upon which the Warrant Certificates are, and are to be, countersigned and delivered. A copy of the Warrant Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent for inspection by the Holder hereof.

The Warrant Agreement provides that, in addition to certain adjustments to the number of shares of Common Stock into which a Warrant is exercisable and the Exercise Price required to be made in certain circumstances, in the case of any Transaction the Company shall cause the other Person involved in such Transaction to execute and deliver to the Warrant Agent a written instrument providing that (i) the Warrants evidenced hereby, if then outstanding, will be exercisable thereafter, during the period the Warrants evidenced hereby shall be exercisable as specified herein, only into the Substituted Securities that would have been receivable upon such Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued upon exercise of such Warrant if such Warrant had been exercised in full immediately prior to such Transaction (upon certain assumptions specified in the Warrant Agreement); and (ii) the rights and obligations of the other Person involved in such Transaction and the holders in respect of Substituted Securities shall be substantially unchanged to be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the rights and obligations of the Company and Holders in respect of Common Stock.

Except as provided in the Warrant Agreement, all outstanding Warrants shall expire and all rights of the Holders of Warrant Certificates evidencing such Warrants shall automatically terminate and cease to exist, as of 5:00 p m., New York time, on the Expiration Date. The “Expiration Date” shall mean the earlier to occur of (x) January 20, 2025 (the fourth (4th) anniversary of the Extraction Original Issue Date) or, if not a Business Day, then the next Business Day thereafter; (y) the date of consummation of a Transaction to which clause (ii) of Section 5.1(f) of the Warrant Agreement applies; and (z) a Winding Up.

In the event of the exercise of less than all of the Warrants evidenced hereby, a new Warrant Certificate of the same tenor and for the number of Warrants which are not exercised shall be issued by the Company in the name or upon the written order of the Holder of this Warrant Certificate upon the cancellation hereof.

 

A-5


The Warrant Certificates are issuable only in registered form in denominations of whole numbers of Warrants. Upon surrender at the office of the Warrant Agent and payment of the charges specified herein and in the Warrant Agreement, this Warrant Certificate may be exchanged for Warrant Certificates in other authorized denominations or the transfer hereof may be registered in whole or in part in authorized denominations to one or more designated transferees; provided, however, that such other Warrant Certificates issued upon exchange or registration of transfer shall evidence the same aggregate number of Warrants as this Warrant Certificate. The Company shall cause to be kept at the office or offices of the Warrant Agent the Warrant Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Warrant Agent may prescribe and such regulations as may be prescribed by law, the Company shall provide for the registration of Warrant Certificates and of transfers or exchanges of Warrant Certificates. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates; provided, however, the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates.

Prior to due presentment of this Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer, the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent may treat the Person in whose name this Warrant Certificate is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, and neither the Company, the Warrant Agent nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

The Warrant Agreement permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Warrant Certificates under the Warrant Agreement at any time by the Company and the Warrant Agent with the consent of the Required Warrant Holders.

Until the exercise of any Warrant, subject to the provisions of the Warrant Agreement and except as may be specifically provided for in the Warrant Agreement, (i) no Holder of a Warrant Certificate evidencing any Warrant shall have or exercise any rights by virtue hereof as a holder of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends and other distributions or to receive notice of, or attend meetings of, stockholders or any other proceedings of the Company; (ii) the consent of any such Holder shall not be required with respect to any action or proceeding of the Company; (iii) except as provided with respect to a Winding Up of the Company, no such Holder, by reason of the ownership or possession of a Warrant or the Warrant Certificate representing the same, shall have any right to receive any cash dividends, stock dividends, allotments or rights or other distributions (except as specifically provided in the Warrant Agreement), paid, allotted or distributed or distributable to the stockholders of the Company prior to or for which the relevant record date preceded the date of the exercise of such Warrant; and (iv) no such Holder shall have any right not expressly conferred by the Warrant or Warrant Certificate held by such Holder.

This Warrant Certificate, each Warrant evidenced thereby and the Warrant Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

A-6


All terms used in this Warrant Certificate which are defined in the Warrant Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Warrant Agreement. In the event of any conflict between this Warrant Certificate and the Warrant Agreement, the Warrant Agreement shall control.

 

A-7


Exercise Form for Tranche A Warrant Certificate

Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.

51 Mercedes Way

Edgewood, NY 11717

Attention: Corporate Actions Department

Re: Civitas Resources, Inc. Warrant Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021

In accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions hereof and of the Warrant Agreement, the undersigned registered Holder of this Warrant Certificate hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _____________ Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate.

The undersigned requests that the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise be in fully registered form in such denominations and registered in such names and delivered, together with any other property receivable upon exercise, in such manner as is specified in the instructions set forth below.

If the number of Warrants exercised is less than all of the Warrants evidenced hereby, (i) if this Warrant Certificate is a Global Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent shall endorse the “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached hereto to reflect the Warrants being exercised or (ii) if this Warrant Certificate is a Definitive Warrant Certificate, the undersigned requests that a new Definitive Warrant Certificate representing the remaining Warrants evidenced hereby be issued and delivered to the undersigned unless otherwise specified in the instructions below.

 

A-8


Dated:  

 

              Name:   

                              

 

     (Please Print)

(Insert Social Security or Other Identifying

Number of Holder)

       
       Address:   

                                  

      

 

      

 

       Signature
       (Signature must conform in all respects to name of Holder as specified on the face of this Warrant Certificate and must bear a signature guarantee by a bank, trust company or member firm of a U.S. national securities exchange.)

Signature Guaranteed:

Instructions (i) as to denominations and names of Common Stock issuable upon exercise and as to delivery of such securities and any other property issuable upon exercise and (ii) if applicable, as to Definitive Warrant Certificates evidencing unexercised Warrants:

Assignment

(Form of Assignment To Be Executed If Holder Desires To Transfer Warrant Certificate)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED ________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

Please insert social security or

other identifying number

(Please print name and address including zip code)

the Warrants represented by the within Warrant Certificate and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________ Attorney, to transfer said Warrant Certificate on the books of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:  

 

              Signature   

                                  

       (Signature must conform in all respects to name of Holder as specified on the face of this Warrant Certificate and must bear a signature guarantee by a bank, trust company or member firm of a U.S. national securities exchange.)

 

A-9


[SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF DECREASES IN WARRANTS

The following decreases in the number of Warrants evidenced by this Global Warrant Certificate have been made:

 

                             Date                            

  

Amount of decrease in

number of Warrants

evidenced by this Global

Warrant Certificate

  

Number of Warrants

evidenced by this Global

Warrant Certificate

following such decrease

  

Signature of authorized
signatory]4

 

4 

Include only on Global Warrant Certificate.

 

A-10

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

WARRANT AGREEMENT

between

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

BROADRIDGE CORPORATE ISSUER SOLUTIONS, INC.,

as Warrant Agent

Dated as of November 1, 2021

Tranche B Warrants to Purchase Common Stock

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page  

1.

  Definitions.      2  

2.

  Warrant Certificates.      6  
  2.1    Original Issuance of Warrants      6  
  2.2    Form of Warrant Certificates      6  
  2.3    Execution and Delivery of Warrant Certificates      7  
  2.4    Global Warrant Certificates      7  

3.

  Exercise and Expiration of Warrants.      9  
  3.1    Right to Acquire Common Stock Upon Exercise      9  
  3.2    Exercise and Expiration of Warrants      9  
  3.3    Application of Funds upon Exercise of Warrants      11  
  3.4    Payment of Taxes      11  
  3.5    Cancellation of Warrant Certificates      12  
  3.6    Shares Issuable      12  
  3.7    Cashless Exercise      12  
  3.8    Cost Basis Information      13  

4.

  Dissolution, Liquidation or Winding up.      13  

5.

  Adjustments.      13  
  5.1    Adjustments      13  
  5.2    Fractional Interest      18  
  5.3    No Other Adjustments      18  

6.

  Loss or Mutilation.      18  

7.

  Reservation and Authorization of Common Stock.      19  

8.

  Warrant Transfer Books.      20  

9.

  Warrant Holders.      21  
  9.1    No Voting or Dividend Rights      21  
  9.2    Rights of Action      22  
  9.3    Treatment of Holders of Warrant Certificates      22  

10.

  Concerning the Warrant Agent.      22  
  10.1    Rights and Duties of the Warrant Agent      22  
  10.2    Limitation of Liability      25  
  10.3    Indemnification      25  

 

i


  10.4    Right to Consult Counsel      26  
  10.5    Compensation and Reimbursement      26  
  10.6    Warrant Agent May Hold Company Securities      26  
  10.7    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      26  
  10.8    Appointment of Countersigning Agent      27  
11.   Notices.      28  
  11.1    Notices Generally      28  
  11.2    Required Notices to Holders      29  

12.

  Inspection.      30  

13.

  Amendments.      30  

14.

  Waivers.      31  

15.

  Successor to Company.      31  

16.

  Headings.      31  

17.

  Counterparts.      31  

18.

  Severability.      32  

19.

  No Redemption.      32  

20.

  Persons Benefiting.      32  

21.

  Applicable Law.      32  

22.

  Entire Agreement.      32  

23.

  Force Majeure.      33  

24.

  Further Assurances.      33  

25.

  Confidentiality.      33  

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A    Form of Tranche B Warrant Certificate

 

 

ii


WARRANT AGREEMENT

This Warrant Agreement (as may be supplemented, amended or amended and restated pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, this “Agreement”), dated as of November 1, 2021, between Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (and any Successor Company (as defined below) that becomes successor to the Company in accordance with Section 15) (the “Company”) and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., a corporation having its principal offices in Edgewood, New York (the “Warrant Agent,” which term includes any successor thereto permitted under this Agreement). Capitalized terms that are used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in Section 1 hereof.

WITNESSETH THAT:

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Sixth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliates Pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, Docket No. 1505 of Case No. 20-11548 (CSS) relating to a reorganization under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code, Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Extraction”), issued and delivered Tranche B Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,453,942 shares of its common stock pursuant to a Warrant Agreement, dated January 20, 2021, between Extraction and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the warrant agent for Extraction (the “Extraction Warrant Agreement”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.24 of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 9, 2021 (as amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Raptor Eagle Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Extraction, the Company is required to make all necessary and appropriate provisions to provide for the assumption by the Company of the due and punctual performance of Extraction’s covenants under the Extraction Warrant Agreement;

WHEREAS, in order to comply with such obligation under the Merger Agreement, the Company proposes to issue and deliver Warrants (as defined below) to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,701,376 shares of its Common Stock (as defined below), subject to adjustment as provided herein, and the Warrant Certificates (as defined below) evidencing such Warrants;

WHEREAS, each Warrant shall entitle the registered owner thereof to purchase one (1) share of the Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein;

WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Warrant Agent act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, exchange, transfer, substitution and exercise of Warrants; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Warrant Agent desire to enter into this Agreement, which shall replace and supplement the Extraction Warrant Agreement in its entirety.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the Company and the Warrant Agent agree as follows:

 

1


1.

Definitions.

Action” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(c).

Adjustment Events” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

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

Agent Members” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of, or exercise of any Warrants evidenced by, any Global Warrant Certificate, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer, exchange or exercise.

Appropriate Officer” means (i) the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer or Secretary or any Vice President of the Company or (ii) any other person designated as such by the Board of Directors from time to time.

Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a legal holiday in the State of New York or a day on which banking institutions and trust companies in the state in which the Corporate Agency Office is located are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whichever is the relevant statute for the particular purpose.

Common Stock” means, subject to the provisions of Section 5.1(f), the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

Company” means the company identified in the preamble hereto.

Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Appropriate Officer and delivered to the Warrant Agent.

Constituent Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f)(i)(A).

Corporate Agency Office” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

 

2


Countersigning Agent” means any Person authorized by the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Warrant Agent to countersign Warrant Certificates.

Current Market Price” means on any date:

(i) if the reference is to the per share price of Common Stock on any date herein specified and if on such date the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading on any U.S. national securities exchange or traded and quoted in the over-the-counter market in the United States:

(A) for the purpose of any computation under this Agreement (except under Section 5.2), the average of the Quoted Prices for the 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on such date or, if such date is not a Trading Day, on the next preceding Trading Day; or

(B) for the purposes of any computation under Section 5.2, the Quoted Price for such date or, if such date is not a Trading Day, for the next preceding Trading Day; or

(ii) if the reference is to the per share price of Common Stock on any date herein specified and if on such date the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any U.S. national securities exchange or traded and quoted in the over-the-counter market in the United States, the amount which a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction on such date (neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell) for one (1) share of the Common Stock as determined as of such date by the Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company in good faith, whose determination shall be final and conclusive and evidenced by a certificate of such officer delivered to the Warrant Agent.

For the avoidance of doubt, no appraisal of any Person or third-party (other than the Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company as further described in clause (ii)) above shall be permitted or required to determine the Current Market Price.

Definitive Warrant Certificate” means a Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Holder thereof that does not bear the Global Warrant Legend and that does not have a “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached thereto.

Depositary” means DTC and its successors as depositary hereunder.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case, as amended from time to time.

Exercise Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(f).

Exercise Form” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c).

Exercise Period” means the period from and including the Original Issue Date to and including the Expiration Date.

 

3


Exercise Price” means the exercise price per share of Common Stock, initially set at $104.45, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.1.

Expiration Date” means the earlier to occur of (i) the Scheduled Expiration Date and (ii) a Winding Up.

Extraction” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Extraction Original Issue Date” means January 20, 2021, the date on which warrants were originally issued by Extraction under the Extraction Warrant Agreement.

Extraction Warrant Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

Global Warrant Certificate” means a Warrant Certificate deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, that bears the Global Warrant Legend and that has the “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached thereto.

Global Warrant Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.4(a).

Holder” means any Person in whose name at the time any Warrant Certificate is registered upon the Warrant Register and, when used with respect to any Warrant Certificate, the Person in whose name such Warrant Certificate is registered in the Warrant Register.

Merger Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Non-Surviving Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f).

Original Issue Date” means November 1, 2021, the date on which Warrants are originally issued under this Agreement.

outstanding” when used with respect to any Warrants, means, as of the time of determination, all Warrants theretofore originally issued under this Agreement, as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.1, except (i) Warrants that have been exercised pursuant to Section 3.2(a), (ii) Warrants that have expired, terminated or become void pursuant to Section 3.2(b) or Section 4 and (iii) Warrants that have otherwise been acquired by the Company; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of the outstanding Warrants have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the provisions of this Agreement, Warrants held directly or beneficially by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective employees shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding.

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

 

4


Quoted Price” means, on any Trading Day, with respect to the Common Stock, the VWAP of the Common Stock on such Trading Day on the principal U.S. national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any U.S. national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices in the over-the-counter market in the United States as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm that shall be selected from time to time by the Company for that purpose.

Recipient” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(e).

Required Warrant Holders” means Holders of Warrant Certificates evidencing a majority of the then-outstanding Warrants.

Scheduled Expiration Date” means January 20, 2026 (the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Extraction Original Issue Date) or, if not a Business Day, then the next Business Day thereafter.

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

Subsidiary” means a Person more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock, shares or other equity interests (including partnership interests) which ordinarily have voting power for the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock, shares or other equity interests (including partnership interests) have such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Substituted Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f)(i)(A).

Successor Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.

Surviving Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f).

Trading Day” means a day on which trading in the Common Stock (or other applicable security) generally occurs on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock (or other applicable security) is then listed or traded; provided that if the Common Stock (or other applicable security) are not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f).

VWAP” means the volume-weighted average price for trading hours of the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof), determined without regard to pre-open or after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the trading hours of the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof).

Warrant Agent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

5


Warrant Certificates” means those certain warrant certificates evidencing the Warrants, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto, which, for the avoidance of doubt, are either Global Warrant Certificates or Definitive Warrant Certificates.

Warrant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

Warrants” means those certain warrants to purchase initially up to an aggregate of 1,701,376 shares of Common Stock at the Exercise Price, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5, issued hereunder.

Winding Up” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.

 

2.

Warrant Certificates.

2.1 Original Issuance of Warrants.

(a) On the Original Issue Date, one or more Global Warrant Certificates evidencing the Warrants shall be executed by the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent for countersignature, and the Warrant Agent shall, upon receipt of a Company Order and at the direction of the Company set forth therein, countersign (by manual or electronic signature) and deliver such Global Warrant Certificates for original issuance to the Depositary, or its custodian, for crediting to the accounts of its participants for the benefit of the holders of beneficial interests in the Warrants on the Original Issue Date pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary on the Original Issue Date.

(b) Except as set forth in Section 2.4, Section 3.2(d), Section 6 and Section 8, the Global Warrant Certificates delivered to the Depositary (or a nominee thereof) on the Original Issue Date shall be the only Warrant Certificates issued or outstanding under this Agreement.

(c) Each Warrant Certificate shall evidence the number of Warrants specified therein, and each Warrant evidenced thereby shall represent the right, subject to the provisions contained herein and therein, to purchase one (1) share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.

2.2 Form of Warrant Certificates.

The Warrant Certificates evidencing the Warrants shall be in registered form only and substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, shall be dated the date on which countersigned by the Warrant Agent, shall have such insertions as are appropriate or required or permitted by this Agreement and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends and endorsements typed, stamped, printed, lithographed or engraved thereon (which does not impact the Warrant Agent’s rights, duties or immunities) as the officers of the Company executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which the Warrants may be listed, or to conform to usage.

 

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2.3 Execution and Delivery of Warrant Certificates.

(a) Warrant Certificates evidencing the Warrants which may be countersigned and delivered under this Agreement are limited to Warrant Certificates evidencing 1,701,376 Warrants except for Warrant Certificates countersigned and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, one or more previously countersigned Warrant Certificates pursuant to Section 2.4, Section 3.2(d), Section 6 and Section 8.

(b) The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign (by manual or electronic signature) and deliver Warrant Certificates as required by Section 2.1 or by Section 2.4, Section 3.2(d), Section 6 or Section 8.

(c) The Warrant Certificates shall be executed in the corporate name and on behalf of the Company by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any one of the Vice Presidents of the Company under corporate seal reproduced thereon (if the Company has a corporate seal) and attested to by the Secretary or one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Company, either manually or by electronic signature printed thereon. The Warrant Certificates shall be countersigned, either by manual or electronic signature, by the Warrant Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company whose signature shall have been placed upon any of the Warrant Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Warrant Agent and issue and delivery thereof, such Warrant Certificates may, nevertheless, be countersigned by the Warrant Agent and issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though such person had not ceased to be such officer of the Company, and any Warrant Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by such person as, at the actual date of the execution of such Warrant Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such person was not such officer.

2.4 Global Warrant Certificates.

(a) Any Global Warrant Certificate shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the “Global Warrant Legend”).

(b) So long as a Global Warrant Certificate is registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Agreement with respect to the Warrants evidenced by such Global Warrant Certificate held on their behalf by the Depositary or its custodian, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent as the absolute owner of such Warrants, and as the sole Holder of such Warrant Certificate, for all purposes. Accordingly, any such Agent Member’s beneficial interest in such Warrants will be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Agent Members, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall have any responsibility or liability with respect to such records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Agent Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Warrant Agent or any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any security.

 

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(c) Any holder of a beneficial interest in Warrants evidenced by a Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in the Warrants evidenced by such Global Warrant Certificate may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Depositary as the Holder of such Global Warrant Certificate (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in Warrants evidenced thereby shall be reflected solely in such book-entry form.

(d) Transfers of a Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be limited to transfers in whole, and not in part, to the Depositary, its successors, and their respective nominees except as set forth in Section 2.4(e). Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be transferred in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary.

(e) A Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be exchanged for Definitive Warrant Certificates only if the Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act and (ii) a successor to the Depositary registered as a clearing agency under Section 17A of the Exchange Act is not able to be appointed by the Company within 90 days or the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and a successor to the Depositary is not able to be appointed by the Company within 90 days. In any such event, each Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be surrendered to the Warrant Agent for cancellation in accordance with Section 3.5, and the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, upon the Company’s instruction, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary, in exchange for such beneficial owner’s beneficial interest in such Global Warrant Certificate, Definitive Warrant Certificates evidencing, in the aggregate, the number of Warrants theretofore represented by such Global Warrant Certificate with respect to such beneficial owner’s respective beneficial interest. Any Definitive Warrant Certificate delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Warrant Certificate pursuant to this Section 2.4(e) shall not bear the Global Warrant Legend. Interests in any Global Warrant Certificate may not be exchanged for Definitive Warrant Certificates other than as provided in this Section 2.4(e).

(f) The holder of a Global Warrant Certificate registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder of a Warrant Certificate is entitled to take under this Agreement or such Global Warrant Certificate.

(g) Each Global Warrant Certificate will evidence such of the outstanding Warrants as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it evidences the aggregate number of outstanding Warrants from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate number of outstanding Warrants evidenced thereby may from time to time be reduced, to reflect exercises or expirations. Any endorsement of a Global Warrant Certificate to reflect the amount of any decrease in the aggregate number of outstanding Warrants evidenced thereby will be made by the Warrant Agent (i) in the case of an exercise, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures as required by Section 3.2(c) or (ii) in the case of an expiration, in accordance with Section 3.2(b).

 

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(h) The Company initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Warrant Certificates.

(i) Every Warrant Certificate authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Warrant Certificate or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.4 or Section 8 or Section 10, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Warrant Certificate, and a Global Warrant Certificate may not be exchanged for a Definitive Warrant Certificate, in each case, other than as provided in Section 2.4(e). Whenever any provision herein refers to issuance by the Company and countersignature and delivery by the Warrant Agent of a new Warrant Certificate in exchange for the portion of a surrendered Warrant Certificate that has not been exercised, in lieu of the surrender of any Global Warrant Certificate and the issuance, countersignature and delivery of a new Global Warrant Certificate in exchange therefor, the Warrant Agent, on the Company’s instruction, may endorse such Global Warrant Certificate to reflect a reduction in the number of Warrants evidenced thereby in the amount of Warrants so evidenced that have been so exercised.

(j) Beneficial interests in any Global Warrant Certificate may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global Warrant Certificate in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

(k) At such time as all Warrants evidenced by a particular Global Warrant Certificate have been exercised or expired, terminated or become void in whole and not in part, such Global Warrant Certificate shall, if not in custody of the Warrant Agent, be surrendered to or retained by the Warrant Agent for cancellation in accordance with Section 3.5.

 

3.

Exercise and Expiration of Warrants.

3.1 Right to Acquire Common Stock Upon Exercise. Each Warrant Certificate duly issued by the Company shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the Holder thereof, subject to the provisions thereof and of this Agreement, to acquire from the Company, for each Warrant evidenced thereby, one (1) share of Common Stock at the Exercise Price, subject to adjustment as provided in this Agreement. The Exercise Price, and the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of each Warrant, shall be adjusted from time to time as required by Section 5.1.

3.2 Exercise and Expiration of Warrants.

(a) Exercise of Warrants. Subject to and upon compliance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, a Holder of a Warrant Certificate may exercise all or any whole number of the Warrants evidenced thereby, on any Business Day from and after the Original Issue Date until 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date, for the shares of Common Stock obtainable thereunder.

(b) Expiration of Warrants. The Warrants, to the extent not exercised prior thereto, shall automatically expire, terminate and become void as of 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date. No further action of any Person (including by, or on behalf of, any Holder, the Company, or the Warrant Agent) shall be required to effectuate the expiration of Warrants pursuant to this Section 3.2(b).

 

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(c) Method of Exercise. In order for a Holder to exercise all or any of the Warrants represented by a Warrant Certificate, the Holder thereof must (i) (x) in the case of a Global Warrant Certificate, deliver to the Warrant Agent an exercise form for the election to exercise such Warrants substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (an “Exercise Form”), setting forth the number of Warrants being exercised and otherwise properly completed and duly executed by the Holder thereof and deliver such Warrants by book-entry transfer through the facilities of the Depositary to the Warrant Agent in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and otherwise comply with the Applicable Procedures in respect of the exercise of such Warrants or (y) in the case of a Definitive Warrant Certificate, at the Corporate Agency Office, (I) deliver to the Warrant Agent an Exercise Form, setting forth the number of Warrants being exercised and otherwise properly completed and duly executed by the Holder thereof as well as any such other necessary information the Warrant Agent may reasonably require, and (II) surrender to the Warrant Agent the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrants; and (ii) pay to the Warrant Agent an amount equal to all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 3.4 prior to, or concurrently with, exercise of such Warrants by wire transfer in immediately available funds, to the account (No. 4124218686; ABA No. 121000248; Reference: Warrant Exercise; For Further Credit Name: Civitas RES INC.) of the Company at the Warrant Agent or such other account as the Warrant Agent shall have given notice to the Company and such Holder in accordance with Section 11.1(b). For the avoidance of doubt, any exercise of any Warrant shall be “net share settled” pursuant to a cashless exercise as described in Section 3.7.

(d) Partial Exercise. If fewer than all the Warrants represented by a Warrant Certificate are exercised, (i) in the case of exercise of Warrants evidenced by a Global Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent shall cause the custodian of DTC to endorse the “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached to such Global Warrant Certificate to reflect the Warrants being exercised and (ii) in the case of exercise of Warrants evidenced by a Definitive Warrant Certificate, such Definitive Warrant Certificate shall be surrendered and a new Definitive Warrant Certificate of the same tenor and for the number of Warrants which were not exercised shall be executed by the Company. The Warrant Agent shall countersign the new Definitive Warrant Certificate, registered in such name or names, subject to the provisions of Section 8 regarding registration of transfer and payment of governmental charges in respect thereof, as may be directed in writing by the Holder, and shall deliver the new Definitive Warrant Certificate to the Person or Persons in whose name such new Definitive Warrant Certificate is so registered. The Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, will supply the Warrant Agent with Definitive Warrant Certificates duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

(e) Issuance of Common Stock. Upon due exercise of Warrants evidenced by any Warrant Certificate in conformity with the foregoing provisions of Section 3.2(c), the Warrant Agent shall, when actions specified in Section 3.2(c)(i) have been effected and any payment specified in Section 3.2(c)(ii) is received, deliver to the Company the Exercise Form received pursuant to Section 3.2(c)(i), deliver or deposit any funds, in accordance with Section 3.3, received as instructed in writing by the Company and advise the Company by telephone at the end of such day of the amount of funds so deposited to its account. The Company shall thereupon, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within two (2) Business Days after the Exercise Date referred to below, (i) determine the number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to exercise of such Warrants pursuant to Section 3.7 and (ii) (x) in the case of exercise of Warrants evidenced by a Global Warrant Certificate, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Recipient (as defined below) in

 

10


accordance with the Applicable Procedures shares of Common Stock in book-entry form to be so held through the facilities of DTC in an amount equal to, or, if the Common Stock may not then be held in book-entry form through the facilities of DTC, duly executed certificates representing, or (y) in the case of exercise of Warrants evidenced by Definitive Warrant Certificates, execute or cause to be executed and deliver or cause to be delivered to the Recipient (as defined below) a certificate or certificates representing, in case of (x) and (y), the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise (based upon the aggregate number of Warrants so exercised), as so determined, together with an amount in cash in lieu of any fractional share(s), if the Company so elects pursuant to Section 5.2. The shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or certificate or certificates representing shares of Common Stock so delivered shall be, to the extent possible, in such denomination or denominations as such Holder shall request in the applicable Exercise Form and shall be registered or otherwise placed in the name of, and delivered to, the Holder or, subject to Section 3.4, such other Person as shall be designated by the Holder in such Exercise Form (the Holder or such other Person being referred to herein as the “Recipient”).

(f) Time of Exercise. Each exercise of a Warrant shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the day on which each of the requirements for exercise of such Warrant specified in Section 3.2(c) has been duly satisfied (the “Exercise Date”). At such time, shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or the certificates for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise as provided in Section 3.2(e) shall be deemed to have been issued and, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Recipient shall, as between such Person and the Company, be deemed to be and entitled to all rights of the holder or record of such Common Stock.

3.3 Application of Funds upon Exercise of Warrants. All funds received by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by the Warrant Agent in the performance of services (the “Funds”) shall be held by the Warrant Agent in its name as agent for the Company. Until paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Warrant Agent will hold the Funds through such accounts in: deposit accounts of commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion or with an average rating above investment grade by S&P (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moody’s (Long Term Rating) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.). The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit made by the Warrant Agent in accordance with this paragraph, including any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party. The Warrant Agent may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits. The Warrant Agent shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to the Company, any holder or any other party. The Warrant Agent shall forward funds received for Warrant exercises in a given month by the fifth (5th) Business Day of the following month by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company or as the Warrant Agent otherwise may be directed in writing by the Company.

3.4 Payment of Taxes. The Company shall pay any and all taxes (other than income taxes) that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on exercise of Warrants pursuant hereto. The Company or the Warrant Agent shall not be required, however, to pay any tax or other charge imposed in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or any certificates for shares of Common Stock or payment of cash or other property to any Recipient other than, in the case of

 

11


the Company, the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing the exercised Warrant, and in case of such transfer or payment, the Warrant Agent and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or any certificate or pay any cash until (a) such tax or charge has been paid or an amount sufficient for the payment thereof has been delivered to the Warrant Agent or the Company or (b) it has been established to the Company’s or Warrant Agent’s satisfaction that any such tax or other charge that is or may become due has been paid.

3.5 Cancellation of Warrant Certificates. Any Definitive Warrant Certificate surrendered for exercise shall, if surrendered to the Company, be delivered to the Warrant Agent. All Warrant Certificates surrendered or delivered to or received by the Warrant Agent for cancellation pursuant to this Section 3.5 or Section 2.4(e) or Section 2.4(j) shall be promptly cancelled by the Warrant Agent and shall not be reissued by the Company. The Warrant Agent shall destroy any such cancelled Warrant Certificates in accordance with the Warrant Agent’s standard procedures for destroying securities certificates and deliver its certificate of destruction to the Company, unless the Company shall otherwise direct in writing.

3.6 Shares Issuable. The number of shares of Common Stock “obtainable upon exercise” of Warrants at any time shall be the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Warrants are then exercisable. The Company will confirm the number of shares obtainable upon exercise if so requested by the Warrant Agent. The number of shares of Common Stock “into which each Warrant is exercisable” shall be one (1) share, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.1.

3.7 Cashless Exercise. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, upon exercise of any Warrants the Company shall issue to the Holder a number of shares of Common Stock with respect to the Warrants being exercised computed using the following formula:

                                   X = (Y (A-B)) ÷ A

 

  Where X =

the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Holder in respect of the Warrants being exercised;

 

            Y =   

the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Warrants being exercised by the Holder are exercisable (on the Exercise Date);

  A =   

the Current Market Price of one (1) share of Common Stock (on the Exercise Date); and

  B =   

the applicable Exercise Price (as adjusted through and including the Exercise Date).

If the foregoing calculation results in a negative number, then no Common Stock shall be issued upon exercise pursuant to this Section 3.

The Company shall calculate and transmit to the Warrant Agent the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued on such exercise, and the Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under this Agreement to calculate, confirm or verify such amount.

 

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3.8 Cost Basis Information. The Company hereby instructs the Warrant Agent to record cost basis for newly issued shares at the time of exercise in accordance with instructions by the Company. If the Company does not provide such cost basis information to the Warrant Agent, as outlined above, then the Warrant Agent will treat those shares issued hereunder as uncovered securities or the equivalent, and each holder of such shares will need to obtain such cost basis information from the Company.

 

4.

Dissolution, Liquidation or Winding up.

Unless Section 5.1(f) applies, if, on or prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (or any other Person controlling the Company) shall propose a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up (a “Winding Up”) of the affairs of the Company, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent and all Holders in the manner provided in Section 11.1(b) at least ten (10) business days prior to the date on which such Winding Up is expected to become effective or, if earlier, the record date for such Winding Up. Such notice shall also specify the date as of which the holders of record of the shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to exchange their shares for securities, money or other property deliverable upon such Winding Up, on which date (i) each Holder of Warrant Certificates shall receive the securities, money or other property which such Holder would have been entitled to receive had such Holder been the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock into which the Warrants were exercisable immediately prior to such Winding Up (net of the then applicable Exercise Price) and (ii) the rights to exercise the Warrants shall terminate.

Unless Section 5.1(f) applies, in case of any such Winding Up of the Company, the Company shall deposit with the Warrant Agent any funds or other property which the Holders are entitled to receive pursuant to the above paragraph, together with a Company Order as to the distribution thereof. After receipt of such deposit from the Company and after receipt of surrendered Warrant Certificates evidencing Warrants, and any such other necessary information as the Warrant Agent may reasonably require, the Warrant Agent shall make payment in the appropriate amount to such Person or Persons as it may be directed in writing by the Holder surrendering such Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to pay interest on any money deposited pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4 except such as it shall agree with the Company to pay thereon. Any moneys, securities or other property which at any time shall be deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section 4 shall be, and are hereby, assigned, transferred and set over to the Warrant Agent in accordance with Section 3.3 hereof; provided, that, moneys, securities or other property need not be segregated from other funds, securities or other property held by the Warrant Agent except to the extent required by law.

 

5.

Adjustments.

5.1 Adjustments. In order to prevent dilution of the rights granted under the Warrants and to grant the Holders certain additional rights, the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time only as specifically provided in this Section 5.1 (the “Adjustment Events”) and the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of Warrants shall be subject to adjustment from time to time only as specifically provided in this Section 5.1.

 

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(a) Subdivisions and Combinations. In the event the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date while any Warrants remain outstanding and unexpired in whole or in part, effect a subdivision (by any stock split or otherwise) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock (other than (x) a subdivision upon a Transaction to which Section 5.1(f) applies or (y) a stock split effected by means of a stock dividend or distribution to which Section 5.1(b) applies), then and in each such event the Exercise Price in effect at the opening of business on the day after the date upon which such subdivision becomes effective shall be proportionately decreased. Conversely, if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date while any Warrants remain outstanding and unexpired in whole or in part, effect a combination (by any reverse stock split, combination, subdivision or otherwise) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock (other than a combination upon a Transaction to which Section 5.1(f) applies), then and in each such event the Exercise Price in effect at the opening of business on the day after the date upon which such combination becomes effective shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustment under this Section 5.1(a) shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day after the date upon which the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

(b) Common Stock Dividends. In the event the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date while any Warrants remain outstanding and unexpired in whole or in part, make or issue to the holders of its Common Stock a dividend or distribution payable in, or otherwise make or issue a dividend or other distribution on any class of its capital stock payable in, shares of Common Stock (other than a dividend or distribution upon a Transaction to which Section 5.1(f) applies), then and in each such event the Exercise Price in effect at the opening of business on the day after the date for the determination of the holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to receive such dividend or distribution shall be decreased by multiplying such Exercise Price by a fraction (not to be greater than 1):

(i) the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding at the close of business on such date for determination; and

(ii) the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding at the close of business on such date for determination plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.

Any adjustment under this Section 5.1(b) shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day after the date the holders of shares of Common Stock receive such dividend or distribution.

(c) Reclassifications. A reclassification of the Common Stock (other than any such reclassification in connection with a Transaction to which Section 5.1(f) applies) into shares of Common Stock and shares of any other class of stock shall be deemed, if the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into a larger or smaller number of shares of Common Stock as a part of such reclassification, a subdivision or combination, as the case may be, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock for the purposes and within the meaning of Section 5.1(a) (and the effective date of such reclassification shall be deemed to be “the date upon which such subdivision becomes effective” or “the date upon which such combination becomes effective,” as applicable, for the purposes and within the meaning of Section 5.1(a)).

 

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(d) Other Provisions Applicable to Adjustments. The following provisions shall be applicable to the making of adjustments to the Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock into which each Warrant is exercisable under this Section 5.1:

(i) Treasury Stock. The dividend or distribution of any issued shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company shall be deemed a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock for purposes of Section 5.1(b). The Company shall not make or issue any dividend or distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company. For the purposes of Section 5.1(b), the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company.

(ii) When Adjustments Are to be Made. The adjustments required by Section 5.1(a), Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.1(c) shall be made whenever and as often as any specified event requiring an adjustment shall occur, except that no adjustment of the Exercise Price that would otherwise be required shall be made unless and until such adjustment either by itself or with other adjustments not previously made increases or decreases the Exercise Price immediately prior to the making of such adjustment by at least 1%. Any adjustment representing a change of less than such minimum amount (except as aforesaid) shall be carried forward and made as soon as such adjustment, together with other adjustments required by Section 5.1(a), Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.1(c) and not previously made, would result in such minimum adjustment.

(iii) Fractional Interests. In computing adjustments under Section 5.1, fractional interests in Common Stock shall be taken into account to the nearest one-thousandth (1/1000) of a share.

(e) Adjustment to Shares Obtainable Upon Exercise. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted as provided in this Section 5.1, the number of shares of Common Stock into which a Warrant is exercisable shall simultaneously be adjusted by multiplying such number of shares of Common Stock into which a Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Exercise Price immediately prior to such adjustment, and the denominator of which shall be the Exercise Price immediately thereafter.

(f) Changes in Common Stock. In case at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date while any Warrants remain outstanding and unexpired in whole or in part, the Company shall be a party to or shall otherwise engage in any transaction or series of related transactions constituting: (1) a merger of the Company into, a direct or indirect sale of all of the Company’s equity to, or a consolidation of the Company with, any other Person in which the previously outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) cancelled, reclassified or converted or changed into or exchanged for securities or other property (including cash) or any combination of the foregoing, or a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) (a “Non-Surviving Transaction”), or (2) any merger of another Person into the Company in which the previously outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be cancelled, reclassified or converted or changed into or exchanged for securities of the Company or other property (including cash) or any combination of the foregoing (a “Surviving Transaction”; any Non-Surviving Transaction or Surviving Transaction being herein called a “Transaction”) then:

 

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(i) as a condition to the consummation of such Transaction, the Company shall cause such other Person to execute and deliver to the Warrant Agent a written instrument providing that:

(A) so long as any Warrant remains outstanding in whole or in part (including after giving effect to the changes specified under clause (B) below), such Warrant, upon the exercise thereof at any time on or after the consummation of such Transaction, shall be exercisable (on such terms and subject to such conditions as shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the provisions set forth in this Agreement) into, in lieu of the Common Stock issuable upon such exercise prior to such consummation, only the securities (“Substituted Securities”) that would have been receivable upon such Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Warrant was exercisable immediately prior to such Transaction assuming, in the case of any such Transaction, if (as a result of rights of election or otherwise) the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such Transaction is not the same for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to such Transaction, such holder of Common Stock is a Person that is neither (I) an employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary thereof nor (II) a Person with which the Company consolidated or into which the Company merged or which merged into the Company or to which such sale or transfer was made, as the case may be (“Constituent Person”), or an Affiliate of a Constituent Person; and

(B) the rights and obligations of such other Person and the Holders in respect of Substituted Securities shall be substantially unchanged to be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the rights and obligations of the Company and Holders in respect of Common Stock hereunder as set forth in Section 3.1 hereof;

(ii) with respect to any Transaction, such written instrument under clause (i) above shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such written instrument shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section 5. The above provisions of this Section 5.1(f) shall similarly apply to successive Transactions.

(g) Compliance with Governmental Requirements. Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Exercise Price below the then par value of any of the shares of Common Stock into which the Warrants are exercisable, the Company will take any corporate action that may be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of such Common Stock at such adjusted Exercise Price.

 

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(h) Optional Tax Adjustment. The Company may at its option, at any time during the term of the Warrants, increase the number of shares of Common Stock into which each Warrant is exercisable, or decrease the Exercise Price, in addition to those changes required by Section 5.1(a), Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.1(c) as deemed advisable by the Board of Directors of the Company, in order that any event treated for federal income tax purposes as a dividend of stock or stock rights shall not be taxable to the recipients.

(i) Warrants Deemed Exercisable. For purposes solely of this Section 5, the number of shares of Common Stock which the holder of any Warrant would have been entitled to receive had such Warrant been exercised in full at any time or into which any Warrant was exercisable at any time shall be determined assuming such Warrant was exercisable in full at such time.

(j) Notice of Adjustment. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment of the Exercise Price or the number of shares of Common Stock into which a Warrant is exercisable pursuant to this Section 5.1, the Company at its expense shall promptly:

(i) compute such adjustment in accordance with the terms hereof;

(ii) after such adjustment becomes effective, deliver to all Holders, in accordance with Section 11.1(b) and Section 11.2, a notice setting forth such adjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based; and

(iii) deliver to the Warrant Agent a certificate of the Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company setting forth the Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock into which each Warrant is exercisable after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment and the computation by which such adjustment was made (including a description of the basis on which the Current Market Price of the Common Stock was determined). As provided in Section 10, the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to rely on such certificate and shall be under no duty or responsibility with respect to any such certificate, except to exhibit the same from time to time at the Corporate Agency Office (as defined below) to any Holder desiring an inspection thereof during reasonable business hours. The Company hereby agrees that it will provide the Holders and the Warrant Agent with reasonable notice of any Adjustment Event set forth in this Section 5.1. The Company further agrees that it will provide to the Holders and Warrant Agent with any new or amended exercise terms. The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under any Section of this Agreement to determine whether an Adjustment Event has occurred or to calculate any of the adjustments set forth herein.

(k) Statement on Warrant Certificates. Irrespective of any adjustment in the Exercise Price or amount or kind of shares into which the Warrants are exercisable, Warrant Certificates theretofore or thereafter issued may continue to express the same Exercise Price initially applicable or amount or kind of shares initially issuable upon exercise of the Warrants evidenced thereby pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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5.2 Fractional Interest. The Company shall not be required upon the exercise of any Warrant to issue any fractional shares of Common Stock, but may, in lieu of issuing any fractional shares of Common Stock make an adjustment therefore in cash on the basis of the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on the date of such exercise. If Warrant Certificates evidencing more than one Warrant shall be presented for exercise at the same time by the same Holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable upon such exercise thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of Warrants so to be exercised. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Warrant Certificates, expressly waive their right to receive any fraction of a share of Common Stock or a stock certificate representing a fraction of a share of Common Stock if such amount of cash is paid in lieu thereof. On the Extraction Original Issue Date, Extraction provided an initial funding of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the purpose of issuing cash in lieu of fractional shares. From time to time thereafter, Warrant Agent may request additional funding to cover fractional payments. The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation to make fractional payments unless the Company shall have provided the necessary funds to pay in full all amounts due and payable with respect thereto.

5.3 No Other Adjustments. Except in accordance with Section 5.1, the applicable Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of any Warrant will not be adjusted for the issuance of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or carrying the right to purchase any of the foregoing, including, without limitation:

(i) upon the issuance of any other securities by the Company on or after the Original Issue Date or upon the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of any such securities;

(ii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or other securities or any payments pursuant to any management or other equity incentive plan of the Company;

(iii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of the Warrants; or

(iv) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company in connection with a business acquisition transaction.

 

6.

Loss or Mutilation.

If (a) any mutilated Warrant Certificate is surrendered to the Warrant Agent or (b) both (i) there shall be delivered to the Company and the Warrant Agent (A) a claim by a Holder as to the destruction, loss or wrongful taking of any Warrant Certificate of such Holder and a request thereby for a new replacement Warrant Certificate, and (B) such open penalty surety bond and/or indemnity bond as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless and (ii) such other reasonable requirements as may be imposed by the Company or Warrant Agent as permitted by Section -405 of the Uniform Commercial Code have been satisfied, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Warrant Agent that such Warrant Certificate has been acquired by a “protected purchaser” within the meaning of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code or bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its written request the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver to the registered Holder of the lost, wrongfully taken, destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, in exchange therefore or in lieu thereof, a new Warrant Certificate of the same tenor and for a like aggregate number of Warrants. At the written request of such registered Holder, the new Warrant Certificate so issued shall be

 

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retained by the Warrant Agent as having been surrendered for exercise, in lieu of delivery thereof to such Holder, and shall be deemed for purposes of Section 3.2(c)(ii) to have been surrendered for exercise on the date the conditions specified in clauses (A) or (B) of the preceding sentence were first satisfied. The Warrant Agent may, at its option, issue replacement Warrants for mutilated certificates upon presentation thereof without such indemnity.

Upon the issuance of any new Warrant Certificate under this Section 6, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Warrant Agent and of counsel to the Company) in connection therewith.

Every new Warrant Certificate executed and delivered pursuant to this Section 6 in lieu of any lost, wrongfully taken or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, wrongfully taken or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly executed and delivered hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 6 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights or remedies with respect to the replacement of mutilated, lost, wrongfully taken, or destroyed Warrant Certificates.

 

7.

Reservation and Authorization of Common Stock.

The Company covenants that, for the duration of the Exercise Period, the Company will at all times reserve and keep available, from its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock solely for issuance and delivery upon the exercise of the Warrants and free of preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock and other securities, cash or property as from time to time shall be issuable upon the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants for cash. The Company further covenants that it shall, from time to time, take all steps necessary to increase the authorized number of shares of its Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient to deliver all shares of Common Stock deliverable upon exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants, if at any time the authorized number of shares of Common Stock remaining unissued would otherwise be insufficient to allow delivery of all the shares of Common Stock then deliverable upon the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants. The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants will, upon issuance, be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will be free of restrictions on transfer and will be free from all taxes, liens and charges in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously or as otherwise specified herein). The Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such shares of Common Stock may be so issued without violation of any applicable law or governmental regulation or any requirements of any U.S. national securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock may be listed (except for official notice of issuance which shall be immediately delivered by the Company upon each such issuance). The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock will, at all times that Warrants are exercisable, be duly approved for listing subject to official notice of issuance on each securities exchange, if any, on which the Common Stock is then listed. The Company covenants that the stock certificates, if any, issued to evidence any shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of Warrants will comply with the Delaware General Corporation Law and any other applicable law.

 

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The Company hereby authorizes and directs its current and future transfer agents for the Common Stock at all times to reserve stock certificates for such number of authorized shares, to the extent as, and if, required. The Company will supply such transfer agents with duly executed stock certificates for such purposes, to the extent as, and if, required.

The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Holders that the issuance of the Warrants and the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof will not constitute a breach of, or a default under, any other material agreements to which the Company is a party on the date hereof.

 

8.

Warrant Transfer Books.

The Warrant Agent will maintain an office or offices (the “Corporate Agency Office”) in the United States of America, where Warrant Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where Warrant Certificates may be surrendered for exercise of Warrants evidenced thereby, which office is 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717, Attn: Corporate Actions Department. The Warrant Agent will give prompt written notice to all Holders of Warrant Certificates of any change in the location of such office.

The Warrants shall be issued in registered form only. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Agency Office a warrant register (the “Warrant Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Warrant Agent may prescribe and such regulations as may be prescribed by law, the Company shall provide for the registration of Warrants and of transfers or exchanges of Warrants as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Warrant Certificate at the Corporate Agency Office, the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Warrant Certificates evidencing a like aggregate number of Warrants.

At the option of the Holder, Warrant Certificates may be exchanged at the Corporate Agency Office upon payment of the charges hereinafter provided for other Warrant Certificates evidencing a like aggregate number of Warrants. Whenever any Warrant Certificates are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, the Warrant Certificates of the same tenor and evidencing the same number of Warrants as evidenced by the Warrant Certificates surrendered by the Holder making the exchange.

All Warrant Certificates issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same obligations, and entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement, as the Warrant Certificates surrendered for such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

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Every Warrant Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Warrant Agent) be: (i) duly endorsed and containing a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, or (ii) be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Agent, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, also containing a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association. In addition, in connection with any transfer, the Warrant Agent or the Company may request a written opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company or the Warrant Agent, as applicable, that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and application state securities or “blue sky” laws. Further, to effect such transfer or exchange, all other necessary information or documentation shall be provided as the Warrant Agent may reasonably request.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrants; provided, however, the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement that requires the payment of taxes and/or charges unless and until it is satisfied that all such payments have been made.

The Warrant Agent shall, upon request and at the expense of the Company from time to time, deliver to the Company such reports of registered ownership of the Warrants and such records of transactions with respect to the Warrants and the shares of Common Stock as the Company may request. The Warrant Agent shall, upon reasonable advance notice, also make available to the Company for inspection by the Company’s agents or employees, from time to time as the Company may request, such books of accounts and records maintained by the Warrant Agent in connection with the issuance and exercise of Warrants hereunder, such inspections to occur at the Corporate Agency Office during the Warrant Agent’s normal business hours.

The Warrant Agent shall keep copies of this Agreement and any notices given to Holders hereunder available for inspection, upon reasonable advance notice, by the Holders during normal business hours at the Corporate Agency Office. The Company shall supply the Warrant Agent from time to time with such numbers of copies of this Agreement as the Warrant Agent may request.

 

9.

Warrant Holders.

9.1 No Voting or Dividend Rights.

(a) No Holder of a Warrant Certificate evidencing any Warrant shall have or exercise any rights by virtue hereof as a holder of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends and other distributions as a holder of Common Stock or to receive notice of, or attend, meetings or any other proceedings of the holders of Common Stock.

(b) The consent of any Holder of a Warrant Certificate shall not be required with respect to any action or proceeding of the Company.

 

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(c) Except as provided in Section 4, no Holder of a Warrant Certificate, by reason of the ownership or possession of a Warrant or the Warrant Certificate representing the same, shall have any right to receive any cash dividends, stock dividends, allotments or rights or other distributions paid, allotted or distributed or distributable to the holders of Common Stock prior to, or for which the relevant record date preceded, the date of the exercise of such Warrant.

(d) No Holder of a Warrant Certificate shall have any right not expressly conferred hereunder or under, or by applicable law with respect to, the Warrant Certificate held by such Holder.

9.2 Rights of Action. All rights of action against the Company in respect of this Agreement, except rights of action vested in the Warrant Agent, are vested in the Holders of the Warrant Certificates, and any Holder of any Warrant Certificate, without the consent of the Warrant Agent or the Holder of any other Warrant Certificate, may, in such Holder’s own behalf and for such Holder’s own benefit, enforce and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company suitable to enforce, or otherwise in respect of, such Holder’s right to exercise such Holder’s Warrants in the manner provided in this Agreement.

9.3 Treatment of Holders of Warrant Certificates. Every Holder, by virtue of accepting a Warrant Certificate, consents and agrees with the Company, with the Warrant Agent and with every subsequent holder of such Warrant Certificate that, prior to due presentment of such Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer, the Company and the Warrant Agent may treat the Person in whose name the Warrant Certificate is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes and as the Person entitled to exercise the rights granted under the Warrants, and neither the Company, the Warrant Agent nor any agent thereof shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

10.

Concerning the Warrant Agent.

Sections 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 and 10.8 shall survive the expiration of the Warrants and the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Warrant Agent.

10.1 Rights and Duties of the Warrant Agent.

(a) The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent of the Company as set forth in this Agreement. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the appointment as agent of the Company and agrees to perform that agency upon the express terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Warrant Certificates or as the Company and the Warrant Agent may hereafter agree in writing, by all of which the Company and the Holders of Warrant Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound; provided, however, that the terms and conditions contained in the Warrant Certificates are subject to and governed by this Agreement or any other terms and conditions hereafter agreed to by the Company and the Warrant Agent in writing.

(b) The Warrant Agent shall not, by countersigning Warrant Certificates or by any other act hereunder, incur any liability for or in respect of, or be deemed to make any representations as to, validity or authorization of (i) the Warrants or the Warrant Certificates (except as to its countersignature thereon), (ii) any securities or other property delivered upon exercise of any Warrant, (iii) the accuracy of the computation of the number or kind or amount of

 

22


stock or other securities or other property deliverable upon exercise of any Warrant, (iv) the correctness of any of the representations of the Company made in such certificates that the Warrant Agent receives; or (v) any of the statements of act or recitals contained in this Agreement. The Warrant Agent shall not at any time have any duty to calculate or determine whether any facts exist that may require any adjustments pursuant to Section 5 hereof with respect to the kind and amount of shares or other securities or any property issuable to Holders upon the exercise of Warrants required from time to time. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility to determine the accuracy or correctness of such calculation or with respect to the methods employed in making the same. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock or of any securities or property which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the exercise of any Warrant or upon any adjustment pursuant to Section 5 hereof, and it makes no representation with respect thereto. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any failure of the Company to make any cash payment or to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property upon the surrender of any Warrant Certificate for the purpose of exercise or upon any adjustment pursuant to Section 5 hereof or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in Section 5 hereof.

(c) The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Warrant Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, and all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

(d) The Warrant Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility in the case of the receipt of any written demand from any holder of Warrants with respect to any action or default by the Company, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon the Company.

(e) The Warrant Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorney or agents, and the Warrant Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorney or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in the selection and continued employment thereof.

(f) The Warrant Agent may rely on and shall be held harmless and protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it absent gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in reliance upon any certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission, telegram or other document, or any security delivered to it, and believed by it to be genuine and to have been made or signed by the proper party or parties, or upon any written or oral instructions or statements from the Company with respect to any matter relating to its acting as Warrant Agent hereunder.

 

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(g) The Warrant Agent shall not be obligated to expend or risk its own funds or to take any action that it believes would expose or subject it to expense or liability or to a risk of incurring expense or liability, unless it has been furnished with assurances of repayment or indemnity satisfactory to it.

(h) The Warrant Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to any registration statement filed with the Commission or this Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law.

(i) The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any Warrants authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the issue and sale, or exercise, of the Warrants.

(j) The Warrant Agent shall act hereunder solely as agent for the Company, and its duties shall be determined solely by the express provisions hereof (and no duties or obligations shall be inferred or implied). The Warrant Agent shall not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust with any of the owners or holders of the Warrants.

(k) The Warrant Agent may rely on and be fully authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing.

(l) In the event the Warrant Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Warrant Agent hereunder, the Warrant Agent, may, in its sole discretion, refrain from taking any action, and shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Company, the holder of any Warrant Certificate or any other person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless the Warrant Agent receives written instructions signed by the Company which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of Warrant Agent.

(m) Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by an Appropriate Officer and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement, and will be indemnified and held harmless for such reliance, and shall not be held liable in connection with any delay in receiving such statement.

(n) The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility to the Company, any Holders of Warrants or any holders of shares of Common Stock for interest or earnings on any moneys held by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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(o) or condition hereunder, including any event or condition that may require action by the Warrant Agent, unless the Warrant Agent shall be specifically notified in writing of such event or condition by the Company, and all notices or other instruments required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Warrant Agent must, in order to be effective, be received by the Warrant Agent as specified in Section 11.1 hereof, and in the absence of such notice so delivered, the Warrant Agent may conclusively assume no such event or condition exists.

10.2 Limitation of Liability.

(a) The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Warrant Agent’s aggregate liability during any term of this Agreement with respect to, arising from, or arising in connection with this Agreement, or from all services provided or omitted to be provided under this Agreement, whether in contract, or in tort, or otherwise, is limited to, and shall not exceed, the amounts paid hereunder by the Company to Warrant Agent as fees and charges, but not including reimbursable expenses, during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from Warrant Agent is being sought. Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for any consequential, indirect, special or incidental damages under any provisions of this Agreement or for any consequential, indirect, punitive, special or incidental damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder even if that party has been advised of or has foreseen the possibility of such damages.

(b) Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 5 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

10.3 Indemnification.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify and to hold the Warrant Agent harmless against any costs, expenses (including reasonable and documented fees of its legal counsel), losses or damages, which may be paid, incurred or suffered by or to which it may become subject, arising from or out of, directly or indirectly, any claims or liability resulting from its actions as Warrant Agent pursuant hereto; provided, however, that such covenant and agreement does not extend to, and the Warrant Agent shall not be indemnified with respect to, such costs, expenses, losses and damages incurred or suffered by the Warrant Agent as a result of, or arising out of, its gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the Company.

 

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(b) Instructions. From time to time, the Company may provide the Warrant Agent with instructions, by Company Order or otherwise, concerning the services performed by the Warrant Agent hereunder. In addition, at any time the Warrant Agent may apply to any officer of the Company for instruction, and may consult with legal counsel for the Warrant Agent or the Company with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement. The Warrant Agent and its agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Company for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by Warrant Agent in reliance upon any Company instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel. Warrant Agent shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Company.

10.4 Right to Consult Counsel. The Warrant Agent may at any time consult with legal counsel satisfactory to it (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the Warrant Agent shall incur no liability or responsibility to the Company or to any Holder for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it absent gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel.

10.5 Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent from time to time compensation for all reasonable fees and expenses relating to its services hereunder as the Company and the Warrant Agent may agree in writing from time to time and to reimburse the Warrant Agent for all of its reasonable expenses and disbursements, including reasonable counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in connection with the preparation, delivery, negotiation, amendment, administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder.

10.6 Warrant Agent May Hold Company Securities. The Warrant Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Warrant Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Warrants or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Warrant Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent or any Countersigning Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

10.7 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) The Warrant Agent may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liability hereunder (except liability arising as a result of the Warrant Agent’s own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction)) after giving 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company. The Company may remove the Warrant Agent upon 30 days’ written notice, and the Warrant Agent shall thereupon in like manner be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder, except as aforesaid. The Warrant Agent shall, at the expense of the Company, cause notice to be given in accordance with Section 11.1(b) to the Company of said notice of resignation or notice of removal, as the case may be. Upon such resignation or removal, the Company shall appoint in writing a new Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 calendar days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation by the resigning Warrant

 

26


Agent or after such removal, then the Holder of any Warrant Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Warrant Agent. Any new Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a Person (other than a natural person) doing business under the laws of the United States or any state thereof in good standing, authorized under such laws to act as Warrant Agent, and having a combined capital and surplus (together with its Affiliates) of not less than $25,000,000. The combined capital and surplus of such new Warrant Agent shall be deemed to be the combined capital and surplus as set forth in the most recent annual report of its condition published by such Warrant Agent prior to its appointment; provided, however, such reports are published at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of a federal or state supervising or examining authority. After acceptance in writing of such appointment by the new Warrant Agent, it shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named herein as the Warrant Agent, without any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed; but if for any reason it shall be reasonably necessary or expedient to execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed, the same shall be done at the reasonable expense of the Company and shall be legally and validly executed and delivered by the resigning or removed Warrant Agent. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof with the resigning or removed Warrant Agent. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 10.7(a), however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation of the Warrant Agent or the appointment of a new Warrant Agent as the case may be.

(b) Any Person into which the Warrant Agent or any new Warrant Agent may be merged, or any Person resulting from any consolidation to which the Warrant Agent or any new Warrant Agent shall be a party, shall be a successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act; provided, however, that such Person would be eligible for appointment as successor to the Warrant Agent under the provisions of Section 10.7(a). Any such successor Warrant Agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as Warrant Agent to be given in accordance with Section 11.1(b) to each Holder of a Warrant Certificate at such Holder’s last address as shown on the Warrant Register.

10.8 Appointment of Countersigning Agent.

(a) The Warrant Agent may, but is not required to, appoint a Countersigning Agent or Agents which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Warrant Agent to countersign Warrant Certificates issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or pursuant to Section 6, and Warrant Certificates so countersigned shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly executed and delivered hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Agreement to the countersignature and delivery of Warrant Certificates by the Warrant Agent or to Warrant Certificates countersigned by the Warrant Agent, such reference shall be deemed to include countersignature and delivery on behalf of the Warrant Agent by a Countersigning Agent and Warrant Certificates countersigned by a Countersigning Agent. Each Countersigning Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at the time of appointment be a Person (other than a natural person) doing business under the laws of the United States or any state thereof in good standing, authorized under such laws to act as Countersigning Agent, and having a combined capital and surplus (together with its Affiliates) of not less than $25,000,000. The combined capital and surplus of such new Countersigning Agent shall be deemed to be the combined capital and surplus as set forth in the most recent annual report of its condition published by such Countersigning Agent prior to its appointment; provided, however, such reports are published at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of a federal or state supervising or examining authority.

 

27


(b) Any Person into which a Countersigning Agent may be merged or any Person resulting from any consolidation to which such Countersigning Agent shall be a party, shall be a successor Countersigning Agent without any further act; provided, that, such Person would be eligible for appointment as a new Countersigning Agent under the provisions of Section 10.8(a), without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Warrant Agent or the Countersigning Agent. Any such successor Countersigning Agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as Countersigning Agent to be given in accordance with Section 11.1(b) to each Holder of a Warrant Certificate at such Holder’s last address as shown on the Warrant Register.

(c) A Countersigning Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent and to the Company. The Warrant Agent may at any time terminate the agency of a Countersigning Agent by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to such Countersigning Agent and to the Company.

(d) The Warrant Agent agrees to pay to each Countersigning Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 10.8 and the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 10.5.

(e) Any Countersigning Agent shall have the same rights and immunities as those of the Warrant Agent set forth in this Section 10 and in this Agreement.

 

11.

Notices.

11.1 Notices Generally.

(a) Any request, notice, direction, authorization, consent, waiver, demand or other communication permitted or authorized by this Agreement to be made upon, given or furnished to or filed with the Company or the Warrant Agent by the other party hereto or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing (including telecopy communication) and telecopied, sent via trackable or first-class mail or delivered by hand (including by courier service) as follows:

if to the Company, to:

Civitas Resources, Inc.

410 17th Street, Suite 1400

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: Cyrus D. Marter IV

if to the Warrant Agent, to:

Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.

51 Mercedes Way

Edgewood, NY 11717

Attention: Corporate Actions Department

 

28


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

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

2 Gateway Center

Newark, New Jersey 07102,

and a copy via email to legalnotices@broadridge.com

Attention: General Counsel

or, in either case, such other address as shall have been set forth in a notice delivered in accordance with this Section 11.1(a).

All such communications shall be effective when sent.

Any Person that telecopies any communication hereunder to any Person shall, on the same date as such telecopy is transmitted, also send, by trackable or first class mail, postage prepaid and addressed to such Person as specified above, an original copy of the communication so transmitted.

(b) Except as set forth in the last paragraph of this Section 11.1(b), where this Agreement provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, by trackable or first-class mail, to each Holder affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Warrant Register. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Agreement provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made by a method approved by the Warrant Agent as one which would be most reliable under the circumstances for successfully delivering the notice to the addressees shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Where this Agreement provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Warrant Certificate, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee), pursuant to its Applicable Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

11.2 Required Notices to Holders. In the event the Company shall:

(a) take any action that would result in an adjustment to the Exercise Price and/or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant pursuant to Section 5.1;

(b) consummate any Winding Up; or

(c) consummate any Transaction (each of (a), (b) or (c), an “Action”);

 

29


then, in each such case, the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent and, unless the Company has made a filing with the Commission, including pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K, which filing discloses such Action, the Company shall deliver (or cause to be delivered ) to each Holder of a Warrant Certificate, in accordance with Section 11.1(b) hereof, a written notice of such Action, including, in the case of an action pursuant to Section 11.2(a), the information required under Section 5.1(j)(ii). Such notice shall be given promptly after taking such Action.

If at any time the Company shall cancel any of the Actions for which notice has been given under this Section 11.2 prior to the consummation thereof, the Company shall give each Holder prompt notice of such cancellation in accordance with Section 11.1(b), unless the Company has made a filing with the Commission, including pursuant to a current report on Form 8-K, which filing discloses the cancellation of such Actions. For the avoidance of doubt, if at any time the Company shall cancel any of the Actions for which notice has been given under this Section 11.2 prior to the consummation thereof, the Company shall give Warrant Agent prompt notice of such cancellation in accordance with Section 11.1(b).

 

12.

Inspection.

The Warrant Agent shall cause a copy of this Agreement to be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent for inspection by any Holder of any Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Agent may require any such Holder to submit its Warrant Certificate for inspection by the Warrant Agent.

 

13.

Amendments.

(a) This Agreement may be amended by the Company and the Warrant Agent with the consent of the Required Warrant Holders.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Warrant Agent may, without the consent or concurrence of the Holders of the Warrant Certificates, by supplemental agreement or otherwise, amend this Agreement for the purpose of making any changes or corrections in this Agreement that (i) are required to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision or clerical omission or mistake or manifest error herein contained or (ii) add to the covenants and agreements of the Company in this Agreement further covenants and agreements of the Company thereafter to be observed, or surrender any rights or powers reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Agreement; provided, however, that in either case such amendment shall not adversely affect the rights or interests of the Holders of the Warrant Certificates hereunder in any material respect.

(c) The consent of each Holder of any Warrant Certificate evidencing any warrants affected thereby shall be required for any supplement or amendment to this Agreement or the Warrants that would: (i) increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of shares of Common Stock receivable upon exercise of Warrants, in each case other than as provided in Section 5.1; (ii) cause the Expiration Date to be changed to an earlier date; or (iii) modify the provisions contained in Section 5.1 in a manner adverse to the Holders of Warrant Certificates generally with respect to their Warrants.

 

30


(d) The Warrant Agent shall join with the Company in the execution and delivery of any such amendment unless such amendment affects the Warrant Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities hereunder, in which case the Warrant Agent may, but shall not be required to, join in such execution and delivery; provided, that, as a condition precedent to the Warrant Agent’s execution of any amendment to this Agreement, the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent a certificate from an Appropriate Officer that states that the proposed amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 13. Upon execution and delivery of any amendment pursuant to this Section 13, such amendment shall be considered a part of this Agreement for all purposes and every Holder of a Warrant Certificate theretofore or thereafter countersigned and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

(e) Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Warrant Agent of any such amendment, unless the Company has made a filing with the Commission, including pursuant to a current report on Form 8-K, which filing discloses such adjustment, the Company shall give notice to the Holders of Warrant Certificates, setting forth in general terms the substance of such amendment, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.1(b). Any failure of the Company to mail such notice or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment.

 

14.

Waivers.

The Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Required Warrant Holders, as required pursuant to Section 13.

 

15.

Successor to Company.

So long as Warrants remain outstanding, the Company will not enter into any Transaction unless the acquirer (a “Successor Company”) shall expressly assume by a supplemental agreement, executed and delivered to the Warrant Agent, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Warrant Agent, the due and punctual performance of every covenant of this Agreement on the part of the Company to be performed and observed and shall have provided for exercise rights in accordance with Section 5.1(f)(i). Upon the consummation of such Transaction, the acquirer shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Agreement with the same effect as if such acquirer had been named as the Company herein.

 

16.

Headings.

The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

17.

Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all of which together constitute one and the same instrument. A signature to this Agreement transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.

 

31


18.

Severability.

The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof; provided, that, if any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any party or to any circumstance, is adjudged by a court or governmental body not to be enforceable in accordance with its terms, the parties agree that the court or governmental body making such determination will have the power to modify the provision in a manner consistent with its objectives such that it is enforceable, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its reduced form, such provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced; further, provided, that, if such excluded provision shall affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent, the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company.

 

19.

No Redemption.

The Warrants shall not be subject to redemption by the Company or any other Person; provided, that, the Warrants may be acquired by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws, so long as such acquisition does not otherwise violate the terms of this Agreement.

 

20.

Persons Benefiting.

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders from time to time. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement or any part hereof, and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and of the Holders. Each Holder, by acceptance of a Warrant Certificate, agrees to all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement applicable thereto.

 

21.

Applicable Law.

THIS AGREEMENT, EACH WARRANT CERTIFICATE ISSUED HEREUNDER, EACH WARRANT EVIDENCED THEREBY AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO, INCLUDING THE INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY THEREOF, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY RULES OR PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

 

22.

Entire Agreement.

This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous agreements among all or some of the parties hereto with respect thereto, whether written, oral or otherwise.

 

32


23.

Force Majeure.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Warrant Agent will not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, disruptions in public utilities, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war, pandemics, epidemics or civil unrest.

 

24.

Further Assurances.

The Company shall perform, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as may be reasonably required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Warrant Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

25.

Confidentiality.

The Warrant Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public warrant holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement including the fees for services set forth in the attached schedule shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law, including, without limitation, pursuant to subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (e.g., in divorce and criminal actions) or to such party’s advisors (including its attorneys). However, each party may disclose relevant aspects of the other party’s confidential information to its officers, affiliates, agents, subcontractors and employees to the extent reasonably necessary to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement and such disclosure is not prohibited by applicable law.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

33


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

 

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC., a Delaware corporation
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV
Title:   General Counsel and Secretary
BROADRIDGE CORPORATE ISSUER SOLUTIONS, INC., as Warrant Agent
By:  

/s/ John P. Dunn

Name:   John P. Dunn
Title:   SVP

 

34


EXHIBIT A

[FACE OF TRANCHE B WARRANT CERTIFICATE]1

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

WARRANT CERTIFICATE

EVIDENCING

TRANCHE B WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

[FACE]

 

No. [___]    CUSIP No. 17888H 129

[UNLESS THIS GLOBAL TRANCHE B WARRANT CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC. (THE “COMPANY”), THE CUSTODIAN OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFER OF THIS GLOBAL TRANCHE B WARRANT CERTIFICATE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, AND NOT IN PART, TO THE COMPANY, DTC, THEIR SUCCESSORS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE NOMINEES.]2

 

 

1 

To be removed in the versions of the Definitive Warrant Certificates printed in multiple copies for use by the Warrant Agent in preparing Definitive Warrants Certificates for issuance and delivery from time to time to holders.

2 

Include only on Global Warrant Certificate.

 

35


CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

 

No. [__] [__,__,___] Warrants

   CUSIP No. 17888H 129

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received, [___________________], or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Warrants to purchase Common Stock of Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”, which term includes any successor thereto under the Warrant Agreement (as may be supplemented, amended or amended and restated pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, the “Warrant Agreement”), dated as of November 1, 2021, between the Company and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., a corporation having its principal offices in Edgewood, New York (the “Warrant Agent”, which term includes any successor thereto permitted under the Warrant Agreement)) specified above [or such lesser number as may from time to time be endorsed on the “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached hereto]3, and is entitled, subject to and upon compliance with the provisions hereof and of the Warrant Agreement, at such Holder’s option, at any time when the Warrants evidenced hereby are exercisable, to purchase from the Company one (1) share of Common Stock of the Company for each Warrant evidenced hereby, at the purchase price of $104.45 per share (as adjusted from time to time, the “Exercise Price”), payable in full at the time of purchase, the number of shares of Common Stock into which and the Exercise Price at which each Warrant shall be exercisable each being subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5 of the Warrant Agreement.

All shares of Common Stock issuable by the Company upon the exercise of Warrants shall, upon such issuance, be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall pay any and all taxes (other than income taxes) that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on exercise of Warrants. The Company or Warrant Agent shall not be required, however, to pay any tax or other charge imposed in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or any certificates for shares of Common Stock or payment of cash or other property to any Recipient other than the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing the exercised Warrant, and in case of such transfer or payment, the Warrant Agent and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock in book-entry form or any certificate or pay any cash until (a) such tax or charge has been paid or an amount sufficient for the payment thereof has been delivered to the Warrant Agent or to the Company, (b) it has been established to the Company’s or Warrant Agent’s satisfaction that any such tax or other charge that is or may become due has been paid or (c) the receipt of any other such information as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Each Warrant evidenced hereby may be exercised by the Holder hereof at the Exercise Price then in effect on any Business Day from and after the Original Issue Date until 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date in the Warrant Agreement.

Subject to the provisions hereof and of the Warrant Agreement, the Holder of this Warrant Certificate may exercise all or any whole number of the Warrants evidenced hereby by, in the case of a Global Warrant Certificate, by delivery to the Warrant Agent of the Exercise Form on the reverse hereof, setting forth the number of Warrants being exercised and otherwise properly

 

 

3 

Include only on Global Warrant Certificate.

 

36


completed and duly executed by the Holder thereof to the Warrant Agent, and delivering such Warrants by book-entry transfer through the facilities of the Depositary, to the Warrant Agent in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and otherwise complying with the Applicable Procedures in respect of the exercise of such Warrants or, in the case of a Definitive Warrant Certificate, by delivery to the Warrant Agent of the Exercise Form on the reverse hereof, setting forth the number of Warrants being exercised and otherwise properly completed and duly executed by the Holder thereof to the Warrant Agent, and surrendering this Warrant Certificate to the Warrant Agent at its office maintained for such purpose (the “Corporate Agency Office”).

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless this Warrant Certificate has been countersigned by the Warrant Agent by manual or electronic signature of an authorized officer on behalf of the Warrant Agent, this Warrant Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose and no Warrant evidenced hereby shall be exercisable.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this certificate to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

 

Dated: [_________ __], 20[__]       
       CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

[SEAL]

 

ATTEST:

     By:  

         

     [Title]
                                   
Countersigned:       
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., as Warrant Agent         [ ]        
OR
By:  

         

     By:  

         

  Authorized Agent      as Countersigning Agent
       By:  

 

       Authorized Officer

 

37


Reverse of Tranche B Warrant Certificate

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

TRANCHE B WARRANT CERTIFICATE

EVIDENCING

TRANCHE B WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

The Warrants evidenced hereby are one of a duly authorized issue of Warrants of the Company designated as its Tranche B Warrants to Purchase Common Stock (“Warrants”), limited in aggregate number to 1,701,376 issued under and in accordance with the Warrant Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), between the Company and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., a corporation having its principal offices in Edgewood, New York (the “Warrant Agent”, which term includes any successor thereto permitted under the Warrant Agreement), to which the Warrant Agreement and all amendments thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Warrant Agent, the Holders of Warrant Certificates and the owners of the Warrants evidenced thereby and of the terms upon which the Warrant Certificates are, and are to be, countersigned and delivered. A copy of the Warrant Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent for inspection by the Holder hereof.

The Warrant Agreement provides that, in addition to certain adjustments to the number of shares of Common Stock into which a Warrant is exercisable and the Exercise Price required to be made in certain circumstances, in the case of any Transaction the Company shall cause the other Person involved in such Transaction to execute and deliver to the Warrant Agent a written instrument providing that (i) the Warrants evidenced hereby, if then outstanding, will be exercisable thereafter, during the period the Warrants evidenced hereby shall be exercisable as specified herein, only into the Substituted Securities that would have been receivable upon such Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued upon exercise of such Warrant if such Warrant had been exercised in full immediately prior to such Transaction (upon certain assumptions specified in the Warrant Agreement); and (ii) the rights and obligations of the other Person involved in such Transaction and the holders in respect of Substituted Securities shall be substantially unchanged to be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the rights and obligations of the Company and Holders in respect of Common Stock.

Except as provided in the Warrant Agreement, all outstanding Warrants shall expire and all rights of the Holders of Warrant Certificates evidencing such Warrants shall automatically terminate and cease to exist, as of 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date. The “Expiration Date” shall mean the earlier to occur of (x) January 20, 2026 (the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Extraction Original Issue Date) or, if not a Business Day, then the next Business Day thereafter; (y) the date of consummation of a Transaction to which clause (ii) of Section 5.1(f) of the Warrant Agreement applies; and (z) a Winding Up.

 

38


In the event of the exercise of less than all of the Warrants evidenced hereby, a new Warrant Certificate of the same tenor and for the number of Warrants which are not exercised shall be issued by the Company in the name or upon the written order of the Holder of this Warrant Certificate upon the cancellation hereof.

The Warrant Certificates are issuable only in registered form in denominations of whole numbers of Warrants. Upon surrender at the office of the Warrant Agent and payment of the charges specified herein and in the Warrant Agreement, this Warrant Certificate may be exchanged for Warrant Certificates in other authorized denominations or the transfer hereof may be registered in whole or in part in authorized denominations to one or more designated transferees; provided, however, that such other Warrant Certificates issued upon exchange or registration of transfer shall evidence the same aggregate number of Warrants as this Warrant Certificate. The Company shall cause to be kept at the office or offices of the Warrant Agent the Warrant Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Warrant Agent may prescribe and such regulations as may be prescribed by law, the Company shall provide for the registration of Warrant Certificates and of transfers or exchanges of Warrant Certificates. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates; provided, however, the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates.

Prior to due presentment of this Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer, the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent may treat the Person in whose name this Warrant Certificate is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, and neither the Company, the Warrant Agent nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

The Warrant Agreement permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Warrant Certificates under the Warrant Agreement at any time by the Company and the Warrant Agent with the consent of the Required Warrant Holders.

Until the exercise of any Warrant, subject to the provisions of the Warrant Agreement and except as may be specifically provided for in the Warrant Agreement, (i) no Holder of a Warrant Certificate evidencing any Warrant shall have or exercise any rights by virtue hereof as a holder of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends and other distributions or to receive notice of, or attend meetings of, stockholders or any other proceedings of the Company; (ii) the consent of any such Holder shall not be required with respect to any action or proceeding of the Company; (iii) except as provided with respect to a Winding Up of the Company, no such Holder, by reason of the ownership or possession of a Warrant or the Warrant Certificate representing the same, shall have any right to receive any cash dividends, stock dividends, allotments or rights or other distributions (except as specifically provided in the Warrant Agreement), paid, allotted or distributed or distributable to the stockholders of the Company prior to or for which the relevant record date preceded the date of the exercise of such Warrant; and (iv) no such Holder shall have any right not expressly conferred by the Warrant or Warrant Certificate held by such Holder.

This Warrant Certificate, each Warrant evidenced thereby and the Warrant Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

39


All terms used in this Warrant Certificate which are defined in the Warrant Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Warrant Agreement. In the event of any conflict between this Warrant Certificate and the Warrant Agreement, the Warrant Agreement shall control.

 

40


Exercise Form for Tranche B Warrant Certificate

Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.

51 Mercedes Way

Edgewood, NY 11717

Attention: Corporate Actions Department

Re: Civitas Resources, Inc. Warrant Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021

In accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions hereof and of the Warrant Agreement, the undersigned registered

Holder of this Warrant Certificate hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _____________ Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate.

The undersigned requests that the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise be in fully registered form in such denominations and registered in such names and delivered, together with any other property receivable upon exercise, in such manner as is specified in the instructions set forth below.

If the number of Warrants exercised is less than all of the Warrants evidenced hereby, (i) if this Warrant Certificate is a Global Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent shall endorse the “Schedule of Decreases in Warrants” attached hereto to reflect the Warrants being exercised or (ii) if this Warrant Certificate is a Definitive Warrant Certificate, the undersigned requests that a new Definitive Warrant Certificate representing the remaining Warrants evidenced hereby be issued and delivered to the undersigned unless otherwise specified in the instructions below.

 

Dated: ____________________________________      Name: _____________________________________
_________________________________________      (Please Print)
(Insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Holder)     

Address: ____________________________________

 

___________________________________________

 

___________________________________________

                      Signature
     (Signature must conform in all respects to name of Holder as specified on the face of this Warrant Certificate and must bear a signature guarantee by a bank, trust company or member firm of a U.S. national securities exchange.)

Signature Guaranteed:

Instructions (i) as to denominations and names of Common Stock issuable upon exercise and as to delivery of such securities and any other property issuable upon exercise and (ii) if applicable, as to Definitive Warrant Certificates evidencing unexercised Warrants:

 

41


Assignment

(Form of Assignment To Be Executed If Holder Desires To Transfer Warrant Certificate)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

Please insert social security or other identifying number

(Please print name and address including zip code)

the Warrants represented by the within Warrant Certificate and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________________ Attorney, to transfer said Warrant Certificate on the books of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated: _____________________________       Signature _________________________
                                  

 

(Signature must conform in all respects to name of Holder as specified on the face of this Warrant Certificate and must bear a signature guarantee by a bank, trust company or member firm of a U.S. national securities exchange.)

 

42


[SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF DECREASES IN WARRANTS

The following decreases in the number of Warrants evidenced by this Global Warrant Certificate have been made:

 

                             Date                            

  

Amount of decrease in

number of Warrants

evidenced by this Global

Warrant Certificate

  

Number of Warrants

evidenced by this Global

Warrant Certificate

following such decrease

  

Signature of authorized

signatory]4

 

 

4 

Include only on Global Warrant Certificate.

 

43

Exhibit 10.5

Execution Version

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of November 1, 2021

among

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.,

as Borrower,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent and an Issuing Bank,

and

The Lenders and other Issuing Banks Party Hereto

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, CITIBANK, N.A.,

KEYBANC CAPITAL MARKETS INC., BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, TRUIST SECURITIES, INC., ROYAL BANK OF

CANADA and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners,

and

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Documentation Agent

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I  
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS  

Section 1.01

 

Terms Defined Above

     2  

Section 1.02

 

Certain Defined Terms

     2  

Section 1.03

 

Types of Loans and Borrowings

     41  

Section 1.04

 

Terms Generally; Rules of Construction

     41  

Section 1.05

 

Accounting Terms and Determinations; GAAP

     42  

Section 1.06

 

Divisions

     42  

ARTICLE II

THE REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

 

Section 2.01

 

Commitments

     42  

Section 2.02

 

Revolving Credit Loans and Borrowings

     43  

Section 2.03

 

Requests for Revolving Credit Borrowings

     45  

Section 2.04

 

Funding of Revolving Credit Borrowings

     46  

Section 2.05

 

Termination and Reduction of Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts

     48  

Section 2.06

 

Borrowing Base

     49  

Section 2.07

 

Letters of Credit

     52  
ARTICLE III  

PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS;

PREPAYMENTS OF REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS; FEES

 

Section 3.01

 

Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans

     61  

Section 3.02

 

Interest on Revolving Credit Loans

     61  

Section 3.03

 

Prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans

     62  

Section 3.04

 

Fees

     65  

ARTICLE IV

PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; SHARING OF SET-OFFS

 

Section 4.01

 

Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

     66  

Section 4.02

 

Deductions by the Administrative Agent; Defaulting Lender

     67  

Section 4.03

 

Disposition of Proceeds

     69  

ARTICLE V

INCREASED COSTS; REIMBURSEMENT OF PREPAYMENT COSTS;

TAXES; LIBO RATE AVAILABILITY

 

Section 5.01

 

Increased Costs

     69  

Section 5.02

 

Reimbursement of Prepayment Costs

     71  

Section 5.03

 

Taxes

     72  

Section 5.04

 

Mitigation Obligations; Designation of Different Lending Office

     76  

Section 5.05

 

Replacement of Lenders

     76  

Section 5.06

 

Laws Affecting LIBO Rate Availability

     77  

Section 5.07

 

Eurodollar Lending Office

     77  

 

i


Section 5.08

 

Right of Lenders to Fund through Branches and Affiliates

     77  

Section 5.09

 

Alternate Rate of Interest

     78  

Section 5.10

 

Interest Rates; LIBOR Notifications

     80  

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

Section 6.01

 

Effective Date

     80  

Section 6.02

 

Each Credit Event

     84  

ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 7.01

 

Organization; Powers

     85  

Section 7.02

 

Authority; Enforceability

     85  

Section 7.03

 

Approvals; No Conflicts

     86  

Section 7.04

 

Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

     86  

Section 7.05

 

Litigation

     87  

Section 7.06

 

Environmental Matters

     87  

Section 7.07

 

Compliance with the Laws and Agreements; No Defaults

     88  

Section 7.08

 

Investment Company Act

     88  

Section 7.09

 

Taxes

     88  

Section 7.10

 

ERISA

     89  

Section 7.11

 

Disclosure; No Material Misstatements

     89  

Section 7.12

 

Insurance

     90  

Section 7.13

 

Restriction on Liens

     90  

Section 7.14

 

Subsidiaries

     90  

Section 7.15

 

Location of Business and Offices

     90  

Section 7.16

 

Properties; Titles, Etc

     90  

Section 7.17

 

Maintenance of Properties

     91  

Section 7.18

 

Marketing of Production

     91  

Section 7.19

 

Swap Agreements

     91  

Section 7.20

 

Use of Loans and Letters of Credit

     92  

Section 7.21

 

Solvency

     92  

Section 7.22

 

Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions

     92  

Section 7.23

 

Affected Financial Institutions

     92  

Section 7.24

 

Security Instruments

     93  

Section 7.25

 

Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions

     93  

ARTICLE VIII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Section 8.01

 

Financial Statements; Other Information

     93  

Section 8.02

 

Notices of Material Events

     97  

Section 8.03

 

Existence; Conduct of Business

     97  

Section 8.04

 

Payment of Obligations

     97  

Section 8.05

 

Performance of Obligations under Loan Documents

     97  

Section 8.06

 

Operation and Maintenance of Properties

     98  

Section 8.07

 

Insurance

     98  

Section 8.08

 

Books and Records; Inspection Rights

     98  

 

ii


Section 8.09

 

Compliance with Laws

     99  

Section 8.10

 

Environmental Matters

     99  

Section 8.11

 

Further Assurances

     100  

Section 8.12

 

Reserve Reports

     100  

Section 8.13

 

Title Information

     101  

Section 8.14

 

Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors

     102  

Section 8.15

 

ERISA Compliance

     103  

Section 8.16

 

Marketing Activities

     103  

Section 8.17

 

Unrestricted Subsidiaries

     103  

Section 8.18

 

Account Control Agreements

     105  

Section 8.19

 

Swap Agreements

     105  

ARTICLE IX

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Section 9.01

 

Financial Covenants

     106  

Section 9.02

 

Debt

     106  

Section 9.03

 

Liens

     107  

Section 9.04

 

Restricted Payments

     108  

Section 9.05

 

Investments, Loans and Advances

     108  

Section 9.06

 

Nature of Business

     110  

Section 9.07

 

Proceeds of Loans

     110  

Section 9.08

 

Mergers, Etc

     110  

Section 9.09

 

Sale or Discount of Receivables

     110  

Section 9.10

 

Sale of Properties

     111  

Section 9.11

 

Transactions with Affiliates

     112  

Section 9.12

 

Subsidiaries

     112  

Section 9.13

 

Negative Pledge Agreements; Dividend Restrictions

     113  

Section 9.14

 

Swap Agreements

     113  

Section 9.15

 

Permitted Additional Debt Restrictions

     114  

Section 9.16

 

Amendments to Organizational Documents

     115  

Section 9.17

 

Changes in Fiscal Periods

     115  

ARTICLE X

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

 

Section 10.01

 

Events of Default

     115  

Section 10.02

 

Remedies

     117  

ARTICLE XI

THE AGENTS

 

Section 11.01

 

Authorization and Action

     119  

Section 11.02

 

Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.

     121  

Section 11.03

 

Posting of Communications

     123  

Section 11.04

 

The Administrative Agent Individually

     124  

Section 11.05

 

Successor Administrative Agent

     124  

Section 11.06

 

Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks.

     125  

Section 11.07

 

Collateral Matters

     126  

Section 11.08

 

Credit Bidding

     127  

 

iii


Section 11.09

 

Certain ERISA Matters

     128  

Section 11.10

 

Erroneous Payments

     130  

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01

 

Notices

     131  

Section 12.02

 

Waivers; Amendments

     132  

Section 12.03

 

Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver

     133  

Section 12.04

 

Successors and Assigns

     136  

Section 12.05

 

Survival; Revival; Reinstatement

     140  

Section 12.06

 

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

     140  

Section 12.07

 

Severability

     141  

Section 12.08

 

Right of Setoff

     141  

Section 12.09

 

GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY

     141  

Section 12.10

 

Headings

     142  

Section 12.11

 

Confidentiality

     142  

Section 12.12

 

Interest Rate Limitation

     143  

Section 12.13

 

EXCULPATION PROVISIONS

     144  

Section 12.14

 

Collateral Matters; Swap Agreements; Cash Management

     146  

Section 12.15

 

No Third Party Beneficiaries

     146  

Section 12.16

 

USA Patriot Act Notice

     146  

Section 12.17

 

Keepwell

     146  

Section 12.18

 

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions

     147  

Section 12.19

 

Flood Insurance

     147  

Section 12.20

 

Intercreditor Agreements.

     148  

Section 12.21

 

Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs

     149  

Section 12.22

 

Existing Credit Agreement

     149  

Schedules and Exhibits:

 

Schedule 1.1

  

Applicable Margin

Schedule 1.2

  

Allocations

Schedule 1.3

  

Compliance Information

Schedule 1.4

Schedule 1.5

Schedule 7.04(c)

  

Existing Specified Letters of Credit

Other Secured Swap Agreements

Material Debt and Liabilities

Schedule 7.05

  

Litigation

Schedule 7.06

  

Environmental Matters

Schedule 7.14

  

Subsidiaries

Schedule 7.18

  

Marketing Agreements

Schedule 7.19

  

Swap Agreements

Schedule 9.05

  

Investments

Schedule 9.11

  

Affiliate Transactions

Schedule 12.01

  

Notices

 

iv


Exhibit A    Form of Revolving Credit Note

Exhibit B

  

Form of Revolving Credit Borrowing Request

Exhibit C

  

Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit D

  

Security Instruments

Exhibit E

  

Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit F

  

Form of Notice of Issuance of Letter of Credit

Exhibit G-1

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders; not Partnerships)

Exhibit G-2

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants; not Partnerships)

Exhibit G-3

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants; Partnerships)

Exhibit G-4

  

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders; Partnerships)

 

 

v


AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of November 1, 2021, is among CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.) (the “Borrower”), each of the Lenders from time to time party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and each of the other parties from time to time party hereto.

RECITALS

A. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 7, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing 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 has entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 9, 2021 (as executed, without giving effect to any subsequent amendment or modification thereto except to the extent not prohibited by the terms hereof, the “Extraction Merger Agreement”), among the Borrower, as “Parent”, Raptor Eagle Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (“Eagle Merger Sub”), as “Merger Sub”, and Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Extraction”), as “Company”. Pursuant to the Extraction Merger Agreement, Eagle Merger Sub will be merged with and into Extraction, with Extraction being the surviving corporation as a wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (such transaction, as further described in the Extraction Merger Agreement, the “Extraction Merger”).

C. Furthermore, the Borrower has advised the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that it has entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 6, 2021 (as executed, without giving effect to any subsequent amendment or modification thereto except to the extent not prohibited by the terms hereof, the “Crestone Merger Agreement”), among the Borrower, as “Parent”, Raptor Condor Merger Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (“Condor Merger Sub 1”), as “Merger Sub 1”, Raptor Condor Merger Sub 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (“Condor Merger Sub 2”), as “Merger Sub 2”, Crestone Peak Resources LP, a Delaware limited partnership, as “CPR”, CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Crestone”) as “Company”, Crestone Peak Resources Management LP, a Delaware limited partnership, as “CPR Management LP” and, in certain limited capacities, Extraction. Pursuant to the Crestone Merger Agreement, (i) Condor Merger Sub 1 will be merged with and into Crestone, with Crestone being the surviving corporation as a wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (“Surviving Corporation”, and such transaction, as further described in the Crestone Merger Agreement, the “Surviving Corporation Merger”) and (ii) Surviving Corporation will be merged with and into Condor Merger Sub 2, with Condor Merger Sub 2 being the surviving entity as a wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (such transaction, as further described in the Crestone Merger Agreement, the “Condor Merger Sub 2 Merger” and together with the Surviving Corporation Merger, collectively, the “Crestone Merger”).

 

1


D. The parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in the form of this Agreement to (i) reflect the Extraction Merger and the Crestone Merger and (ii) amend certain other terms of the Existing Credit Agreement in certain respects as provided in this Agreement.

E. In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and of the loans, extensions of credit and commitments hereinafter referred to, the parties hereto agree that the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety on (and subject to) the terms and conditions set forth herein.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS

Section 1.01 Terms Defined Above As used in this Agreement, each term defined above has the meaning indicated above.

Section 1.02 Certain Defined Terms As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

5.00% Senior Notes” means those certain 5.00% Senior Notes due October 15, 2026 issued by the Borrower in the original aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 9.15.

7.50% Senior Notes” means those certain 7.50% Senior Notes due April 30, 2026 issued by the Borrower in the original aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 9.15.

ABR” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

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

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

 

2


Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified 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.

Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Documentation Agent; and “Agent” means any of the Administrative Agent or the Documentation Agent, as the context requires.

Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts” at any time shall equal the sum of the Maximum Credit Amounts, as the same may be reduced or terminated pursuant to Section 2.05. As of the Effective Date, the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts of the Revolving Credit Lenders is $2,000,000,000.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated.

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus one percent (1%); provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Screen Rate (or if the LIBO Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 5.06 or Section 5.09 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 5.09(b)) then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than one and a half percent (1.50%), such rate shall be deemed to be one and a half percent (1.50%) for purposes of this Agreement.

Annualized EBITDAX” means for each of the Rolling Periods ending December 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, (a) EBITDAX for such Rolling Period multiplied by (b) the factor for such Rolling Period set forth in the table below:

 

Rolling Period Ending

   Factor  

December 31, 2021

     4  

March 31, 2022

     2  

June 30, 2022

     4/3  

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

 

3


Applicable Leverage Ratio Test Date” means: (a) with respect to each Specified Swap Test Date that occurs on March 31 of each year, December 31 of the immediately preceding year, (b) with respect to each Specified Swap Test Date that occurs on June 30 of each year, March 31 of such year, (c) with respect to each Specified Swap Test Date that occurs on September 30 of each year, June 30 of such year, and (d) with respect to each Specified Swap Test Date that occurs on December 31 of each year, September 30 of such year.

Applicable Margin” means, for any period, with respect to any ABR Revolving Credit Loan or Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan, as the case may be, the rate per annum set forth in the Commitment Utilization Grid set forth on Schedule 1.1 and based upon the Commitment Utilization Percentage then in effect.

Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender, the percentage of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Maximum Credit Amount as such percentage (which may be carried out to the seventh decimal place) is set forth on Schedule 1.2, provided that if the Commitments have terminated or expired, each Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect.

Approved Counterparty” means (a) any Secured Swap Party, (b) any other Person if such Person or its credit support provider has a long term senior unsecured debt rating or corporate rating of A-/A3 by S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher and (c) the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party, solely with respect to the Existing Secured Swap Agreements listed on Schedule 1.5 of the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party.

Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in revolving bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Approved Petroleum Engineers” means Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., DeGolyer and MacNaughton Corp., Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., Ryder Scott Company Petroleum Consultants, L.P., and any other independent petroleum engineers reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.

Arrangers” means, collectively, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Citibank, N.A., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Bank of America, N.A., Fifth Third Bank, National Association, U.S. Bank National Association, Truist Securities, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada and PNC Bank, National Association, in each case, in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners hereunder.

ASC 805” means Accounting Standards Codification No. 805 (Business Combinations), as issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

ASC 815” means Accounting Standards Codification No. 815 (Derivatives and Hedging), as issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

4


Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 12.04(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date.

Available Free Cash Flow Amount” means, as of any date of determination the result of (a)(i) prior to the delivery of the certificate pursuant to Section 8.01(n) for the Rolling Period ending December 31, 2021, $550,000,000 or (ii) thereafter, the result of Free Cash Flow (or, in the case of the Rolling Periods ending December 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, Specified Free Cash Flow) for the most recently completed Rolling Period for which a certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(n) minus (b) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made in reliance on Section 9.04(e) minus (c) the aggregate amount of all Investments made in reliance on Section 9.05(l) minus (d) the aggregate amount of all Redemptions made in reliance on Section 9.15(b)(iv), in the case of each of clause (b), clause (c) and clause (d) during the three most recently completed Free Cash Flow Usage Periods (or, in the case of any date of determination before three Free Cash Flow Usage Periods have been completed, during the number of then completed Free Cash Flow Usage Periods, if any) and the then current Free Cash Flow Usage Period.

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 5.09(f).

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation” means (a) 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, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy”, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

 

5


Benchmark” means, initially, LIBO Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to LIBO Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 5.09(b) or Section 5.09(c).

Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that in the case of an Other Benchmark Rate Election, “Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the alternative set forth in clause (c) below:

(a) the sum of: (i) Term SOFR and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(b) the sum of: (i) Daily Simple SOFR and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(c) the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

provided that, in the case of clause (a), such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; provided, further that, in the case of clause (c), when such clause is used to determine the Benchmark Replacement in connection with the occurrence of an Other Benchmark Rate Election, the alternate benchmark rate selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be the term benchmark rate that is used in lieu of a LIBOR-based rate in the relevant other dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities; provided, further, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event, and the delivery of a Term SOFR Notice, on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date the “Benchmark Replacement” shall revert to and shall be deemed to be the sum of (A) Term SOFR and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, as set forth in clause (a) of this definition (subject to the first proviso above).

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (c) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement:

(a) for purposes of clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent:

(i) the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for the applicable Corresponding Tenor;

(ii) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that would apply to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon an index cessation event with respect to such Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor; and

(b) for purposes of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities;

provided that, in the case of clause (a) above, such adjustment is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides in its reasonable discretion may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or,

 

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if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date;

(c) in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the date a Term SOFR Notice is provided to the Lenders and the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.09(c); or

(d) in the case of an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election, or Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election or Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election or Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, from Lenders comprising the Majority Lenders.

For the avoidance of doubt, (a) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (b) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

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Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one of more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(c) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 5.09 and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 5.09.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control 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 Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, or and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42)the Plan Asset Regulations 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”.

 

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

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America or any successor Governmental Authority.

Borrowing” means Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Base” means at any time an amount equal to the amount determined in accordance with Section 2.06, as the same may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the Borrowing Base Adjustment Provisions. As of the Effective Date the Borrowing Base is $1,000,000,000.

Borrowing Base Adjustment Provisions” means Section 2.06(e), Section 8.13(c) and Section 9.10, in each case which may adjust (as opposed to redetermine) the amount of the Borrowing Base.

Borrowing Base Deficiency” means, as of any date, the amount, if any, by which the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure on such date exceeds the Borrowing Base in effect on such date.

Borrowing Base Deficiency Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.03(c)(ii).

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Leases” means, in respect of any Person, all leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases on the balance sheet of the Person liable (whether contingent or otherwise) for the payment of rent thereunder.

Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent (as a first priority, perfected security interest), for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Revolving Credit Lenders, cash in Dollars, at a location and pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

 

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Cash Management Bank” means any Person that entered into a Cash Management Agreement with a Credit Party before or while such a Person was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

Change in Control” means:

(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, 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 Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower; or

(b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were not (i) directors of the Borrower on the date of this Agreement or nominated or appointed by the board of directors of the Borrower or (ii) appointed by directors so nominated or appointed.

Change in Law” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.01(b).

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Collateral” means all Property which is subject to a Lien under one or more Security Instruments.

Commitment” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, the commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be modified from time to time pursuant to Section 2.01(b) and Section 2.05 and modified from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 12.04(b). The amount representing each Revolving Credit Lender’s Commitment shall at any time be the least of such Revolving Credit Lender’s (a) Maximum Credit Amount, (b) Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the then effective Borrowing Base, and (c) Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the then effective Elected Loan Limit.

Commitment Fee Rate” means a rate per annum set forth in the Commitment Utilization Grid on Schedule 1.1.

Commitment Utilization Percentage” means, as of any day, the fraction expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures of the Revolving Credit Lenders on such day, and the denominator of which is the lesser of the Borrowing Base and the Elected Loan Limit in effect on such day.

Commodities Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

 

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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.

Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated Cash Balance” means the aggregate amount of (a) cash, (b) cash equivalents and (c) any other marketable securities, treasury bonds and bills, certificates of deposit, investments in money market funds and commercial paper, in each case, held or owned by (either directly or indirectly), credited to the account of or that would otherwise be required to be reflected as an asset on the balance sheet of the Borrower or any other Credit Party; provided that the Consolidated Cash Balance shall exclude (i) any cash or cash equivalents for which the Borrower or any other Credit Party have issued checks or initiated wires or ACH transfers in order to utilize such cash or cash equivalents, (ii) cash or cash equivalents in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate for which the Borrower or any other Credit Party in their respective good faith discretion, will issue checks or initiate wires or ACH transfers within five (5) Business Days in order to utilize such cash or cash equivalents, (iii) any cash or cash equivalents set aside to pay royalty obligations, working interest obligations, production payments and severance taxes of the Borrower or any other Credit Party then due and owing to third parties and for which the Borrower or such other Credit Party has issued checks or has initiated wires or ACH transfers (or, in their respective good faith discretion, will issue checks or initiate wires or ACH transfers within five (5) Business Days in order to make such payments), (iv) any cash or cash equivalents set aside to pay (1) payroll, (2) payroll taxes, (3) other taxes, (4) employee wage and benefit payments, and (5) trust and fiduciary obligations, of the Borrower or any other Credit Party then due and owing (or, in their respective good faith discretion, will become due and owing within five (5) Business Days), and (v) any cash or cash equivalents of the Borrower or any other Credit Party constituting purchase price deposits held in escrow pursuant to a binding and enforceable purchase and sale agreement with a third party that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower or any Credit Party containing customary provisions regarding the payment and refunding of such deposits and otherwise permitted under this Agreement.

Consolidated Net Income” means for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, (b) the undistributed earnings of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or by any law applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary and (c) the income (or loss) of any Person in which any other Person (other than the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) has an Equity Interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid in cash to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period.

 

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Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum of aggregate interest expense and capitalized interest of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis for such period in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Subsidiaries” means, for any Person, any subsidiary or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries” means any Restricted Subsidiaries that are Consolidated Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Unrestricted Subsidiaries” means any Unrestricted Subsidiaries that are Consolidated Subsidiaries.

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.

Control Agreement” means a deposit account control agreement or securities account control agreement (or similar agreement), as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executed by the applicable Credit Party, the Administrative Agent and the relevant financial institution party thereto, which establishes the Administrative Agent’s control (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC) with respect to the applicable Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodities Account covered thereby.

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

Covered Entity” means any of the following: (a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (c) 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 given to such term in Section 12.21.

Credit Parties” shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors, and “Credit Party” shall mean any one of them, as the context indicates or otherwise requires.

Current Assets” means, as of any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of all amounts that would, in accordance with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties at such date, plus the unused Commitments then available to be borrowed, but excluding all non-cash assets under ASC 410, 718 and 815.

 

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Current Liabilities” means, as of any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of all amounts that would, in accordance with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties on such date, but excluding (a) all non-cash obligations under ASC 410, 718 and 815, (b) the current portion of (i) the Loans and obligations in respect of Letters of Credit under this Agreement or (ii) other Debt for borrowed money and (c) the current portion of any deferred tax obligations.

Current Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of Current Assets of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties to Current Liabilities of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties as of such date.

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for business loans; provided that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

Debt” means, for any Person, the sum of the following (without duplication):

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced by bankers’ acceptances, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments;

(b) all obligations of such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees and similar instruments;

(c) all accrued expenses, liabilities or other obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property;

(d) all obligations under Capital Leases or Synthetic Leases;

(e) all Debt (as defined in the other clauses of this definition) of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Debt has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) a Lien on any Property of such Person to the extent of the value of the Property of such Person which is subject to a Lien securing such Debt, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person;

(f) all Debt (as defined in the other clauses of this definition) of others guaranteed by such Person or in which such Person otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the Debt (howsoever such assurance shall be made, including by means of obligations to pay for goods or services even if such goods or services are not actually taken, received or utilized) to the extent of the lesser of the amount of such Debt and the maximum stated amount of such guarantee or assurance against loss;

(g) any Debt of a partnership for which such Person is liable either by agreement, by operation of law or by a Governmental Requirement but only to the extent of such liability;

(h) all Disqualified Capital Stock;

 

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(i) all obligations of such Person 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; and

(j) the undischarged balance of any production payment created by such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or indirectly received payment.

The Debt of any Person shall include all obligations of such Person of the character described above to the extent such Person remains legally liable in respect thereof notwithstanding that any such obligation is not included as a liability of such Person under GAAP; provided, however, that “Debt” does not include (i) obligations with respect to surety, performance or appeal bonds and similar instruments, or (ii) trade accounts payable and similar accounts payable for goods and services to the extent such accounts payable are due not later than ninety (90) days after the later of the invoicing thereof or the delivery of such goods or the performance of such services.

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

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.

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of any Revolving Credit Loans within two (2) Business Days of the date such Revolving Credit Loans were required to be funded hereunder, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit) within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank in writing that it does not intend or expect to comply with its funding obligations hereunder or has made a public statement to that effect, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any other Lender, acting in good faith, to confirm in writing that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (and is financially able to meet such obligations); provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt by the requesting party and the Administrative Agent of such written confirmation in form and substance satisfactory to such requesting party and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under the any 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, (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) has 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

 

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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 by such Lender; provided, further, that the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator with respect to a Lender or a direct or indirect parent company under the Dutch Financial Supervision Act 2007 (as amended from time to time and including any successor legislation) shall not be deemed to result in an event described in clause (d) hereof so long as such appointment does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official or 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 (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each Issuing Bank and each Lender.

Defaulting Lenders Unfunded Portion” means such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount minus the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans funded by the Defaulting Lender.

Deposit Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

Disqualified Capital Stock” means any Equity Interest 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, matures or is mandatorily redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests (which would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is convertible or exchangeable for Debt or redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests (which would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock) at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (but if in part only with respect to such amount that meets the criteria set forth in this definition), on or prior to the date that is one year after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

Documentation Agent” means Capital One, National Association, as Documentation Agent.

Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Early Opt-in Election” means, if the then-current Benchmark is LIBO Rate, the occurrence of:

(a) a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and

 

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(b) the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to trigger a fallback from LIBO Rate and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders.

EBITDAX” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus without duplication and to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) income or franchise Taxes paid or accrued; (b) Consolidated Interest Expense; (c) amortization, depletion and depreciation expense; (d) any non-cash losses or charges on any Swap Agreement resulting from the requirements of Accounting Standards Codification Section 815-10 (as successor to FASB Statement 133) for that period; (e) oil and gas exploration expenses (including all drilling, completion, geological and geophysical costs) for such period; (f) losses from Transfers of assets (other than Hydrocarbons produced in the ordinary course of business) and other extraordinary or non-recurring losses; (g) to the extent actually reimbursed by insurance providers, expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption; and (h) other non-cash charges (excluding accruals for cash expenses made in the ordinary course of business); minus, to the extent included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) any non-cash gains on any Swap Agreements resulting from the requirements of Accounting Standards Codification Section 815-10 (as successor to FASB Statement 133) for that period; (ii) extraordinary or non-recurring gains; (iii) gains from Transfers of assets (other than Hydrocarbons produced in the ordinary course of business); and (iv) cancellation of indebtedness income and other non-cash gains; provided that, with respect to the determination of Borrower’s Leverage Ratio for any Rolling Period, EBITDAX shall be adjusted to give effect, on a pro forma basis and consistent with GAAP, to any acquisitions or Transfers made during such period as if such acquisition or Transfer, as the case may be, was made at the beginning of such period.

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 6.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 12.02).

 

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Elected Loan Limit” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.01(b)(i).

Engineering Reports” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(c)(i).

Environmental Laws” means any and all Governmental Requirements pertaining in any way to public health, the environment, the preservation or reclamation of natural resources, or the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials, in effect in any and all jurisdictions in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is conducting, or at any time has conducted, business, or where any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is located, including, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”), as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), as amended, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”), as amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Law, as amended, and other environmental conservation or protection Governmental Requirements.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, registration, license, approval, consent, exemption, variance, or other authorization required under or issued pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws.

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such Equity Interest.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate” means each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with the Borrower or a Subsidiary would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of section 414 of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event” means (a) a “Reportable Event” described in section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan, other than a Reportable Event as to which the provisions of thirty (30) days’ notice to the PBGC is expressly waived under applicable regulations, (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (c) the filing of a standard termination notice with the PBGC or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under section 4041 of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC, (e) receipt of a notice of withdrawal liability pursuant to section 4202 of ERISA (f) the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards with respect to any Plan (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, (g) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the

 

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minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, (h) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (i) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of withdrawal liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or (j) any other event or condition which might constitute grounds under section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan.

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” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01.

Excepted Liens” means: (a) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (b) Liens in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability obligations which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (c) landlord’s liens, operators’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, workers’, materialmen’s, construction or other like Liens of law arising in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties each of which is in respect of obligations that are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (d) Liens which arise in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, marketing agreements, processing agreements, net profits agreements, development agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or other geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements which are usual and customary in the oil and gas business and are for claims which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP, provided that any such Lien referred to in this clause does not materially impair the use of any material Property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such Property is held by any Credit Party or materially impair the value of any material Property subject thereto; (e) banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies arising in the ordinary course of business and burdening only deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution, provided that no such deposit account is a dedicated cash collateral account; (f) easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions, reservations, zoning and land use requirements and

 

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other title defects in any Property of any Credit Party, that in each case do not secure Debt and that in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of such Property for the purposes of which such Property is held by any Credit Party or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (g) Liens to secure performance of tenders, surety and appeal bonds, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds, bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, regulatory obligations, obligations in respect of workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of government benefits or insurance and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (h) Liens, titles and interests of lessors (including sub-lessors) of property leased by such lessors to Borrower or any Subsidiary, restrictions and prohibitions on encumbrances and transferability with respect to such property and any Credit Party’s interests therein imposed by such leases, and Liens and encumbrances encumbering such lessors’ titles and interests in such property and to which any Credit Party’s leasehold interests may be subject or subordinate, in each case, whether or not evidenced by UCC financing statement filings or other documents of record, provided that such Liens do not encumber Property of any Credit Party other than the Property that is the subject of such leases and items located thereon; (i) Liens, titles and interests of licensors of software and other intangible property licensed by such licensors to any Credit Party, restrictions and prohibitions on encumbrances and transferability with respect to such property and any Credit Party’s interests therein imposed by such licenses, and Liens and encumbrances encumbering such licensors’ titles and interests in such property and to which any Credit Party’s license interests may be subject or subordinate, in each case, whether or not evidenced by UCC financing statement filings or other documents of record, provided that such Liens do not secure Debt of any Credit Party and do not encumber Property of any Credit Party other than the Property that is the subject of such licenses; (j) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and (k) Liens of issuers of commercial letters of credit or similar undertakings on the goods that are the subject of such letters of credit or undertakings. Provisions in the Loan Documents allowing Excepted Liens or other Permitted Liens on any item of Property shall be construed to allow such Excepted Liens and other Permitted Liens also to cover any improvements, fixtures or accessions to such Property and the proceeds of such Property, improvements, fixtures or accessions. No intention to subordinate any Lien granted in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders is to be hereby implied or expressed by the permitted existence of any Excepted Liens.

Excluded Account” means (a) each account all or substantially all of the deposits in which consist of amounts utilized to fund payroll, employee benefit or tax obligations of the Credit Parties, (b) fiduciary, trust or escrow accounts, (c) “zero balance” accounts, (d) any account that is pledged to a third party to the extent such Lien is a Permitted Lien, (e) accounts all or substantially all of the deposits in which consist of monies of third parties, including working interest owners, royalty owners and the like, and (f) other accounts so long as the aggregate average daily maximum balance in any such other account over a 30-day period does not at any time exceed $1,000,000; provided that the aggregate daily maximum balance for all such bank accounts excluded pursuant to this clause (f) on any day shall not exceed $2,000,000.

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any

 

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thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 12.17 and any other “keepwell, support or other agreement” for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Credit Parties) at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor, or a grant by such Guarantor of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, an Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise taxes (including New York margin tax), and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office is located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 5.05), any United States federal withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Lender pursuant to a law in effect at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or Section 5.03(c), (c) taxes attributable to such recipient’s failure to comply with Section 5.03(e) or Section 5.03(f), or a failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.04(b)(viii) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (d) any United States federal withholding taxes imposed by FATCA.

Existing Secured Swap Agreements” means (a) any Swap Agreements existing on the Effective Date between any Credit Party and a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender that were entered into (i) prior to the Effective Date or (ii) on the Effective Date for any novations, transactions or confirmations in respect of such Swap Agreements and (b) the Swap Agreements listed on Schedule 1.5 hereto between a Credit Party and the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party that were entered into (i) prior to the Effective Date between a Credit Party and the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party or (ii) on the Effective Date for any novations, transactions or confirmations in respect of such Swap Agreements.

Existing Specified Letter of Credit” shall mean the letters of credit described on Schedule 1.4 hereto, including the letters of credit originally issued by an Issuing Bank under the Extraction Credit Agreement and the Crestone Credit Agreement.

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 regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to such intergovernmental agreement.

 

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Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions (as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the federal funds effective rate.

Fee Letter” means that certain Fee Letter dated November 1, 2021, among the Borrower and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Financial Officer” means, for any Person, the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, general counsel, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller or other natural person principally responsible for the financial matters of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Financial Officer means a Financial Officer of the Borrower.

Financial Statements” means the financial statement or statements of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties referred to in Section 7.04(a).

Flood Insurance Regulations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.19.

Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to LIBO Rate.

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Free Cash Flow” means, as of any date of determination, the result of (a) EBITDAX for the Rolling Period most recently ended for which a certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(n), minus (b) the sum, without duplication, of the following cash expenses or cash charges to the extent added back in the calculation of EBITDAX for such period: (i) interest, (ii) income and franchise taxes, (iii) exploration expenses, including plugging and abandonment expenses, and (iv) to the extent not included in the foregoing and added back in the calculation of EBITDAX for such period, any other cash expense or cash charge that otherwise served to increase EBITDAX for such period, minus (c) the sum, without duplication, of (i) capital expenditures, (ii) cash principal payments in respect of any Debt for borrowed money (other than the Obligations and any Redemptions made under Section 9.15(b)(iv)) that cannot be reborrowed pursuant to the terms of such Debt and (iii) Restricted Payments made in cash solely to the extent made in reliance on Section 9.04(d), in each case, incurred or made by the Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries during such period, and (d) minus the increase (or plus the decrease) in Working Capital from the last day immediately prior to the Rolling Period for which EBITDAX is calculated pursuant to the foregoing clause (a).

 

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Free Cash Flow Usage Period” means, (a) the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on (but not including) March 1, 2022, and (b) thereafter, the period commencing on the most recent date that is exactly forty-five (45) days after the end of a fiscal quarter or sixty (60) days in the case of the last fiscal quarter of a year and ending on (but not including) the next date that is exactly forty-five (45) days after the end of a fiscal quarter or sixty (60) days in the case of the last fiscal quarter of a year.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 1.05.

Gas Balancing Agreement” means any agreement or arrangement whereby the Borrower or any other Credit Party, or any other party having an interest in any Hydrocarbons to be produced from Oil and Gas Properties in which the Borrower or any other Credit Party owns an interest, has a right to take more than its proportionate share of production therefrom.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or 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 without limitation any supranational bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including, without limitation, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).

Governmental Requirement” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, rules of common law, authorization or other directive or requirement, whether now or hereinafter in effect, of any Governmental Authority.

Guarantee” of or by any Person (in this definition, the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Debt or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

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Guarantors” means the Borrower (with respect to the Obligations of the other Credit Parties) and each Subsidiary of the Borrower that guarantees the Obligations pursuant to Section 8.14(b) and each other Person executing a Guarantee Agreement.

Guarantee Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement executed by the Guarantors on the Effective Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which satisfaction the Administrative Agent hereby confirms by its execution of this Agreement) unconditionally guarantying on a joint and several basis payment of the Obligations, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Hazardous Material” means any substance regulated or as to which liability might arise under any applicable Environmental Law including: any chemical, compound, material, product, byproduct, substance or waste defined as or included in the definition or meaning of “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” “hazardous waste,” “solid waste,” “toxic waste,” “extremely hazardous substance,” “toxic substance,” “contaminant,” “pollutant,” or words of similar meaning or import found in any applicable Environmental Law; Hydrocarbons, petroleum products, petroleum substances, oil and gas waste, and any components, fractions, or derivatives thereof; and radioactive materials, explosives, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, infectious or medical wastes.

Highest Lawful Rate” means, with respect to each Lender, the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Notes or on other Obligations under laws applicable to such Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws allow as of the date hereof.

Hydrocarbon Interests” means all rights, titles, interests and estates now or hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests and production payment interests, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each reference to the term “Hydrocarbon Interests” shall mean Hydrocarbon Interests of the Credit Parties.

Hydrocarbons” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.

IBA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.10.

Impacted Interest Period” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of “LIBO Rate”.

Increased Costs” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.01(b).

Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.

 

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Industry Competitor” means any Person (other than any Credit Party or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries) that is readily identifiable on the basis of its name and actively engaged as one of its principal businesses in the exploration, development, production, gathering, marketing or transportation of Oil and Gas Properties; provided, the term “Industry Competitor” is deemed to exclude any Lender, any Approved Fund or any of their respective Affiliates, in each case that is actively engaged in the making of revolving loans.

Initial Reserve Report” means, collectively, the reserve reports prepared by Ryder Scott Company Petroleum Consultants, L.P., and Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., setting forth as of December 31, 2020, the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower after giving effect to the Extraction Merger and the Crestone Merger), as supplemented by the Engineering Reports prepared by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries dated as of May 1, 2021, and utilized by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in determining the initial Borrowing Base hereunder.

Intercreditor Agreement” means a customary intercreditor agreement providing for, among other things, (x) the subordination of the Liens on the property and assets of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties securing any Permitted Additional Debt or any Permitted Refinancing thereof to the Liens on such property and assets securing the Obligations and (y) the relative rights and other creditors’ rights, as between the holders of the Obligations and the holders of any such Permitted Additional Debt or Permitted Refinancing thereof, by and among the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the other Credit Parties, the collateral agents or representatives for the holders of the relevant Debt and the other parties thereto in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders.

Interest Payment Date” means with respect to any ABR Revolving Credit Loan, the last day of each calendar quarter and with respect to any Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Revolving Credit Borrowing of which such Revolving Credit Loan is a part; provided, however, that if any Interest Period applicable to the Revolving Credit Borrowing of which such Revolving Credit Loan is a part exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates.

Interest Period” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter (or such other period that is twelve months or less that is then available to all Lenders), as the Borrower may elect; provided, that if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

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Interim Redetermination” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).

Interim Redetermination Date” means the date on which a Borrowing Base that has been redetermined pursuant to an Interim Redetermination becomes effective as provided in Section 2.06(d).

Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBO Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided that if the Interpolated Rate shall be less than half a percent (0.50%), such rate shall be deemed to be half a percent (0.50%) for the purposes of this Agreement.

Investment” means, for any Person: the acquisition (whether for cash, Property, services or securities or otherwise) of Equity Interests of any other Person; or the making of any deposit with, or advance, loan or capital contribution to, assumption of Debt of, purchase or other acquisition of any other Debt or equity participation or interest in, or other extension of credit to, any other Person; the purchase or acquisition (in one or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of any other Person; or the entering into of any guarantee of, or other surety obligation (including the deposit of any Equity Interests to be sold) with respect to, Debt of any other Person.

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

Issuing Bank” means (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., KeyBank National Association, Citibank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and (b) if requested by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, any other Person who is a Lender at the time of such request and who accepts such appointment in writing with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, in their respective capacities as issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder. Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. References herein and in the Loan Documents to the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to refer to the Issuing Bank in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all Issuing Banks, as the context requires.

Issuing Office” means such office as each Issuing Bank shall designate as its Issuing Office.

L/C Indemnified Amounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.07(i).

L/C Indemnified Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.07(i).

 

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Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 1.2 and any Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than, in each case, any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, $30,000,000.

Letter(s) of Credit” means, subject to Section 12.22, any standby letters of credit issued by any Issuing Bank at the request of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.07, including any Existing Specified Letter of Credit.

Letter of Credit Agreement” means, collectively, the letter of credit application and related documentation executed and/or delivered by the Borrower in respect of each Letter of Credit, in each case satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank in its reasonable discretion, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Letter of Credit Documents” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.07(g)(i).

Letter of Credit Fees” means the fees payable in connection with Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.07(d)(i)(A) and Section 2.07(d)(i)(B).

Letter of Credit Maximum Amount” means $50,000,000.

Letter of Credit Obligations” means at any date of determination, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding, and (b) the aggregate amount of Reimbursement Obligations which remain unpaid as of such date.

Letter of Credit Payment” means any amount paid or required to be paid by an Issuing Bank in its capacity hereunder as issuer of a Letter of Credit as a result of a draft or other demand for payment under any Letter of Credit.

Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Total Net Debt as of such day to (b) (i) if the Leverage Ratio is being calculated for purposes of Section 9.01(b), EBITDAX (or, in the case of the Rolling Periods ending on December 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, Annualized EBITDAX) for the Rolling Period ending on the relevant March 31st, June 30th, September 30th or December 31st, or (ii) if the Leverage Ratio is being calculated for a purpose other than testing compliance with Section 9.01(b), EBITDAX for the most recently ended Rolling Period for which financial statements are available (or Annualized EBITDAX if the most recent Rolling Period for which financial statements are available is a Rolling Period ending on December 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 or June 30, 2022). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for all purposes of this definition, with respect to any calculation of the Leverage Ratio for a purpose other than testing compliance with Section 9.01(b) at any time prior to the delivery of financial statements for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021 pursuant to Section 8.01(a), EBITDAX shall be deemed to be $1,300,000,000.

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”) then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate, provided that if the LIBO Rate shall be less than half a percent (0.50%), such rate shall be deemed to be half a percent (0.50%) for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for U.S. Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate), or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall be less than half a percent (0.50%), such rate shall be deemed to be half a percent (0.50%) for the purposes of this Agreement.

Lien” means any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Credit Parties shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which they have acquired or hold subject to a conditional sale agreement, or lease under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a financing.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Letter of Credit Agreements, the Letters of Credit, the Security Instruments, the Guarantee Agreement and the Fee Letter.

Loans” means, collectively, the Revolving Credit Loans.

Majority Lenders” means at any time (a) so long as the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount has not been terminated, the Non-Defaulting Lenders holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Commitments and (b) if the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount has been terminated (whether by maturity, acceleration or otherwise), the Non-Defaulting Lenders holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding under the Revolving Credit Loans; provided that, for purposes of determining Majority Lenders hereunder, the Reimbursement Obligations shall be allocated among the Revolving Credit Lenders based on their respective Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages; provided, further, that, such calculations shall be made without regard to any sale by a Non-Defaulting Lender of a participation in any Loan under Section 12.04(b)(vi).

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse change in, or material adverse effect on, the business, operations, Property or financial condition of the Credit Parties taken as a whole, the ability of any Credit Party to perform any of its payment obligations under any Loan Document, the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or the rights and remedies of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, an Issuing Bank or any Lender under any Loan Document.

 

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Material Gas Imbalance” means, with respect to all Gas Balancing Agreements to which the Borrower or any other Credit Party is a party or by which any Oil and Gas Property owned by the Borrower or another Credit Party is bound, a net overproduced gas imbalance to the Borrower and the other Credit Parties, taken as a whole, in excess of 110,000 Mcf.

Material Indebtedness” means Debt (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Credit Parties in an aggregate principal amount exceeding the greater of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of any Credit Party in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the Swap Termination Value.

Maximum Credit Amount” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, the amount set forth opposite such Revolving Credit Lender’s name on Schedule 1.2 under the caption “Maximum Credit Amount”, as the same may be reduced or terminated from time to time in connection with a reduction or termination of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or modified from time to time pursuant to any assignment permitted by Section 12.04(b).

Moodys” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

Mortgaged Property” means any real or immovable Property owned by the Credit Parties which is subject to the Liens existing and to exist under the terms of the Security Instruments.

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

Net Cash Proceeds” means the aggregate cash payments received by any of the Credit Parties from any Transfer, the issuance of Equity Interests or the issuance of Debt, as the case may be, net of the ordinary and customary direct costs incurred in connection with such sale or issuance, as the case may be, such as legal, accounting and investment banking fees, sales commissions, and other third party charges, and net of property taxes, transfer taxes and any other taxes paid or payable by the Credit Parties in respect of any sale or issuance.

New Borrowing Base Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(d).

Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Notes” means, collectively, the Revolving Credit Notes.

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day(or for any day that is not a Banking Day, for the immediately preceding Banking Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received to the Administrative Agent from a Federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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NYFRBs Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

Obligations” means any and all amounts owing or to be owing by the Credit Parties (whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising): to the Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank, any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender under any Loan Document; to any Secured Swap Party under any Secured Swap Agreement; to the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party under any Existing Secured Swap Agreement described on Schedule 1.5, but excluding any additional transactions or confirmations entered into with the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party (i) on the Effective Date, except for any novations, transactions or confirmations in respect of the Existing Secured Swap Agreements listed on Schedule 1.5 or (ii) after the Effective Date; to any Cash Management Bank under any Secured Cash Management Agreement including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party or Affiliate thereof under any Federal, state, foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, or similar law naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interests and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding; and all renewals, extensions and/or rearrangements of any of the above; provided that the “Obligations” shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations.

Oil and Gas Properties” means all Hydrocarbon Interests, all Properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests, and all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each reference to the term “Oil and Gas Properties” shall mean Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties.

Other Benchmark Rate Election” means, with respect to any Loan denominated in Dollars, if the then-current Benchmark is the LIBO Rate, the occurrence of:

(a) a request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify each of the other parties hereto that, at the determination of the Borrower, dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed), in lieu of a LIBOR-based rate, a term benchmark rate as a benchmark rate, and

(b) the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and the Borrower jointly elect to trigger a fallback from the LIBO Rate and the provision, as applicable, by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Borrower and the Lenders.

Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Person and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Person 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).

 

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Other Taxes” means any and 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 from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement and any other Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 5.05).

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight Eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions (as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the NYFRB shall commence to publish such composite rate).

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.04(b)(vi).

Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.04(b)(viii).

Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.10(a).

Payment Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.10(b).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Permitted Additional Debt” means Debt in respect of the 7.50% Senior Notes, the 5.00% Senior Notes and any other Debt issued or incurred pursuant to Section 9.02(f), including the Guarantee of such Debt permitted in Section 9.02(d).

Permitted Lien” means any Lien permitted under Section 9.03.

Permitted Refinancing” means any Debt of any Credit Party, and Debt constituting Guarantees thereof by any Credit Party, to the extent incurred or issued in exchange for, or to the extent the Net Cash Proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund, existing Debt that is permitted under this Agreement, in whole or in part, from time to time; provided that (a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing (or if such Permitted Refinancing is issued at a discount, the initial issuance price of such Permitted Refinancing) does not exceed the principal amount of the Debt being refinanced (plus the amount of any premiums, accrued and unpaid interest and fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith), (b) such Permitted Refinancing does not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or payment of a sinking fund obligation prior to the date which is one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (except for any offer to redeem such Debt required as a result of asset sales or the occurrence of a “Change of Control” under and as defined in the applicable agreement governing the terms of such Debt), (c) if the Debt being refinanced is unsecured, then such Permitted Refinancing is unsecured, (d) if the Debt being refinanced is secured, then such Permitted Refinancing may be secured but only with the same priority as the Debt being refinanced

 

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and such Permitted Refinancing shall be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, (e) no Subsidiary of the Borrower is required to Guarantee such Permitted Refinancing unless such Subsidiary is (or concurrently with any such Guarantee becomes) a Guarantor, and (f) to the extent such Permitted Refinancing is or is intended to be expressly subordinate to the payment in full of all of the Obligations, the subordination provisions contained therein are (x) at least as favorable to the Secured Parties as the subordination provisions contained in the Debt being refinanced and (y) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders; provided that, in the case of any incurrence or issuance of Debt as to which only a portion of such incurred or issued Debt satisfies the foregoing conditions, the portion thereof that satisfies the foregoing conditions shall be deemed to constitute a Permitted Refinancing, notwithstanding that other portions of such incurred or issued Debt do not constitute a Permitted Refinancing.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and which is currently or hereafter sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA or was at any time during the six calendar years preceding the date hereof, sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.

Plan Asset Regulations” means the regulations at 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its office located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

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

Proposed Borrowing Base” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(c)(i).

Proposed Borrowing Base Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(c)(ii).

Proved Developed Producing Reserves” or “PDP Reserves” means “proved developed producing oil and gas reserves” as such term is defined by the SPE in its standards and guidelines.

Proved Reserves” or “Proved” means collectively, “proved oil and gas reserves,” “proved developed producing oil and gas reserves,” “proved developed non-producing oil and gas reserves” (consisting of proved developed shut-in oil and gas reserves and proved developed behind pipe oil and gas reserves), and “proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves,” as such terms are defined by the SPE in its standards and guidelines.

 

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Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Debt, the proceeds of which are used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of inventory, equipment or other Property.

Qualified ECP Guarantor” shall mean, at any time, each Credit Party with total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or that qualifies at such time as an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time under §1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Qualified Midstream Assets” means assets used in the gathering, distributing, marketing, treating, processing, transporting of, or storage, disposal, or other handling of, Hydrocarbons, water, sand, minerals, chemicals or other products or substances commonly created, used, recovered, produced or processed in the conduct of the oil and gas business, including compression, pumping, treatment and disposal facilities, gathering lines and systems, and other assets commonly considered midstream assets or useful in connection with the conduct of midstream operations, and for the avoidance of doubt, the Qualified Midstream Assets do not include any Oil and Gas Properties included in the Borrowing Base.

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 given to such term in Section 12.21.

Redemption” means with respect to any Debt, the repurchase, redemption, prepayment, repayment, defeasance or any other acquisition or retirement for value of such Debt, including payments of cash in lieu of fractional shares in connection therewith. “Redeem” has the correlative meaning thereto.

Redetermination Date” means, with respect to any Scheduled Redetermination or any Interim Redetermination, the date that the redetermined Borrowing Base related thereto becomes effective pursuant to Section 2.06(d).

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (a) if such Benchmark is LIBO Rate, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two London banking days preceding the date of such setting, and (b) if such Benchmark is not LIBO Rate, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.04(b)(iv).

Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board, as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

Reimbursement Obligation(s)” means the aggregate amount of all unreimbursed drawings under all Letters of Credit (excluding for the avoidance of doubt, reimbursement obligations that are deemed satisfied pursuant to a deemed disbursement under Section 2.07(f)(iii)).

 

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Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors (including attorneys, accountants and experts) of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

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

Relevant Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.17(g).

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board or the NYFRB, or any successor thereto.

Remedial Work” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.10(a).

Required Lenders” means at any time (a) so long as the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount has not been terminated, the Non-Defaulting Lenders holding more than sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the aggregate Commitments and (b) if the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount has been terminated (whether by maturity, acceleration or otherwise), the Non-Defaulting Lenders holding more than sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding under the Revolving Credit Loans; provided that, for purposes of determining Required Lenders hereunder, the Reimbursement Obligations shall be allocated among the Revolving Credit Lenders based on their respective Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages; provided, further, that, such calculations shall be made without regard to any sale by a Non-Defaulting Lender of a participation in any Loan under Section 12.04(b)(vi).

Reserve Report” means a report, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth, on the dates required in Section 8.12 (or such other date in the event of an Interim Redetermination) the oil and gas reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, based upon the pricing assumptions consistent with the Administrative Agent’s lending requirements at the time.

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

Responsible Officer” means, as to any Person, the President, any Financial Officer or any Vice President of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein means a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other Property) with respect to any Equity Interests in any Credit Party, 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 Equity Interests in any Credit Party or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in any Credit Party.

 

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Restricted Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a Borrowing of a Revolving Credit Loan.

Revolving Credit Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans, and (b) its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of any outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations.

Revolving Credit Lenders” means the financial institutions from time to time parties hereto as lenders of Revolving Credit Loans.

Revolving Credit Loan” shall mean, subject to Section 12.22, a borrowing requested by the Borrower and made by the Revolving Credit Lenders under Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement, including without limitation any readvance, refunding or conversion of such borrowing and any deemed disbursement of a Loan in respect of a Letter of Credit under Section 2.07(f)(iii), and may include, subject to the terms hereof, Eurodollar Loans and ABR Loans.

Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means November 1, 2025.

Revolving Credit Notes” means the promissory notes of the Borrower described in Section 2.02(d) and being substantially in the form of Exhibit A, together with all amendments, modifications, replacements, extensions and rearrangements thereof.

Reuters” means, as applicable, Thomson Reuters Corp., Refinitiv, or any successor thereto.

Rolling Period” means (a) for the fiscal quarters ending on, December 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, the period commencing on October 1, 2021 and ending on the last day of such applicable fiscal quarter and (b) for any other fiscal quarter, the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of such applicable fiscal quarter.

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions (as of the Effective Date, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

Sanctions” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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Scheduled Redetermination” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).

Scheduled Redetermination Date” means the date on which a Borrowing Base that has been redetermined pursuant to a Scheduled Redetermination becomes effective as provided in Section 2.06(d).

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor Governmental Authority.

Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between any Credit Party and any Cash Management Bank.

Secured Non-Lender Swap Party” means The Toronto-Dominion Bank as counterparty to the Credit Parties under the Existing Secured Swap Agreements listed on Schedule 1.5.

Secured Party” means the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, any Lender, any Secured Swap Party under any Secured Swap Agreement, the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party under any Existing Secured Swap Agreement, any Cash Management Bank under any Secured Cash Management Agreement and any other holder of Obligations.

Secured Swap Agreement” means (a) the Existing Secured Swap Agreements and (b) any Swap Agreement between any Credit Party and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender (the foregoing Persons described in this clause (b), a “Secured Swap Party”) that entered into such Swap Agreement with a Credit Party before or while such Person was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, even if such Person subsequently ceases to be a Lender (or an Affiliate thereof) for any reason; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the term “Secured Swap Agreement” shall not include (i) any Swap Agreement or transactions under any Swap Agreement entered into after the time that such Secured Swap Party ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or (ii) any Swap Agreement or transactions under any Swap Agreement entered into with the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party (A) on the Effective Date, except for any novations, transactions or confirmations in respect of the Existing Secured Swap Agreements listed on Schedule 1.5 or (B) after the Effective Date.

Secured Swap Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Secured Swap Agreement.

Securities Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

Security Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement executed by the Credit Parties on the Effective Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which satisfaction the Administrative Agent hereby confirms by its execution of this Agreement).

 

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Security Instruments” means the mortgages, deeds of trust, pledge agreements, security agreements, including without limitation the Security Agreement, control agreements, and other agreements, instruments and supplements described or referred to in Exhibit D, and any and all other agreements, instruments and supplements now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Credit Parties (other than Secured Swap Agreements or participation or similar agreements between any Lender and any other lender or creditor with respect to any Obligations pursuant to this Agreement) as security for the payment or performance of the Obligations, the Notes, this Agreement, or Reimbursement Obligations, as such agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at approximately 8:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

SPE” means Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Specified Credit Party” means any Credit Party that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to Section 12.17).

Specified Free Cash Flow” means for each of the Rolling Periods ending December 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, the sum of (a) Free Cash Flow for such Rolling Period plus (b) the specified amount for such Rolling Period set forth in the table below:

 

Rolling Period Ending

   Specified Amount  

December 31, 2021

   $ 412,500,000  

March 31, 2022

   $ 275,000,000  

June 30, 2022

   $ 137,500,000  

Specified Swap Test Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.19.

Spring 2022 Scheduled Redetermination” means the Scheduled Redetermination of the Borrowing Base scheduled for on or about April 1, 2022.

Spring 2022 Scheduled Redetermination Effective Date” means the date that the Spring 2022 Scheduled Redetermination is effectuated and the applicable New Borrowing Base Notice is sent to the Borrower and the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with Section 2.06(d).

 

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Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any other Person the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other Person of which Equity Interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity or more than fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power (irrespective of whether or not at the time Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such Person shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) or, in the case of a partnership, any general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Borrower.

Supported QFC” has the meaning given to such term in Section 12.21.

Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement, whether exchange traded, “over-the-counter” or otherwise, involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of any Credit Party shall be a Swap Agreement.

Swap Obligations” means with respect to any Credit Party any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Agreements, for any date on or after the date such Swap Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s) and for any date prior to the date referenced above, the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Agreements, as determined by the counterparties (other than any Credit Party) to such Swap Agreements.

 

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Synthetic Leases” means, in respect of any Person, all leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, treated as operating leases on the financial statements of the Person liable (whether contingently or otherwise) for the payment of rent thereunder and which were properly treated as indebtedness for borrowed money for purposes of U.S. federal income taxes, if the lessee in respect thereof is obligated to either purchase for an amount in excess of, or pay upon early termination an amount in excess of, eighty percent (80%) of the residual value of the Property subject to such operating lease upon expiration or early termination of such lease.

Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

Term SOFR” means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

Term SOFR Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event.

Term SOFR Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term SOFR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term SOFR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not in the case of an Other Benchmark Rate Election), has previously occurred resulting in a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 5.09 that is not Term SOFR.

Termination Date” means the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.

Total Assets” means, at any time, the amount that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Credit Parties.

Total Debt” means with respect to any Person, at any time, without duplication, Debt of such Person excluding contingent obligations arising under ASC 815 and excluding Debt of the type described in clauses (c), (i) and (j) of the definition thereof; provided that Debt with respect to letters of credit referred to in clause (b) of such definition shall be considered “Total Debt” only to the extent such letters of credit are drawn or funded. For the avoidance of doubt the Total Debt of the Borrower is the consolidated Total Debt of the Credit Parties, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Total Net Debt” means, as of any date, the difference of (a) consolidated Total Debt of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties and (b) any unrestricted cash and cash equivalents which is subject to a perfected, first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent; provided that the amount in this clause (b) shall not exceed $75,000,000 if any Loans or Letters of Credit are outstanding as of such date of determination.

 

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Transactions” means, with respect to each applicable Credit Party, (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, each other Loan Document to which it is a party, the borrowing of Loans, and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, (b) the Guaranteeing of the Obligations and the other obligations under the Guarantee Agreement by such Credit Party and such Credit Party’s grant of the security interests and provision of Collateral under the Security Instruments, (c) the grant of Liens on Mortgaged Properties pursuant to the Security Instruments and (d) the consummation of the Extraction Merger and the Crestone Merger.

Transfer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.10.

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the perfection of security interests in any Collateral.

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any Person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Person that would otherwise be a Subsidiary of the Borrower that the Borrower has designated to be an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” in writing to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.17 and each subsidiary thereof.

USA Patriot Act” means the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, or The United and Strengthening America by providing appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.

U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning given to such term in Section 12.21.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.03(e)(ii)(B)(3).

 

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Withholding Agent” means any Credit Party or the Administrative Agent.

Working Capital” means, at any date, the excess of Current Assets of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties on such date minus Current Liabilities of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties on such date other than Revolving Credit Loans and Letters of Credit, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) 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, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that Person or any other Person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

Section 1.03 Types of Loans and Borrowings For purposes of this Agreement, Loans and Borrowings, respectively, may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan” or a “Eurodollar Borrowing”).

Section 1.04 Terms Generally; Rules of Construction 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” as used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “or” is not exclusive. The word “shall” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “will”. Unless the context requires otherwise any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein 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 set forth in the Loan Documents), any reference herein to any law shall be construed as referring to such law as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to the restrictions contained in the Loan Documents), the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, with respect to the determination of any time period, the word “from” means “from and including” and the word “to” means “to and including” and any reference herein to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be interpreted or construed against any Person solely because such Person or its legal representative drafted such provision.

 

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Section 1.05 Accounting Terms and Determinations; GAAP Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the Financial Statements except for changes in which the Borrower’s independent certified public accountants concur and which are disclosed to the Administrative Agent as part of, or along with, the audited annual financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 8.01(a); provided that, unless the Borrower and the Majority Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing, no such change shall modify or affect the manner in which compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 9.01 is computed such that all such computations shall be conducted utilizing financial information presented consistently with prior periods. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for the purposes of calculating any of the ratios tested under Section 9.01, and the components of each of such ratios, all Unrestricted Subsidiaries (including their assets, liabilities, income, losses, cash flows, and the elements thereof) shall be excluded, except for any cash dividends or distributions actually paid by any Unrestricted Subsidiary to any Credit Parties, which shall be deemed to be income to such Credit Party when actually received by it. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, for purposes of compliance with the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, GAAP will be deemed to treat operating leases and Capital Leases in a manner consistent with their current treatment under GAAP as of the “Effective Date” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement), notwithstanding any modifications or interpretive changes thereto that may occur thereafter, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any future phase-in of changes to GAAP contemplated by amendments to GAAP that had been adopted as of the “Effective Date” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) (it being understood that financial statements shall be prepared without giving effect to this sentence).

Section 1.06 Divisions For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

ARTICLE II

THE REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

Section 2.01 Commitments.

(a) Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally and for itself alone, agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Credit Lender’s Commitment or the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the total Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow the Revolving Credit Loans.

 

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(b) Borrower’s Option to Elect Lower Loan Limit.

(i) Within three (3) Business Days of its receipt of a New Borrowing Base Notice under Section 2.06(d), the Borrower may provide written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that specifies for the period from the effective date of the new Borrowing Base as set forth in Section 2.06(d) until subsequently decreased or increased pursuant to this Section 2.01(b), the maximum availability under this Agreement will, subject to the Borrowing Base Adjustment Provisions, be a lesser amount (the “Elected Loan Limit”), than the amount set forth in such New Borrowing Base Notice. The Borrower’s notice under this Section 2.01(b)(i) shall be irrevocable, but without prejudice to its rights to initiate Interim Redeterminations under Section 2.06 or to subsequently decrease or increase the Elected Loan Limit pursuant to this Section 2.01(b). Notwithstanding any notice requirement set forth herein or anything else to the contrary in this Section 2.01(b), the Elected Loan Limit as of the Effective Date is $800,000,000.

(ii) The Borrower may thereafter increase the Elected Loan Limit in connection with any Scheduled Redetermination or Interim Redetermination of the Borrowing Base up to an amount not to exceed the amount of the redetermined Borrowing Base by giving written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders prior to the issuance of the related New Borrowing Base Notice, subject to the following conditions:

(A) if each Lender so consents and agrees to accept its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such increase, then the Elected Loan Limit shall be increased (ratably among the Lenders in accordance with each Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage) by the amount requested by the Borrower; or

(B) if any Lender does not consent to accept its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such increase, then (1) the Elected Loan Limit shall be increased to the extent each Lender has agreed to accept all or a portion of such increase, (2) the Maximum Credit Amount and Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of all Lenders will be reallocated to reflect the amount of such increase as to which each Lender is willing to accept and (3) Schedule 1.2 will be deemed amended to reflect such reallocations.

(C) The Administrative Agent shall record the information regarding such increases in the Register and distribute a revised Schedule 1.2, if necessary.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 2.01(b)(ii), the Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the then effective Elected Loan Limit of any Lender cannot be increased without the written consent of such Lender.

Section 2.02 Revolving Credit Loans and Borrowings

(a) Revolving Credit Borrowings; Several Obligations. Each Revolving Credit Loan shall be made as part of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Revolving Credit Loans made by the Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Revolving Credit Lender to make any Revolving Credit Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Revolving Credit Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments are several and no Revolving Credit Lender shall be responsible for any other Revolving Credit Lender’s failure to make Revolving Credit Loans as required.

 

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(b) Types of Revolving Credit Loans. Each Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Revolving Credit Loans or Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Revolving Credit Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Revolving Credit Lender to make such Revolving Credit Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Revolving Credit Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) Minimum Amounts; Limitation on Number of Revolving Credit Borrowings. At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing, such Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be in an amount not less than $500,000 and increments of $500,000 in excess thereof. At the time that each ABR Revolving Credit Borrowing is made, such Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be in an amount not less than $500,000 and increments of $500,000 in excess thereof; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, an ABR Revolving Credit Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of a Reimbursement Obligation as contemplated by Section 2.07(f)(iii). Revolving Credit Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time, provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of six Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowings outstanding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Revolving Credit Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

(d) Revolving Credit Notes. Upon request of such Revolving Credit Lender, the Revolving Credit Loans made by a Revolving Credit Lender shall be evidenced by a single promissory note of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit A, and, (i) in the case of any Revolving Credit Lender party hereto as of the date of this Agreement, such Revolving Credit Note shall be dated as of the date of this Agreement, or (ii) in the case of any Revolving Credit Lender that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, such Revolving Credit Note shall be dated as of the effective date of the Assignment and Assumption, in each case, payable to such Revolving Credit Lender in a principal amount equal to its Maximum Credit Amount as in effect on such date, and otherwise duly completed. In the event that any Revolving Credit Lender’s Maximum Credit Amount increases or decreases for any reason (whether pursuant to Section 2.05, Section 12.04(b) or otherwise), the Borrower shall, upon request of such Revolving Credit Lender, deliver or cause to be delivered on the effective date of such increase or decrease, a new Revolving Credit Note payable to such Revolving Credit Lender in a principal amount equal to its Maximum Credit Amount after giving effect to such increase or decrease, and otherwise duly completed, against return to the Borrower of the Revolving Credit Note so replaced. The date, amount, Type, interest rate and, if applicable, Interest Period of each Revolving Credit Loan made by each Revolving Credit Lender, and all payments made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by such Revolving Credit Lender on its books for its Revolving Credit Note. Failure to make any such notation or to attach a schedule shall not affect any Revolving Credit Lender’s or the Borrower’s rights or obligations in respect of such Revolving Credit Loans.

 

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(e) Register. The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 12.04(b)(iv), and a subaccount therein for each Revolving Credit Lender, in which Register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Revolving Credit Borrowing made hereunder, the type thereof and each Interest Period applicable to any Eurodollar Borrowing, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Revolving Credit Lender hereunder in respect of the Revolving Credit Borrowings and (iii) both the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower in respect of the Revolving Credit Borrowings and each Revolving Credit Lender’s share thereof. The entries made in the Register maintained pursuant to this Section 2.02(e) shall, absent manifest error, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Revolving Credit Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain the Register or any account, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Revolving Credit Borrowings (and all other amounts owing with respect thereto) made to the Borrower by the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Section 2.03 Requests for Revolving Credit Borrowings The Borrower may request a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a continuation of any Revolving Credit Borrowing in the same Type of Borrowing or to convert any Revolving Credit Borrowing to any other Type of Revolving Credit Borrowing only by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Revolving Credit Borrowing Request executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, subject to the following:

(a) each such Revolving Credit Borrowing Request shall set forth the information required on the Revolving Credit Borrowing Request, including without limitation:

(i) the proposed date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing (or the continuation or conversion of an outstanding Revolving Credit Borrowing), which must be a Business Day;

(ii) whether such Borrowing is a new Revolving Credit Borrowing or a continuation or conversion of an outstanding Revolving Credit Borrowing; and

(iii) whether such Revolving Credit Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing, and, except in the case of an ABR Borrowing, the first Interest Period applicable thereto.

(b) each such Revolving Credit Borrowing Request shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent by 12:00 p.m. (New York time) three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed date of the Revolving Credit Borrowing, except in the case of an ABR Borrowing, for which the Request for Borrowing must be delivered by 12:00 p.m. (New York time) on the proposed date for such Revolving Credit Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of a Letter of Credit Payment as contemplated by Section 2.07(f) may be given not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing;

(c) on the proposed date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Exposures outstanding on such date (including, without duplication, the Loans that are deemed to be disbursed by Administrative Agent under Section 2.07(f)(iii) hereof in respect of Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligations hereunder), after giving effect to all outstanding requests for Revolving Credit Borrowings and for the issuance of any Letters of Credit, shall not exceed the least of (i) the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount, (ii) the then applicable Borrowing Base and (iii) the then applicable Elected Loan Limit;

 

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(d) a Revolving Credit Borrowing Request, once delivered to the Administrative Agent, shall not be revocable by the Borrower and (other than a Revolving Credit Borrowing Request to refund, continue or convert any outstanding Revolving Credit Borrowing) shall constitute a certification by the Borrower as of the date thereof that the conditions set forth in Sections 2.06(a) and (b) have been satisfied;

(e) if the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Revolving Credit Borrowing Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing having an Interest Period of one month’s duration; notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no outstanding Revolving Credit Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing (and any Revolving Credit Borrowing Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Credit Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Credit Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be ineffective) and unless repaid, each Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Revolving Credit Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto;

the Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders, may also, at its option, lend under this Section 2.03 upon the telephone or email request of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and, in the event the Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders, makes any such Revolving Credit Borrowing upon a telephone or email request, a Responsible Officer shall fax or deliver by electronic file to the Administrative Agent, on the same day as such telephone or email request, an executed Revolving Credit Borrowing Request. The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse Revolving Credit Borrowings under this Section 2.03 pursuant to the telephone or email instructions of any person purporting to be a Responsible Officer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower acknowledges that the Borrower shall bear all risk of loss resulting from disbursements made upon any telephone or email request. Each telephone or email request for a Revolving Credit Borrowing from a Responsible Officer for the Borrower shall constitute a certification of the matters set forth in the Revolving Credit Borrowing Request form as of the date of such requested Revolving Credit Borrowing.

Section 2.04 Funding of Revolving Credit Borrowings

(a) Upon receiving any Revolving Credit Borrowing Request from Borrower under Section 2.03, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender by wire, telex or telephone (confirmed by wire, telecopy or telex) of the amount of such Revolving Credit Borrowing being requested and the date such Revolving Credit Borrowing is to be made by each Revolving Credit Lender in an amount equal to its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such Revolving Credit Borrowing. Unless such Revolving Credit Lender’s Commitment to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder shall have been suspended or terminated in accordance with this Agreement, each such Revolving Credit Lender shall make available the amount of its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of each Revolving Credit Borrowing in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent, as follows:

 

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(i) for ABR Revolving Credit Borrowings, at the office of the Administrative Agent located at 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date of such Borrowing; and

(ii) for Eurodollar Borrowings, at the office of the Administrative Agent located at 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date of such Borrowing.

(b) Except in respect of Revolving Credit Borrowings covering the reimbursement of Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.07(f), the Administrative Agent will make such Revolving Credit Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the funds so received from the Revolving Credit Lenders to an account of the Borrower designated by the Borrower in the applicable Revolving Credit Borrowing Request not later than 4:00 p.m. (New York time); provided that ABR Revolving Credit Borrowings made to finance the reimbursement of a Letter of Credit Payment as provided in Section 2.07(f) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall deliver the documents and papers received by it for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender to such Revolving Credit Lender. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Revolving Credit Lender prior to the date of any proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing that such Revolving Credit Lender does not intend to make available to the Administrative Agent such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Revolving Credit Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, as aforesaid. The Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Borrower the amount of such payment in reliance on such assumption. If such amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Revolving Credit Lender, as aforesaid, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Credit Lender. If such Revolving Credit Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor and the Administrative Agent has in fact made a corresponding amount available to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, if such notice is delivered to the Borrower prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on a Business Day, on the day such notice is received, and otherwise on the next Business Day, and such amount paid by the Borrower shall be applied as a prepayment of the Revolving Credit Loans (without any corresponding reduction in the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount), reimbursing the Administrative Agent for having funded said amounts on behalf of such Revolving Credit Lender. The Borrower shall retain its claim against such Revolving Credit Lender with respect to the amounts repaid by it to the Administrative Agent and, if such Revolving Credit Lender subsequently makes such amounts available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly make such amounts available to the Borrower as a Revolving Credit Borrowing. The Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, but without duplication, interest on such amount in respect of each day from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to:

 

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(i) in the case of such Revolving Credit Lender, for the first two (2) Business Days such amount remains unpaid, the NYFRB Rate, and thereafter, at the rate of interest then applicable to such Revolving Credit Borrowings; and

(ii) in the case of the Borrower, the rate of interest then applicable to such Revolving Credit Borrowing.

Until such Revolving Credit Lender has paid the Administrative Agent such amount, such Revolving Credit Lender shall have no interest in or rights with respect to such Borrowing for any purpose whatsoever. The obligation of any Revolving Credit Lender to make any Revolving Credit Loan hereunder shall not be affected by the failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to make any Loan hereunder, and no Revolving Credit Lender shall have any liability to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent, any other Revolving Credit Lender, or any other party for another Revolving Credit Lender’s failure to make any Loan hereunder.

Section 2.05 Termination and Reduction of Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts

(a) Scheduled Termination of Commitments. Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. If at any time the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts, the Elected Loan Limit or the Borrowing Base are terminated or reduced to zero, then the Commitments shall terminate on the effective date of such termination or reduction.

(b) Optional Termination and Reduction of Aggregate Credit Amounts.

(i) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts; provided that each reduction of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000 and the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with Section 3.03(c)(i), the total Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the total Commitments.

(ii) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts under Section 2.05(b)(i) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Revolving Credit Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii) shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other agreements, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Each reduction of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts shall be made ratably among the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with each Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage.

 

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Section 2.06 Borrowing Base

(a) Initial Borrowing Base. The Borrowing Base on the Effective Date shall be $1,000,000,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowing Base may be subject to further adjustments from time to time pursuant to the Borrowing Base Adjustment Provisions.

(b) Scheduled and Interim Redeterminations. The Borrowing Base shall be redetermined as provided in accordance with this Section 2.06, and, subject to Section 2.06(d), the Borrowing Base shall be redetermined semi-annually (each a “Scheduled Redetermination”), and shall become effective and applicable to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Revolving Credit Lenders (x) on or about April 1, 2022 and (y) commencing November 1, 2022, on or about May 1 of each year (with respect to the Reserve Report required to be delivered on April 1) and on or about November 1 of each year (with respect to the Reserve Report required to be delivered on October 1). In addition, (i) Borrower may, by notifying the Administrative Agent thereof, and the Administrative Agent may, at the direction of the Majority Lenders, by notifying the Borrower thereof, two times per year, each elect to cause the Borrowing Base to be redetermined between Scheduled Redeterminations and (ii) the Borrower may elect, by notifying the Administrative Agent of any acquisition of Oil and Gas Properties by any Credit Party with a purchase price in the aggregate of at least five percent (5%) of the then effective Borrowing Base, to cause the Borrowing Base to be redetermined between Scheduled Redeterminations in accordance with this Section 2.06 (each redetermination under clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence, an “Interim Redetermination”).

(c) Scheduled and Interim Redetermination Procedure.

(i) Each Scheduled Redetermination and each Interim Redetermination shall be effectuated as follows: Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of the Reserve Report, the certificate required to be delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, in the case of a Scheduled Redetermination, pursuant to Section 8.12(a) and Section 8.12(c), and in the case of an Interim Redetermination, pursuant to Section 8.12(b) and Section 8.12(c), and such other reports, data and supplemental information, including, without limitation, the information provided pursuant to Section 8.12(c), as may, from time to time, be reasonably requested by the Majority Lenders (the Reserve Report, such certificate and such other reports, data and supplemental information with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties and other Properties of the Credit Parties being the “Engineering Reports”), the Administrative Agent shall evaluate the information contained in the Engineering Reports and shall, in good faith, propose a new Borrowing Base (the “Proposed Borrowing Base”) based upon such information and such other information (including, without limitation, the status of title information with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties as described in the Engineering Reports and the existence of any other Debt) as the Administrative Agent deems appropriate in its reasonable discretion and consistent with its normal oil and gas lending criteria as it exists at the particular time.

 

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(ii) The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Revolving Credit Lenders of the Proposed Borrowing Base (the “Proposed Borrowing Base Notice”)

(A) in the case of a Scheduled Redetermination if the Administrative Agent shall have received the Engineering Reports required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.12(a) and Section 8.12(c) in a timely and complete manner, then on or before (x) March 15, 2022 or (y) commencing October 15, 2022, April 15 and October 15 of such year, in each case, following the date of delivery or if the Administrative Agent shall not have received the Engineering Reports required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.12(a) and Section 8.12(c) in a timely and complete manner, then promptly after the Administrative Agent has received complete Engineering Reports from the Borrower and has had a reasonable opportunity to determine the Proposed Borrowing Base in accordance with Section 2.06(c)(i); and

(B) in the case of an Interim Redetermination, promptly, and in any event, within fifteen (15) days after the Administrative Agent has received the required Engineering Reports.

(iii) Any Proposed Borrowing Base that would increase the Borrowing Base then in effect must be approved or deemed to have been approved by all of the Revolving Credit Lenders as provided in this Section 2.06(c)(iii); and any Proposed Borrowing Base that would decrease or maintain the Borrowing Base then in effect (not including an automatic reduction pursuant to Section 2.06(e)) must be approved or be deemed to have been approved by the Required Lenders (in each Revolving Credit Lender’s sole discretion consistent with its normal oil and gas criteria as it exists at the particular time) as provided in this Section 2.06(c)(iii). Upon receipt of the Proposed Borrowing Base Notice, each Revolving Credit Lender shall have fifteen (15) days to agree with the Proposed Borrowing Base or disagree with the Proposed Borrowing Base by proposing an alternate Borrowing Base. If, at the end of such fifteen (15) days, any Revolving Credit Lender has not communicated its approval or disapproval in writing to the Administrative Agent, such silence shall be deemed to be an approval of the Proposed Borrowing Base. If, at the end of such 15-day period, all of the Revolving Credit Lenders, in the case of a Proposed Borrowing Base that would increase the Borrowing Base then in effect, or the Required Lenders, in the case of a Proposed Borrowing Base that would decrease or maintain the Borrowing Base then in effect, have approved or deemed to have approved, as aforesaid, then the Proposed Borrowing Base shall become the new Borrowing Base, effective on the date specified in Section 2.06(d). If, however, at the end of such 15-day period, all of the Revolving Credit Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, have not approved or deemed to have approved, as aforesaid, then the Administrative Agent shall poll the Revolving Credit Lenders to ascertain the highest Borrowing Base then acceptable to a number of Revolving Credit Lenders sufficient to constitute the Required Lenders and, so long as such amount does not increase the Borrowing Base then in effect, such amount shall become the new Borrowing Base, effective on the date specified in Section 2.06(d).

 

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(d) Effectiveness of a Redetermined Borrowing Base. After a redetermined Borrowing Base is approved or is deemed to have been approved by all of the Revolving Credit Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.06(c)(iii) or adjusted pursuant to the Borrowing Base Adjustment Provisions, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Revolving Credit Lenders of the amount of the redetermined (or adjusted) Borrowing Base (the “New Borrowing Base Notice”), and such amount shall become the new Borrowing Base, effective and applicable to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Revolving Credit Lenders:

(i) in the case of a Scheduled Redetermination, (A) if the Administrative Agent shall have received the Engineering Reports required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.12(a) and Section 8.12(c) in a timely and complete manner, then on (x) April 1, 2022 or (y) commencing November 1, 2022, May 1 or November 1 of each year as applicable, or (B) if the Administrative Agent shall not have received the Engineering Reports required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.12(a) and Section 8.12(c) in a timely and complete manner, then on the Business Day next succeeding delivery of such notice; and

(ii) in the case of an Interim Redetermination or an adjustment to the Borrowing Base pursuant to the Borrowing Base Adjustment Provisions, on the Business Day next succeeding delivery of such notice.

Such amount shall then become the Borrowing Base until the next Scheduled Redetermination Date, the next Interim Redetermination Date or the next adjustment to the Borrowing Base pursuant to the Borrowing Base Adjustment Provisions, whichever occurs first. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Scheduled Redetermination, Interim Redetermination or adjusted Borrowing Base shall become effective until the New Borrowing Base Notice related thereto is received by the Borrower.

(e) Adjustment for Debt Incurrence. If any Credit Party issues or incurs any Permitted Additional Debt (i) during the period from and including the Effective Date to and including the Spring 2022 Scheduled Redetermination Effective Date, and the aggregate principal amount of all such Permitted Additional Debt incurred in such period (which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes the 7.50% Senior Notes and the 5.00% Senior Notes) exceeds $500,000,000, then on the date of such incurrence, the Borrowing Base then in effect shall be reduced by an amount equal to the product of 0.25 multiplied by the stated principal amount of the aggregate Permitted Additional Debt (other than the 7.50% Senior Notes and the 5.00% Senior Notes) in excess of $500,000,000 and (ii) during any period after the Spring 2022 Scheduled Redetermination Effective Date, then (A) if (1) the aggregate principal amount of all Permitted Additional Debt incurred from and after the Effective Date (which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes the 7.50% Senior Notes and the 5.00% Senior Notes) exceeds $500,000,000 and (2) the Borrower’s Leverage Ratio, calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such incurrence and any concurrent repayment of Debt (as permitted by this Agreement), would be less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00, then on the date of such incurrence, the Borrowing Base then in effect shall be reduced by an amount equal to the product of 0.25 multiplied by the stated principal amount of the aggregate Permitted Additional Debt (other than the 7.50% Senior Notes and the 5.00% Senior Notes) in excess of $500,000,000, or (B) if the Borrower’s Leverage Ratio, calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such incurrence and any concurrent repayment of Debt (as permitted by this Agreement), would be greater than 1.50 to 1.00, then on the date of such incurrence, the Borrowing Base then in effect shall be reduced by an amount equal to the product of 0.25 multiplied by the

 

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stated principal amount of the aggregate Permitted Additional Debt incurred or issued at such time. In each case, the Borrowing Base as so reduced shall become the new Borrowing Base immediately upon the date of such incurrence, effective and applicable to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders on such date until the next redetermination or modification thereof hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.06(e), if any such Permitted Additional Debt (or Guarantee thereof) is issued at a discount or otherwise sold for less than “par,” the reduction shall be calculated based upon the stated principal amount without reference to such discount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such reduction to the Borrowing Base shall be required with respect to any Permitted Refinancing pursuant to Section 9.02(g) that refinances outstanding Permitted Additional Debt except, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 2.06(e), with respect to any portion of the face principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing which exceeds the principal amount of such refinanced Permitted Additional Debt (plus any accrued interest, fees, expenses and premiums of such refinanced Permitted Additional Debt).

Section 2.07 Letters of Credit

(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Issuing Bank may (but shall not be required to) through the Issuing Office, at any time and from time to time from and after the date hereof until five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, upon the written request of the Borrower accompanied by a duly executed Letter of Credit Agreement and such other documentation related to the requested Letter of Credit as each Issuing Bank may reasonably require, issue Letters of Credit in Dollars for the account of any Credit Party, (x) in an aggregate amount for all Letters of Credit issued hereunder at any one time outstanding by all Issuing Banks not to exceed the Letter of Credit Maximum Amount and (y) with respect to each Issuing Bank, in an aggregate amount for all Letters of Credit issued hereunder by such Issuing Bank at any one time outstanding not to exceed such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Sublimit without the consent of such Issuing Bank. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, any Credit Party other than the Borrower, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of any other Credit Party inures to the benefit of the Borrower and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such other Credit Party. Each Letter of Credit shall be in a minimum face amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) (or such lesser amount as may be agreed to by Issuing Bank) and each Letter of Credit (including any renewal thereof) shall expire not later than the first to occur of (i) twelve (12) months after the date of issuance thereof or such longer time as may be approved by Issuing Bank and (ii) five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date in effect on the date of issuance thereof; provided, that any Letter of Credit meeting the immediately foregoing requirements may contain a customary “evergreen” provision relating to the renewal thereof; provided, further, to the extent the Borrower Cash Collateralizes any other Letter of Credit at least one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date in cases where such Letter of Credit could be automatically renewed beyond the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (but in no event beyond one year following the Revolving Credit Maturity Date), such Letter of Credit may contain a customary “evergreen” provision relating to the renewal thereof. The submission of all applications in respect of and the issuance of each Letter of Credit hereunder shall be subject in all respects to the International Standby Practices 98, and any successor documentation thereto and to the extent not inconsistent

 

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therewith, the laws of the State of New York. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any Letter of Credit Document other than any Letter of Credit, this Agreement shall control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing or Section 6.02(d), the Existing Specified Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued hereunder as “Letters of Credit”.

(b) Conditions to Issuance. No Letter of Credit (other than any Existing Specified Letter of Credit) shall be issued (including the renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit previously issued) at the request and for the account of the Borrower unless, as of the date of issuance (or renewal or extension) of such Letter of Credit:

(i) after giving effect to the Letter of Credit requested, (A) the Letter of Credit Obligations do not exceed the Letter of Credit Maximum Amount and (B) each Issuing Bank’s individual Letter of Credit Obligations do not exceed such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Sublimit without the consent of such Issuing Bank;

(ii) the conditions set forth in Section 6.02 have been satisfied;

(iii) if requested by an Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall have delivered to such Issuing Bank at its Issuing Office the Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto, together with such other documents and materials as may be reasonably required pursuant to the terms thereof, and the terms of the proposed Letter of Credit shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank;

(iv) no order, judgment or decree of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority shall purport by its terms to enjoin or restrain Issuing Bank from issuing the Letter of Credit requested, or any Revolving Credit Lender from taking an assignment of its Revolving Credit Percentage thereof pursuant to Section 2.07(f) hereof, and no law, rule, regulation, request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) shall prohibit the applicable Issuing Bank from issuing, or any Revolving Credit Lender from taking an assignment of its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of, the Letter of Credit requested or letters of credit generally;

(v) there shall have been (A) no introduction of or change in the interpretation of any law or regulation, (B) no declaration of a general banking moratorium by banking authorities in the United States, New York or the respective jurisdictions in which the Revolving Credit Lenders, the Borrower and the beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit are located, and (C) no establishment of any new restrictions by any central bank or other Governmental Authority on transactions involving letters of credit or on banks generally that, in any case described in this Section 2.07(b)(v), would make it unlawful or unduly burdensome for the applicable Issuing Bank to issue or any Revolving Credit Lender to take an assignment of its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the requested Letter of Credit or letters of credit generally;

(vi) if any Revolving Credit Lender is a Defaulting Lender, each Issuing Bank has entered into arrangements reasonably satisfactory to it to eliminate such Issuing Bank’s risk with respect to the participation in Letters of Credit by any such Defaulting Lender, including, without limitation, the creation of a cash collateral account or delivery of other security by the Borrower to assure payment of such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of all outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations;

 

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(vii) the applicable Issuing Bank shall have received the issuance fees required in connection with the issuance of such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.07(d); and

(viii) the issuance, extension or amendment of such Letter of Credit would not violate one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally.

Each Letter of Credit Agreement submitted to Issuing Bank pursuant hereto shall constitute the certification by Borrower of the matters set forth in Section 6.02. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on such certification without any duty of inquiry.

(c) Notice. Each Issuing Bank shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, concurrently with or promptly following its issuance of any Letter of Credit, a true and complete copy of each Letter of Credit. Promptly upon its receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent shall give notice, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F, to each Revolving Credit Lender of the issuance of each Letter of Credit, specifying the amount thereof and the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage thereof.

(d) Letter of Credit Fees.

(i) The Borrower shall pay letter of credit fees as follows:

(A) A participation fee with respect to each Lender’s participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Margin used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s Letter of Credit Obligations (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed Letter of Credit Payments) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Letter of Credit Obligations, shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages, including without limitation as adjusted pursuant to Section 4.02(b)(iii).

(B) A letter of credit fronting fee in the amount of 0.125% per annum on the face amount of each Letter of Credit during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any Letter of Credit Obligations (but in no event less than $500 per annum), shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Issuing Bank for its own account.

(ii) All payments by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for distribution to an Issuing Bank or the Revolving Credit Lenders under this Section 2.07(d) shall be made in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Issuing Office or such other office of the Administrative Agent as may be designated from time to time by written notice to Borrower by the Administrative Agent. The fees described in Section 2.07(d)(i)(A) and (B) above (i) accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be

 

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payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Aggregate Maximum Commitment Amount terminates and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Aggregate Maximum Commitment Amount terminates shall be payable on demand and (ii) shall be nonrefundable under all circumstances subject to Section 12.12. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(e) Other Fees. In connection with the Letters of Credit, and in addition to the Letter of Credit Fees, the Borrower shall pay, for the sole account of each Issuing Bank, standard documentation, administration, payment and cancellation charges assessed by such Issuing Bank or the Issuing Office, at the times, in the amounts and on the terms set forth or to be set forth from time to time in the standard fee schedule of the Issuing Office in effect from time to time.

(f) Participation Interests in and Drawings and Demands for Payment Under Letters of Credit.

(i) By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of any Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the applicable Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Credit Lender, and each Revolving Credit Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Credit Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of each Letter of Credit Payment made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (ii) below, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default, an Event of Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(ii) If any Issuing Bank shall honor a draft or other demand for payment presented or made under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees to pay to such Issuing Bank an amount equal to the amount paid by such Issuing Bank in respect of such draft or other demand under such Letter of Credit and all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent relative thereto not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York time), in Dollars, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower received notice of such presentment and honor, if such notice is received prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower received such notice, if such notice is received after 11:00 a.m. (New York time).

 

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(iii) If any Issuing Bank shall honor a draft or other demand for payment presented or made under any Letter of Credit, but the Borrower does not reimburse such Issuing Bank as required under Section 2.07(f)(ii) and the Aggregate Maximum Commitment Amount has not been terminated (whether by maturity, acceleration or otherwise), the Borrower shall be deemed to have immediately requested that the Revolving Credit Lenders make a ABR Revolving Credit Borrowing (which Borrowing may be subsequently converted at any time into a Eurodollar Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof) in the principal amount equal to the amount paid by such Issuing Bank in respect of such draft or other demand under such Letter of Credit and all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent relative thereto. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of such deemed request, and each such Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to its pro rata share (based on its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage) of the amount of such Borrowing.

(iv) If any Issuing Bank shall honor a draft or other demand for payment presented or made under any Letter of Credit, but the Borrower does not reimburse such Issuing Bank as required under Section 2.07(f)(ii), and (i) the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount has been terminated (whether by maturity, acceleration or otherwise), or (ii) any reimbursement received by such Issuing Bank from the Borrower is or must be returned or rescinded upon or during any bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise, then the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Credit Lender, and each Revolving Credit Lender will be obligated to pay the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank its pro rata share (based on its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage) of the amount paid by such Issuing Bank in respect of such draft or other demand under such Letter of Credit and all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent relative thereto (but no such payment shall diminish the obligations of the Borrower hereunder). Upon receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent will deliver to such Revolving Credit Lender a participation certificate evidencing its participation interest in respect of such payment and expenses. To the extent that a Revolving Credit Lender fails to make such amount available to the Administrative Agent by 10:00 am New York time on the Business Day next succeeding the date such notice is given, such Revolving Credit Lender shall pay interest on such amount in respect of each day from the date such amount was required to be paid, to the date paid to the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the rate applicable under Section 2.04(c)(i) with respect to Revolving Credit Borrowings. The failure of any Revolving Credit Lender to make its pro rata portion of any such amount available under to the Administrative Agent shall not relieve any other Revolving Credit Lender of its obligation to make available its pro rata portion of such amount, but no Revolving Credit Lender shall be responsible for failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to make such pro rata portion available to the Administrative Agent.

(v) In the case of any Borrowing made under this Section 2.07(f), each such Borrowing shall be disbursed notwithstanding any failure to satisfy any conditions for disbursement of any Borrowing set forth in Article II hereof or Article VI, and, to the extent of the Borrowing so disbursed, the Reimbursement Obligation of Borrower to the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.07(f) shall be deemed satisfied (unless, in each case, taking into account any such deemed Borrowings, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Credit Borrowings, plus the Letter of Credit Obligations (other than the Reimbursement Obligations to be reimbursed by this Borrowing) on such date exceed the least of the Borrowing Base, the then applicable Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount or the then applicable Elected Loan Limit).

 

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(vi) If any Issuing Bank shall honor a draft or other demand for payment presented or made under any Letter of Credit, such Issuing Bank shall provide notice thereof to the Borrower on the date such draft or demand is honored, and to each Revolving Credit Lender on such date unless the Borrower shall have satisfied its Reimbursement Obligations by payment to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of such Issuing Bank) as required under this Section 2.07(f). Each Issuing Bank shall further use reasonable efforts to provide notice to the Borrower prior to honoring any such draft or other demand for payment, but such notice, or the failure to provide such notice, shall not affect the rights or obligations of any Issuing Bank with respect to any Letter of Credit or the rights and obligations of the parties hereto, including without limitation the obligations of the Borrower under this Section 2.07(f).

(vii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, no Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to have acquired a participation in a Letter of Credit if the officers of the applicable Issuing Bank immediately responsible for matters concerning this Agreement shall have received written notice from the Administrative Agent or any Lender at least two (2) Business Days prior to the date of the issuance or extension of such Letter of Credit or, with respect to any Letter of Credit subject to automatic extension, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date that the beneficiary under such Letter of Credit must be notified that such Letter of Credit will not be renewed, that the issuance or extension of Letters of Credit should be suspended based on the occurrence and continuance of a Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”; provided, however, that the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be deemed to have acquired such a participation upon the date on which such Default or Event of Default has been waived by the requisite Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable, but effective as of the extension or issuance date.

(viii) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require or authorize any Revolving Credit Lender to issue any Letter of Credit, it being recognized that the Issuing Banks shall be the sole issuers of Letters of Credit under this Agreement.

(ix) In the event that any Revolving Credit Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, any Issuing Bank may, at its option, require that the Borrower enter into arrangements satisfactory to such Issuing Bank to eliminate such Issuing Bank’s risk with respect to the participation in Letters of Credit by such Defaulting Lender, including creation of a cash collateral account or delivery of other security to assure payment of such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of all outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations.

(g) Obligations Irrevocable. The obligations of the Borrower to make payments to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Issuing Bank or the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to Letter of Credit Obligations under Section 2.07(f), shall be unconditional and irrevocable and not subject to any qualification or exception whatsoever, including, without limitation:

(i) Any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement, any other documentation relating to any Letter of Credit, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (the “Letter of Credit Documents”);

 

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(ii) Any amendment, modification, waiver, consent, or any substitution, exchange or release of or failure to perfect any interest in collateral or security, with respect to or under any Letter of Credit Document;

(iii) The existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any persons or entities for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Revolving Credit Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any of the Letter of Credit Documents, the transactions contemplated herein or therein or any unrelated transactions;

(iv) Any draft or other statement or document presented under any 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;

(v) Payment by the applicable Issuing Bank to the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit against presentation of documents which do not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to such Letter of Credit;

(vi) Any failure, omission, delay or lack on the part of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Revolving Credit Lender or any party to any of the Letter of Credit Documents or any other Loan Document to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy conferred upon the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Revolving Credit Lender or any such party under this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any of the Letter of Credit Documents, or any other acts or omissions on the part of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Revolving Credit Lender or any such party; or

(vii) Any other event or circumstance that would, in the absence of this Section 2.07(g), result in the release or discharge by operation of law or otherwise of the Borrower from the performance or observance of any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in Section 2.07(f).

No setoff, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any obligation or any defense of any kind or nature which the Borrower has or may have against the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit shall be available hereunder to the Borrower against the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Revolving Credit Lender. With respect to any Letter of Credit, nothing contained in this Section 2.07(g) shall be deemed to prevent the Borrower, after satisfaction in full of the absolute and unconditional obligations of the Borrower hereunder with respect to such Letter of Credit, from asserting in a separate action any claim, defense, set off or other right which it may have against the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Revolving Credit Lender in connection with such Letter of Credit.

(h) Risk Under Letters of Credit.

(i) In the administration and handling of Letters of Credit and any security therefor, or any documents or instruments given in connection therewith, the Issuing Banks shall have the sole right to take or refrain from taking any and all actions under or upon the Letters of Credit.

 

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(ii) Subject to other terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Issuing Bank shall issue the Letters of Credit and shall hold the documents related thereto in its own name and shall make all collections thereunder and otherwise administer the applicable Letters of Credit in accordance with such Issuing Bank’s regularly established practices and procedures and will have no further obligation with respect thereto. In the administration of Letters of Credit, each Issuing Bank shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted on the advice of counsel, accountants, appraisers or other experts selected by such Issuing Bank with due care and such Issuing Bank may rely upon any notice, communication, certificate or other statement from the Borrower, beneficiaries of Letters of Credit, or any other Person which such Issuing Bank believes to be authentic. Each Issuing Bank will, upon request, furnish the Revolving Credit Lenders with copies of Letter of Credit Documents related thereto.

(iii) In connection with the issuance and administration of Letters of Credit and the assignments hereunder, the Issuing Banks make no representation and shall have no responsibility with respect to (i) the obligations of the Borrower or the validity, sufficiency or enforceability of any document or instrument given in connection therewith, or the taking of any action with respect to same, (ii) the financial condition of, any representations made by, or any act or omission of the Borrower or any other Person, or (iii) any failure or delay in exercising any rights or powers possessed by any Issuing Bank in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit in the absence of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. Each of the Revolving Credit Lenders expressly acknowledges that it has made and will continue to make its own evaluations of the Borrower’s creditworthiness without reliance on any representation of any Issuing Bank or any Issuing Bank’s officers, agents and employees.

(iv) If at any time any Issuing Bank shall recover any part of any unreimbursed amount for any draw or other demand for payment under a Letter of Credit, or any interest thereon, the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall receive same for the pro rata benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages and shall promptly deliver to each Revolving Credit Lender its share thereof, less such Revolving Credit Lender’s pro rata share of the costs of such recovery, including court costs and attorney’s fees. If at any time any Revolving Credit Lender shall receive from any source whatsoever any payment on any such unreimbursed amount or interest thereon in excess of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of such payment, such Revolving Credit Lender will promptly pay over such excess to the Administrative Agent, for redistribution in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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(i) Indemnification. The Borrower hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold harmless the Revolving Credit Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent and their respective Affiliates, and the respective officers, directors, employees and agents of such Persons (each an “L/C Indemnified Person”), from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever which the Revolving Credit Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the Administrative Agent or any such Person may incur or which may be claimed against any of them by reason of or in connection with any Letter of Credit (collectively, the “L/C Indemnified Amounts”), and none of the L/C Indemnified Persons shall be liable or responsible for:

(i) the use which may be made of any Letter of Credit or for any acts or omissions of any beneficiary in connection therewith;

(ii) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents or of any endorsement thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged;

(iii) payment by any Issuing Bank to the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit against presentation of documents which do not strictly comply with the terms of any Letter of Credit (unless such payment resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Issuing Bank), including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to such Letter of Credit;

(iv) any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit; or

(v) any other event or circumstance whatsoever arising in connection with any Letter of Credit.

It is understood that in making any payment under a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank will rely on documents presented to it under such Letter of Credit as to any and all matters set forth therein without further investigation and regardless of any notice or information to the contrary.

With respect to subparagraphs (i) through (v), (A) the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any L/C Indemnified Person for any L/C Indemnified Amounts to the extent such amounts result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such L/C Indemnified Person or any officer, director, employee or agent of such L/C Indemnified Person as determined by a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction and (B) the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank shall be liable to the Borrower to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or incidental, damages suffered by the Borrower which were caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any L/C Indemnified Person or by such Issuing Bank’s wrongful dishonor of any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary thereunder of a draft or other demand for payment and other documentation strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit, in each case, as determined by a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(j) Right of Reimbursement. Each Revolving Credit Lender agrees to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank on demand, pro rata in accordance with its respective Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage, for (i) the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of such Issuing Bank to be reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to any Letter of Credit Agreement or any Letter of Credit, to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, fees, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Issuing Bank in any way relating to or

 

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arising out of this Agreement (including Section 2.07(f)(iii) hereof), any Letter of Credit, any documentation or any transaction relating thereto, or any Letter of Credit Agreement, to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower, except to the extent that such liabilities, losses, costs or expenses were incurred by such Issuing Bank as a result of such Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or by such Issuing Bank’s wrongful dishonor of any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary thereunder of a draft or other demand for payment and other documentation strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit, in each case, as determined by a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

ARTICLE III

PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS;

PREPAYMENTS OF REVOLVING CREDIT LOANS; FEES

Section 3.01 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan on the Termination Date.

Section 3.02 Interest on Revolving Credit Loans

(a) ABR Revolving Credit Loans. The Revolving Credit Loans comprising each ABR Revolving Credit Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(b) Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans. The Revolving Credit Loans comprising each Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Revolving Credit Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(c) Post-Default Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in (i) Sections 10.01(h), 10.01(i) or 10.01(j) has occurred and is continuing, or (ii) Sections 10.01(a) and 10.01(b) has occurred and is continuing, then (A) in the case of clause (i) of this Section 3.02(c), all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding, and (B) in the case of clause (ii) of this Section 3.02(c), any past due amounts, in each case shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) plus the rate applicable to such Revolving Credit Loans or such past due amounts, as applicable, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(d) Interest Payment Dates. Accrued interest on each Revolving Credit Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Revolving Credit Loan and on the Termination Date; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to Section 3.02(c) shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Revolving Credit Loan (other than an optional prepayment of an ABR Revolving Credit Loan prior to the Termination Date at a time when no Borrowing Base Deficiency exists), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment, and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Revolving Credit Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

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(e) Interest Rate Computations. All interest on Revolving Credit Loans shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, unless such computation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and be binding upon the parties hereto.

Section 3.03 Prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans

(a) Optional Prepayments. Subject to any break funding costs payable pursuant to Section 5.02, the Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Revolving Credit Borrowing in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, subject to prior notice in accordance with Section 3.03(b).

(b) Notice and Terms of Optional Prepayment. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of any prepayment hereunder in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, and in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Credit Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Revolving Credit Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount as contemplated by Section 2.05(b)(ii), then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii). Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Credit Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Revolving Credit Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Credit Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 3.02.

(c) Mandatory Prepayments.

(i) If, after giving effect to any termination or reduction of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amounts pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or reduction of the Elected Loan Limit pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(i), the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeds the total Commitments, then the Borrower shall prepay the Revolving Credit Borrowings on the date of such termination or reduction in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess, and if any excess remains after prepaying all of the Revolving Credit Borrowings as a result of Letter of Credit Obligations, Cash Collateralize such excess in an amount equal to the greater of (A) the amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations and (B) the maximum amount that may be available to be drawn at any time prior to the stated expiry of all outstanding Letters of Credit.

 

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(ii) (A) Upon any Scheduled Redetermination or Interim Redetermination or other adjustment of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 8.13(c) if the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeds the redetermined Borrowing Base and the Administrative Agent sends a New Borrowing Base Notice to the Borrower indicating such Borrowing Base Deficiency (each, a “Borrowing Base Deficiency Notice”), then the Borrower shall within ten (10) Business Days following receipt of such Borrowing Base Deficiency Notice elect whether to (1) prepay the Revolving Credit Borrowings an amount which would, if prepaid immediately, reduce the total Revolving Credit Exposures to the amount of the Borrowing Base, (2) execute one or more Security Instruments (or cause a Subsidiary to execute one or more Security Instruments) covering such other Oil and Gas Properties as are reasonably acceptable to the Majority Lenders having present values which, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, based upon the Majority Lenders’ good-faith evaluation of the engineering data provided them, taken in the aggregate are sufficient to increase the Borrowing Base to an amount at least equal to the total Revolving Credit Exposures, or (3) do any combination of the foregoing. If the Borrower fails to make an election within such ten (10) Business Day period after the Borrower’s receipt of the Borrowing Base Deficiency Notice, then Borrower shall be deemed to have selected the prepayment option specified in clause (1) above. To the extent any prepayment of Revolving Credit Borrowings is required hereunder, if any excess of total Revolving Credit Exposures over the Borrowing Base then in effect remains after prepaying all Revolving Credit Borrowings as a result of Letter of Credit Obligations, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize such excess in an amount equal to the greater of (x) the amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations and (y) the maximum amount that may be available to be drawn at any time prior to the stated expiry of all outstanding Letters of Credit.

(B) The Borrower shall deliver such prepayments or Security Instruments covering additional Oil and Gas Properties in accordance with its election (or deemed election) pursuant to Section 3.03(c)(ii)(A) as follows:

(1) Prepayment Elections. If the Borrower elects to prepay an amount in accordance with Section 3.03(c)(ii)(A)(1) above, then the Borrower may make such prepayment in three (3) equal consecutive monthly installments beginning within thirty (30) days after Borrower’s receipt of the Borrowing Base Deficiency Notice and continuing on the same day of each month thereafter; provided that all payments required to be made pursuant to this Section 3.03(c)(ii)(B)(1) must be made on or prior to the Termination Date.

(2) Elections to Mortgage Additional Oil and Gas Properties. If the Borrower elects to mortgage additional Oil and Gas Properties in accordance with Section 3.03(c)(ii)(A)(2) above, then (I) such properties shall be reasonably acceptable to the Majority Lenders having present values which, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, based upon the Majority Lenders’ good-faith evaluation of the engineering data provided them, taken in the aggregate are sufficient to increase the Borrowing Base to an amount at least equal to the total

 

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Revolving Credit Exposures, and (II) the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Administrative Agent one or more Security Instruments within thirty (30) days after the Borrower’s receipt of the Borrowing Base Deficiency Notice (or such longer time as determined by the Administrative Agent); provided, however (x) if none of the additional Oil and Gas Properties offered by the Borrower are reasonably acceptable to the Majority Lenders, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected the prepayment option specified in Section 3.03(c)(ii)(A)(1) (and Borrower shall make such prepayment in accordance with Section 3.03(c)(ii)(B)(1)); and (y) if the aggregate present values of additional Oil and Gas Properties which are reasonably acceptable to the Majority Lenders are insufficient to eliminate the Borrowing Base Deficiency, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected the option specified in Section 3.03(c)(ii)(A)(3) (and the Borrower shall make prepayment and deliver or cause to be delivered one or more Security Instruments as provided in Section 3.03(c)(ii)(B)(3)). Together with such Security Instruments, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent title opinions and/or other title information and data reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent such that the Administrative Agent shall have received, together with the title information previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, reasonably satisfactory title information on at least ninety percent (90%) of the total value of the Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by the most recent Reserve Report and which are required to be Mortgaged Properties hereunder.

(3) Combination Elections. If the Borrower elects (or is deemed to have elected) to eliminate the Borrowing Base Deficiency by a combination of prepayment and mortgaging of additional Oil and Gas Properties in accordance with Section 3.03(c)(ii)(A)(3), then within thirty (30) days after the Borrower’s receipt of the Borrowing Base Deficiency Notice (or such longer time as determined by the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall (or shall cause a Subsidiary to) execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Administrative Agent one or more Security Instruments covering such additional Oil and Gas Properties and pay the Administrative Agent the amount by which the Borrowing Base Deficiency exceeds the present values of such additional Oil and Gas Properties in three (3) equal consecutive monthly installments beginning within thirty (30) days after Borrower’s receipt of the Borrowing Base Deficiency Notice and continuing on the same day of each month thereafter; provided that all payments required to be made pursuant to this Section 3.03(c)(ii)(B)(3) must be made on or prior to the Termination Date.

(iii) Upon any adjustment to the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 9.10 or pursuant to Section 2.06(e), if the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceed the Borrowing Base as adjusted, then the Borrower shall prepay the Revolving Credit Borrowings in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess, and if any excess remains after prepaying all of the Revolving Credit Borrowings as a result of Letter of Credit Obligations, Cash Collateralize such excess in an amount equal to the greater of (A) the amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations and (B) the maximum amount that may be available to be drawn at any time prior to the stated expiry of all outstanding Letters of Credit. The Borrower shall be obligated to make such prepayment and/or Cash Collateralize such excess on the second (2nd) Business Day after it receives the applicable New Borrowing Base Notice in accordance with Section 2.06(d); provided that all payments required to be made pursuant to this Section 3.03(c)(iii) must be made on or prior to the Termination Date.

 

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(iv) Each prepayment of Revolving Credit Borrowings pursuant to this Section 3.03(c) shall be applied, first, ratably to any ABR Revolving Credit Borrowings then outstanding, and second, to any Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowings then outstanding, and if more than one Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing is then outstanding, to each such Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing in order of priority beginning with the Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing with the least number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto and ending with the Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing with the most number of days remaining in the Interest Period applicable thereto; provided, however, if any excess remains after the prepayment of all Revolving Credit Borrowings and after the Borrower Cash Collateralizes all Letter of Credit Obligations or outstanding Letters of Credit, such excess shall be prepaid by the Borrower.

(v) Each prepayment of Revolving Credit Borrowings pursuant to this Section 3.03(c) shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount prepaid to the extent required by Section 3.02.

(d) No Premium or Penalty. Prepayments permitted or required under this Section 3.03 shall be without premium or penalty, except as required under Section 5.02.

(e) Additional Mandatory Prepayments – Application in Connection with Consolidated Cash Balance. If, at the end of the first Business Day of any week, the Consolidated Cash Balance exceeds $75,000,000, then the Borrower shall, on the next Business Day, prepay the Revolving Credit Borrowings in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess. Each prepayment of Revolving Credit Borrowings pursuant to this Section 3.03(e) shall be applied in the same manner as set forth in Section 3.03(c)(iv) and shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount prepaid to the extent required by Section 3.02.

Section 3.04 Fees

(a) Commitment Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the applicable Commitment Fee Rate on the actual daily amount of the undrawn Commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender during the period from and including the date of this Agreement to but excluding the Termination Date (such fee, the “Commitment Fee”). Accrued Commitment Fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December of each year (with respect to the preceding three months or portion thereof) and on the Termination Date (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand), commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. If there is any change in the Commitment of any Revolving Credit Lender during any such three-month period, the actual daily amount of the Commitment shall be computed and multiplied by the Commitment Fee Rate separately for each period during such three-month period such Commitment was in effect. All Commitment Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, unless such computation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day and the last day of each period but excluding the date on which the Commitments terminate).

 

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(b) Administrative Agent Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times set forth in the Fee Letter.

ARTICLE IV

PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; SHARING OF SET-OFFS

Section 4.01 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

(a) Payment Procedure.

(i) 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 provided herein, all payments made by the Borrower of principal, interest or fees hereunder shall be made without setoff or counterclaim on the date specified for payment under this Agreement and must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date such payment is required or intended to be made in Dollars in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s office located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, for the ratable benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders in the case of payments in respect of the Revolving Credit Loans and any Letter of Credit Obligations. Any payment received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. (New York time) shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Upon receipt of each such payment, the Administrative Agent shall make prompt payment to each applicable Lender, or, in respect of Eurodollar Borrowing, such Lender’s Eurodollar Lending Office, in like funds and currencies, of all amounts received by it for the account of such Lender.

(ii) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by the Borrower at least two (2) Business Days prior to the date on which any payment to be made by the Borrower is due that the Borrower does not intend to remit such payment, the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion and without obligation to do so, assume that the Borrower has remitted such payment when so due and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to each Revolving Credit Lender, as the case may be, on such payment date an amount equal to such Lender’s share of such assumed payment. If the Borrower has not in fact remitted such payment to the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the amount of such assumed payment made available or transferred to such Lender, together with the interest thereon, in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at a rate per annum equal to the NYFRB Rate for the first two (2) Business Days that such amount remains unpaid, and thereafter at a rate of interest then applicable to such Borrowings.

(iii) Subject to the definition of “Interest Period” in Section 1.02 of this Agreement, whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall otherwise be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest, if any, in connection with such payment.

 

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(b) Application of Insufficient Payments. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, Reimbursement Obligations, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and second, towards payment of principal and Reimbursement Obligations then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and Reimbursement Obligations then due to such parties.

(c) Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in Reimbursement Obligations resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in Reimbursement Obligations and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in Reimbursement Obligations of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in Reimbursement Obligations; provided that if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and the provisions of this Section 4.01(c) shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in Reimbursement Obligations to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 4.01(c) 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 set-off 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 4.02 Deductions by the Administrative Agent; Defaulting Lender

(a) Certain Deductions by the Administrative Agent. If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(a), Section 2.07(f) or Section 4.02, then the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender hereunder, in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

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(b) Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(i) The obligation of any Lender to make any Loan hereunder shall not be affected by the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan under this Agreement, and no Lender shall have any liability to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent, any other Lender, or any other Person for another Lender’s failure to make any loan or Loan hereunder.

(ii) If any Lender shall become a Defaulting Lender, then such Defaulting Lender’s right to participate in the administration of the loans, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including without limitation any right to vote in respect of any amendment, consent or waiver of the terms of this Agreement or such other Loan Documents, or to direct or approve any action or inaction by the Administrative Agent shall be suspended for the entire period that such Lender remains a Defaulting Lender and the stated commitment amounts and outstanding Loans of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders, the Required Lenders (or any class thereof) or the Majority Lenders (or any class thereof), as the case may be, have taken or may take any action hereunder (including, without limitation, any action to approve any consent, waiver or amendment to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not permit (A) an increase in such Defaulting Lender’s stated commitment amounts, (B) the waiver, forgiveness or reduction of the principal amount of any Obligations outstanding to such Defaulting Lender (unless all other Lenders affected thereby are treated similarly), (C) the extension of the final maturity date(s) of such Defaulting Lenders’ portion of any of the loans or other extensions of credit or other obligations of the Borrower owing to such Defaulting Lender, in each case without such Defaulting Lender’s consent, (D) any other modification which under Section 12.02 requires the consent of all Lenders or Lender(s) affected thereby which affects the Defaulting Lender differently than the Non-Defaulting Lenders affected by such modification, other than a change to or waiver of the requirements of Section 4.01(b) which results in a reduction of the Defaulting Lender’s commitment or its share of the Obligations on a non-pro-rata basis.

(iii) All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letter of Credit Obligations shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment. 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.

(iv) To the extent and for so long as a Lender remains a Defaulting Lender and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.01(b), the Administrative Agent shall be entitled, without limitation, (A) to withhold or setoff and to apply in satisfaction of those obligations for payment (and any related interest) in respect of which the Defaulting Lender shall be delinquent or otherwise in default to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or to hold as cash

 

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collateral for such delinquent obligations or any future defaults) the amounts otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (B) if the amount of Loans made by such Defaulting Lender is less than its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage, as the case may be, requires, apply payments of principal made by the Borrower amongst the Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis until all outstanding Loans are held by all Lenders according to their respective Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages, and (C) to bring an action or other proceeding, in law or equity, against such Defaulting Lender in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover the delinquent amounts, and any related interest. Performance by the Borrower of its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be excused or otherwise modified as a result of the operation of this Section, except to the extent expressly set forth herein and in any event the Borrower shall not be required to pay any Commitment Fee under Section 3.04(a) of this Agreement in respect of such Defaulting Lender’s Unfunded Portion for the period during which such Lender is a Defaulting Lender. Furthermore, the rights and remedies of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders against a Defaulting Lender under this section shall be in addition to any other rights and remedies such parties may have against the Defaulting Lender under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, applicable law or otherwise, and the Borrower waives no rights or remedies against any Defaulting Lender.

Section 4.03 Disposition of Proceeds The Security Instruments contain an assignment by the Borrower and/or the Guarantors unto and in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties of all of the Borrower’s or each Guarantor’s interest in and to production and all proceeds attributable thereto which may be produced from or allocated to the Mortgaged Property. The Security Instruments further provide in general for the application of such proceeds to the satisfaction of the Obligations and other obligations described therein and secured thereby. Notwithstanding the assignment contained in such Security Instruments, until the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree that they will neither notify the purchaser or purchasers of such production nor take any other action to cause such proceeds to be remitted to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, but the Lenders will instead permit such proceeds to be paid to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to take such actions as may be necessary to cause such proceeds to be paid to the Borrower and/or such Subsidiaries.

ARTICLE V

INCREASED COSTS; REIMBURSEMENT OF PREPAYMENT COSTS;

TAXES; LIBO RATE AVAILABILITY

Section 5.01 Increased Costs

(a) Increased Costs. If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank;

 

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(ii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or

(iii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (a) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital Adequacy and Other Increased Costs.

(i) If, after the Effective Date, the adoption or introduction of, or any change in any applicable law, treaty, rule or regulation (whether domestic or foreign) now or hereafter in effect and whether or not presently applicable to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, or any interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender or the Administrative Agent with any guideline, request or directive of any such authority (whether or not having the force of law), including any risk based capital guidelines (each, a “Change in Law”), affects or would affect the amount of capital or liquidity required to be maintained by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (or any corporation controlling such Lender or the Administrative Agent) and such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, determines that the amount of such capital or liquidity is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s obligations or Borrowings hereunder and such increase has the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s (or such controlling corporation’s) capital as a consequence of such obligations or Borrowings hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or the Administrative Agent (or such controlling corporation) could have achieved but for such circumstances (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy) (collectively, “Increased Costs”), then the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall notify the Borrower, and thereafter the Borrower shall pay to such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, within ten (10) Business Days of written demand therefor from such Lender or the Administrative Agent, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or the Administrative Agent (or such controlling corporation) for any increase in the amount of capital or liquidity and reduced rate of return which such Lender or the Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be allocable to the existence of such Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s obligations or Borrowings hereunder. A statement setting forth the amount of such compensation, the methodology for the calculation and the calculation thereof which shall also be prepared in good faith and in reasonable detail by such Lender or the

 

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Administrative Agent, as the case may be, shall be submitted by such Lender or by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, reasonably promptly after becoming aware of any event described in this Section 5.01(b) and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct, absent manifest error. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines 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.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any increased costs under Sections 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) for any period ending prior to the date that is two hundred seventy (270) days prior to the making of a Lender’s initial request for such additional amounts unless the applicable Change in Law or other event resulting in such increased costs is effective retroactively to a date more than two hundred seventy (270) days prior to the date of such request, in which case a Lender’s request for such additional amounts relating to the period more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the making of the request must be given not more than two hundred seventy (270) days after such Lender becomes aware of the applicable Change in Law or other event resulting in such increased costs.

Section 5.02 Reimbursement of Prepayment Costs If (a) the Borrower makes any payment of principal with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (whether voluntarily, pursuant to any mandatory provisions hereof, by acceleration, or otherwise); (b) the Borrower converts or refunds (or attempts to convert or refund) any such Borrowing or Loan on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto; (c) the Borrower fails to borrow, refund or convert any Eurodollar Borrowing after notice has been given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof requesting such Borrowing or Loan; or (d) or if the Borrower fails to make any payment of principal in respect of a Eurodollar Borrowing when due, the Borrower shall reimburse the Administrative Agent for itself and/or on behalf of any Lender, as the case may be, within ten (10) Business Days of written demand therefor for any resulting loss, cost or expense incurred (excluding the loss of any Applicable Margin) by the Administrative Agent and Lenders, as the case may be, as a result thereof, including, without limitation, any such loss, cost or expense incurred in obtaining, liquidating, employing or redeploying deposits from third parties, whether or not the Administrative Agent and Lenders, as the case may be, shall have funded or committed to fund such Borrowing or Loan. The amount payable hereunder by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for itself and/or on behalf of any Lender, as the case may be, shall be deemed to equal an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, refunded or converted, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, refund or convert, through the last day of the relevant Interest Period, at the applicable rate of interest for said Borrowing(s) or Loans(s) provided under this Agreement, over (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as the case may be) which would have accrued to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as the case may be, on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank Eurocurrency market. Calculation of any amounts payable to any Lender under this paragraph shall be made as though

 

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such Lender shall have actually funded or committed to fund the relevant Borrowing or Loan through the purchase of an underlying deposit in an amount equal to the amount of such Borrowing or Loan and having a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period; provided, however, that any Lender may fund any Eurodollar Borrowing in any manner it deems fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be utilized only for the purpose of the calculation of amounts payable under this paragraph.

The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall deliver to the Borrower a certificate setting forth the basis for determining such losses, costs and expenses, which certificate shall be conclusively presumed correct, absent manifest error.

Section 5.03 Taxes

(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Withholding Agent under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes; provided that if any Credit Party shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes from such payments, then the sum payable by the Credit Parties shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions or withholdings of Indemnified Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.03), the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made, the Withholding Agent shall make such deductions or withholdings and the Withholding Agent shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower or Guarantors. The Borrower or Guarantors, as applicable, shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law or, at the option of the Administrative Agent, timely reimburse it for such Other Taxes.

(c) Indemnification by the Borrower, Guarantors and Lenders.

(i) The Borrower or Guarantors, as applicable, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or Guarantors, as applicable, hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.03) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender as to the amount of such payment or liability under this Section 5.03 shall be delivered to the Borrower or Guarantors, as applicable, and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(ii) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (A) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Credit Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), (B) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.04(b)(viii) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (C) 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 Section 5.03(c)(ii).

(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Credit Parties to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Status of Lenders.

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Withholding Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Withholding Agent as will enable the Withholding Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 5.03(e)(ii)(A) and (ii)(B) and Section 5.03(g) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code,

(A) any Lender that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Withholding Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Withholding Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

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(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Withholding Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Withholding Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(2) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner; and

(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Withholding Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Withholding Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Withholding Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

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Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Withholding Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(f) Administrative Agent. On or before the date on which JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (and any successor or replacement Administrative Agent) becomes the Administrative Agent hereunder, it shall deliver to the Borrower two duly executed originals of either (i) IRS Form W-9, or (ii) IRS Form W-8ECI (with respect to any payments to be received on its own behalf) and IRS Form W-8IMY (for all other payments), establishing that the Borrower can make payments to the Administrative Agent without deduction or withholding of any Taxes imposed by the United States, including Taxes imposed under FATCA.

(g) FATCA.

(i) If a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement would be subject to United States federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender fails 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 Withholding Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Withholding 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 Withholding Agent as may be necessary for the Withholding Agent to comply with its obligations under FATCA, 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 Section 5.03(f) and this Section 5.03(g), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(ii) For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Effective Date, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) the Credit Agreement as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

(h) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or any Guarantor or with respect to which the Borrower or any Guarantor has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.03, it shall pay to the Borrower or any Guarantor, as applicable, an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower or any Guarantor under this Section 5.03 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party 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

 

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indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(i) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 5.03 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

(j) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 5.03, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

Section 5.04 Mitigation Obligations; Designation of Different Lending Office If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.01, 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 5.03, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its 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 would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.01 or Section 5.03, as the case may be, in the future and 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.

 

Section 5.05 Replacement of Lenders If (a) any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.01, (b) 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 5.03, (c) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (d) any Lender fails to provide its consent to increase or maintain the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.06(c)(iii) and the Required Lenders have provided their consent to increase or maintain the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.06(c)(iii) or (e) any Lender fails to approve a proposed waiver, consent or amendment which has been approved by the Majority Lenders, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of clause (d) above, within thirty (30) days of the effectiveness of the redetermination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.06(d)), require, in the case of clauses (a) through (c) above, such Lender (and, in the case of clause (d) above, within thirty (30) days of the effectiveness of the redetermination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.06(d)) to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 12.04(a)), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in Reimbursement Obligations, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting

 

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from a claim for compensation under Section 5.01 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.03, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if such Lender (or its Affiliate) is a Secured Swap Party with any outstanding Secured Swap Agreement, unless on or prior thereto, all such Swap Agreements have been terminated or novated to another Person and such Lender (or its Affiliate) shall have received payment of all amounts, if any, payable to it in connection with such termination or novation.

Section 5.06 Laws Affecting LIBO Rate Availability If, after the date of this Agreement, the adoption or introduction of, or any change in, any applicable law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Eurodollar Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Eurodollar Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any Loan which bears interest at or by reference to the LIBO Rate, such Lender shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, (a) the obligations of the applicable Lenders to make Loans which bear interest at or by reference to the LIBO Rate and the right of the Borrower to convert a Borrowing into or refund a Borrowing as a Borrowing which bears interest at or by reference to the LIBO Rate shall be suspended and thereafter only the Alternate Base Rate shall be available, and (b) if any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a Borrowing which bears interest at or by reference to the LIBO Rate, the applicable Borrowing shall immediately be converted to a Borrowing which bears interest at or by reference to the Alternate Base Rate. For purposes of this Section 5.06, a Change in Law or any change in rule, regulation, interpretation or administration shall include, without limitation, any change made or which becomes effective on the basis of a law, rule, regulation, interpretation or administration presently in force, the effective date of which change is delayed by the terms of such law, rule, regulation, interpretation or administration.

Section 5.07 Eurodollar Lending Office For any Eurodollar Loan, if the Administrative Agent or a Lender, as applicable, shall designate a Eurodollar Lending Office which maintains books separate from those of the rest of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, shall have the option of maintaining and carrying the relevant Loan on the books of such Eurodollar Lending Office.

Section 5.08 Right of Lenders to Fund through Branches and Affiliates Each Lender may, if it so elects, fulfill its commitment as to any Borrowing hereunder by designating a branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Borrowing; provided that (a) such Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performances of its obligations hereunder and (b) no such designation shall result in any increased costs to Borrower.

 

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Section 5.09 Alternate Rate of Interest

(a) Inability to Determine Rates. Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of this Section 5.09 and Section 5.06, if prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable (including, without limitation, because the LIBO Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for such Interest Period; provided that no Benchmark Transition Event shall have occurred at such time; or

(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Majority Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy, electronic mail or fax as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (A) any Revolving Credit Borrowing Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Credit Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Credit Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (B) if any Revolving Credit Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

(b) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document (provided that any Swap Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 5.09), if a Benchmark Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (i) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (ii) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Majority Lenders.

(c) Term SOFR Transition Event. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document and subject to the proviso below in this paragraph, if a Term SOFR Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then the applicable

 

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Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, this clause (c) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Borrower a Term SOFR Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver a Term SOFR Notice after a Term SOFR Transition Event and may do so in its sole discretion.

(d) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(e) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 5.09, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 5.09.

(f) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR or LIBO Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

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(g) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to ABR Loans. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of Alternate Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of Alternate Base Rate.

Section 5.10 Interest Rates; LIBOR Notifications.    The interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, which is derived from the London interbank offered rate. The London interbank offered rate is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that, after the end of 2021, it would no longer persuade or compel contributing banks to make rate submissions to the ICE Benchmark Administration (together with any successor to the ICE Benchmark Administrator, the “IBA”) for purposes of the IBA setting the London interbank offered rate. As a result, it is possible that commencing in 2022, the London interbank offered rate may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed an appropriate reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans. In light of this eventuality, public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, Section 5.09(b) and (c) provide the mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower, pursuant to Section 5.09(e), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of “LIBO Rate” or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including, without limitation, (a) any such alternative, successor or replacement rate implemented pursuant to Section 5.09(b) or (c), whether upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, and (b) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes pursuant to Section 5.09(d)) including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the LIBO Rate or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability.

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 6.01 Effective Date The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit (other than any Existing Specified Letter of Credit) hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 12.02):

 

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(a) The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders shall have received all commitment and agency fees and all other fees and amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder (including, to the extent invoiced at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, the fees and expenses of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to the Administrative Agent).

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or a Responsible Officer of the Credit Parties (for the avoidance of doubt, as used in this Agreement, Credit Parties includes Extraction, Condor Merger Sub 2 and their respective subsidiaries that become Guarantors hereunder) each setting forth resolutions of the members, board of directors or other appropriate governing body with respect to the authorization of the Credit Parties to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the transactions contemplated in those documents, the officers of the Credit Parties who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which the Credit Parties is a party and who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, specimen signatures of such authorized officers, and the limited liability company agreement, the articles or certificate of incorporation and bylaws or other applicable organizational documents of the Credit Parties, certified as being true and complete. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until the Administrative Agent receives notice in writing from the Credit Parties to the contrary.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of the appropriate State agencies with respect to the existence, qualification and good standing of the Credit Parties.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a compliance certificate which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly and properly executed by a Responsible Officer and dated as of the Effective Date and (ii) a certificate of a Financial Officer certifying that the Borrower’s pro forma Leverage Ratio as of June 30, 2021 was less than 1.0:1.0 and demonstrating that the Credit Parties are party to Swap Agreements, in the form of fixed-price swaps and purchased put options or collars, in each case, with prices and terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, covering not less than fifty percent (50%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production from Oil and Gas Properties constituting Proved Developed Producing Reserves as reflected in the Initial Reserve Report for each of crude oil and natural gas, calculated separately, for each calendar month of the twelve (12) calendar month period commencing November 1, 2021.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party hereto counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party.

 

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(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed Revolving Credit Notes payable to each Revolving Credit Lender requesting a Revolving Credit Note (to the extent requested at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Effective Date) in a principal amount equal to its Maximum Credit Amount dated as of the date hereof.

(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party thereto duly executed counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of (i) the Guarantee Agreement and (ii) each Security Instrument described on Exhibit D (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any certificates representing the Equity Interests of the Credit Parties (including Extraction) along with any instruments of transfer and/or undated powers endorsed in blank). In connection with the execution and delivery of the Security Instruments and after giving effect to the Extraction Merger and Crestone Merger, the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied that the Security Instruments create first priority, perfected Liens (subject only to Permitted Liens) on, among other things, at least ninety (90%) of the total value of the Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Initial Reserve Report.

(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received a signed legal opinion of (i) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel to the Credit Parties and (ii) local counsel to the Credit Parties from each State where there is Mortgaged Property, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of insurance coverage of the Credit Parties evidencing that the Credit Parties are carrying insurance in accordance with Section 7.12.

(j) After giving effect to the Extraction Merger and Crestone Merger, the Administrative Agent shall have received title information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require setting forth the status of title to at least ninety percent (90%) of the total value of the Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Initial Reserve Report.

(k) The Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the environmental condition of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties.

(l) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Credit Parties certifying that the Credit Parties have received all consents and approvals required by Section 7.03.

(m) The Administrative Agent shall have received appropriate UCC and other lien search certificates reflecting no prior Liens encumbering the Properties of the Credit Parties for the State of Delaware and any other jurisdiction requested by the Administrative Agent, other than those being assigned or released on or prior to the Effective Date or Permitted Liens.

(n) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the Initial Reserve Report and (ii) one or more certificates covering the matters described in Section 8.12(c) with respect to such Initial Reserve Report.

(o) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received, and be reasonably satisfied in form and substance with, all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including but not restricted to the USA PATRIOT Act, to the extent that

 

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Administrative Agent and/or the Lender have requested such documentation or other information at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date.

(p) No material litigation, arbitration or similar proceeding shall be pending or threatened which calls into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the Transactions.

(q) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the financial statements referred to in Section 7.04(a), (ii) the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, cash flows, and changes in stockholders’ equity and noncontrolling interest of Extraction and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021, (iii) the unaudited condensed consolidated interim balance sheets, statements of operations, cash flows, and changes in stockholders’ equity and noncontrolling interest of Crestone and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021, and (iv) the unaudited condensed combined balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021 after giving effect to the Extraction Merger, the Crestone Merger and the other transactions described therein.

(r) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or a Responsible Officer of the Credit Parties certifying: (i) that attached to such certificate are true, accurate and complete copies of (A) the Extraction Merger Agreement, the “Company Voting Agreement” (as defined in the Extraction Merger Agreement) and all side letters and each other material agreement and assignment (including any assignments and bills of sale) executed and delivered in connection with the Extraction Merger (collectively, the “Extraction Merger Documents”), which Extraction Merger Documents shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (B) the Crestone Merger Agreement, the “Company Support Agreement” (as defined in the Crestone Merger Agreement) and all side letters and each other material agreement and assignment (including any assignments and bills of sale) executed and delivered in connection with the Crestone Merger (collectively, the “Crestone Merger Documents”), which Crestone Merger Documents shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (ii) that substantially concurrently with any Borrowings on the Effective Date, the Borrower is consummating (A) the Extraction Merger substantially in accordance with the terms of the Extraction Merger Documents (without any material waiver or amendment thereof not otherwise approved by the Administrative Agent), (B) the Crestone Merger substantially in accordance with the terms of the Crestone Merger Documents (without any material waiver or amendment thereof not otherwise approved by the Administrative Agent) and (C) the Credit Parties shall, directly or indirectly, own all of the Oil and Gas Properties of Extraction, Crestone and their respective subsidiaries as set forth in the Initial Reserve Report and (iii) that all governmental and third party consents and all equity holder and board of director (or comparable entity management body) authorizations of (A) the Extraction Merger that are conditions to the consummation of the Extraction Merger and (B) the Crestone Merger that are conditions to the consummation of the Crestone Merger, in each case, have been obtained and are in full force and effect.

(s) Substantially concurrently with any Borrowings on the Effective Date, the Extraction Merger and the Crestone Merger shall have been consummated as described in Section 6.01(r)(ii).

 

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(t) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) evidence satisfactory to it (including mortgage releases and UCC-3 financing statement terminations, as applicable) that all Liens on (A) the Equity Interests in Extraction and its subsidiaries and the Properties of Extraction and its subsidiaries and (B) the Equity Interests in Crestone and its subsidiaries and the Properties of Crestone and its subsidiaries, in each case, have been released or terminated subject only to the filing of applicable terminations and releases and Permitted Liens and (ii) a payoff letter and/or termination letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent evidencing that, contemporaneously with the effectiveness of this Agreement and the making of any Loans on the Effective Date, (A)(1) the Credit Agreement dated as of January 20, 2021 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Extraction Credit Agreement”), among Extraction, as borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and an issuing bank, and the lenders party thereto and (2) the Credit Agreement dated as of September 21, 2016 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Crestone Credit Agreement”), among Crestone Peak Resources LLC, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders party thereto, in each case, have been repaid in full, (B) the commitments under the Extraction Credit Agreement and the Crestone Credit Agreement have been terminated, and (C) the liens securing the Debt under the Extraction Credit Agreement and the Crestone Credit Agreement have been released and terminated.

(u) After giving effect to the Transactions on the Effective Date, including the making of any Loans or other extensions of credit on the Effective Date and the consummation of the Extraction Merger and the Crestone Merger, the Commitment Utilization Percentage does not exceed eighty percent (80%).

(v) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of the Borrower’s name change from Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. to Civitas Resources, Inc. and the related UCC-3 financing statement amendment to reflect such change.

(w) The Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents as the Administrative Agent or special counsel to the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

Section 6.02 Each Credit Event The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing (including the initial funding, but excluding a Revolving Credit Borrowing to continue or convert any outstanding Revolving Credit Borrowing), and of the Issuing Banks to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit (but excluding any automatic renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, amendment the sole purpose of which is to extend or renew any Letter of Credit and any Existing Specified Letter of Credit that is deemed to be issued pursuant to Section 2.07(a)) is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions (or waiver in accordance with Section 12.02):

(a) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, (i) no Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) the Consolidated Cash Balance shall not exceed the greater of (A) $75,000,000 or (B) expenditures in respect of the

 

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oil and gas properties of the Borrower permitted hereunder in the ordinary course of business as agreed to by the Administrative Agent at the time of such credit event and subject to the Administrative Agent receiving prior written notice of such request on or prior to the date of delivery of the applicable Revolving Credit Borrowing Request in accordance with Section 2.03 or request for a Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.07(b).

(b) The representations and warranties of the Credit Parties set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (unless already qualified by materiality in which case such applicable representation and warranty shall be true and correct) on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, except to the extent any such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date, in which case, on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, such representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct in all material respects (unless already qualified by materiality in which case such applicable representation and warranty shall be true and correct) as of such specified earlier date.

(c) The making of such Loan or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, would not conflict with, or cause any Lender or any Issuing Bank to violate or exceed, any applicable Governmental Requirement.

(d) The receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Revolving Credit Borrowing Request in accordance with Section 2.03 or a request for a Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.07(b), as applicable.

Each request for a Borrowing and each request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in Section 6.02(a) and (b).

ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

Section 7.01 Organization; Powers Each of the Credit Parties is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite corporate or other organizational power and authority, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary, to own its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where failure to have such licenses, authorizations, consents, approvals and/or qualifications would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.02 Authority; Enforceability The Transactions are within each Credit Party’s corporate, limited liability company or partnership powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership action and, if required, action by any holders of its Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any action required to be taken by any class of directors, managers or supervisors, whether interested or disinterested, as applicable,

 

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of the Credit Parties or any other Person, in order to ensure the due authorization of the Transactions). Each Loan Document to which a Credit Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Credit Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 7.03 Approvals; No Conflicts The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority or any other third Person, nor is any such consent, approval, registration, filing or other action necessary for the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or the consummation of the Transactions, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect other than the recording and filing of the Security Instruments as required by this Agreement and those approvals or consents which, if not made or obtained, would not cause a Default hereunder or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (b) will not violate or result in a default under any Existing Secured Swap Agreement listed on Schedule 1.5, indenture, agreement or other instrument evidencing Material Indebtedness binding upon any Credit Party or any of their respective assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any Credit Party.

Section 7.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

(a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders (i) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, and the audited statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, reported on by Grant Thornton LLP and (ii) the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and related statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021. The financial statements described in the foregoing clause (i) and clause (ii) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

(b) Since December 31, 2020, there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except as listed on Schedule 7.04(c) or as permitted under Section 9.02, no Credit Party has on the date hereof after giving effect to the Transactions, any Material Indebtedness or any off-balance sheet liabilities, liabilities for past due taxes, or any unusual forward or long-term commitments which are, in the aggregate, material to the Credit Parties taken as a whole or material with respect to the Borrower’s consolidated financial condition, required under GAAP to be shown but are not shown in the Borrower’s latest audited consolidated financial statements referred to in Section 7.04(a)(i).

 

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Section 7.05 Litigation Except as set forth on Schedule 7.05, there are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting any Credit Party not fully covered by insurance (except for deductibles) as to which there is a reasonable probability of an adverse determination that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (after taking into account insurance proceeds or other recoveries from third parties actually received).

Section 7.06 Environmental Matters Except for such matters as set forth on Schedule 7.06, or that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and each of their respective Properties and operations thereon are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws;

(b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have obtained all Environmental Permits required for their respective operations and each of their Properties, with all such Environmental Permits being currently in full force and effect, and none of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has received any written notice or otherwise has knowledge that any such existing Environmental Permit will be revoked or that any application for any new Environmental Permit or renewal of any existing Environmental Permit will be denied;

(c) there are no claims, demands, suits, orders, or proceedings concerning any violation of, or any liability (including as a potentially responsible party) under, any applicable Environmental Laws that is pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Properties or as a result of any operations at such Properties that would reasonably be expected to be determined adversely;

(d) none of the Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries contain or, to Borrower’s knowledge, have contained any: underground storage tanks; asbestos-containing materials; landfills or dumps; hazardous waste management units as defined pursuant to RCRA or any comparable state law; or sites on or nominated for the National Priority List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA or any state remedial priority list promulgated or published pursuant to any comparable state law;

(e) there has been no Release or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened Release, of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from any of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Properties, that require, or that would reasonably be expected to result in, any investigation, remediation, abatement, removal, or monitoring of Hazardous Materials under applicable Environmental Laws at such Properties and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, none of such Properties are adversely affected by any Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material originating or emanating from any other real property;

 

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(f) no Credit Party nor its respective Subsidiaries has received any written notice asserting an alleged liability or obligation under any applicable Environmental Laws with respect to the investigation, remediation, abatement, removal, or monitoring of any Hazardous Materials at, under, or Released or threatened to be Released from any real properties offsite the Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Properties and, to the Borrower’s knowledge, there are no conditions or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in the receipt of such written notice;

(g) to the Borrower’s knowledge, there has been no exposure of any Person or Property to any Hazardous Materials as a result of or in connection with the Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ operations of its Properties that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for a claim for damages or compensation; and

(h) to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower has made available to the Administrative Agent complete and correct copies of all non-privileged environmental site assessment reports, and non-privileged studies on material environmental matters (including matters relating to any alleged non-compliance with or liability under Environmental Laws) that are in the Borrower’s possession or control and relating to any of the Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Properties or operations thereon.

 

Section 7.07 Compliance with the Laws and Agreements; No Defaults

(a) Each of the Credit Parties is in compliance with all Governmental Requirements applicable to it or its Property and all agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its Property, and possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, exemptions, approvals and other governmental authorizations necessary for the ownership of its Property and the conduct of its business, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) No Credit Party is in default and no event or circumstance has occurred which, but for the expiration of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default or would require any Credit Party to Redeem or make any offer to Redeem under any indenture, note, credit agreement or instrument pursuant to which any Material Indebtedness is outstanding or by which any Credit Party or any of their Properties is bound.

(c) No Default has occurred and is continuing.

Section 7.08 Investment Company Act No Credit Party is an “investment company” within the meaning of, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 7.09 Taxes Each Credit Party has timely filed or caused to be filed all federal income Tax returns and reports, and all other material 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 Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Credit Party has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP or to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Credit Parties in respect of Taxes and other governmental charges are, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower, adequate. Except for Excepted Liens, (a) no Lien for Taxes has been filed and (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim is being asserted with respect to any such Tax or other such governmental charge.

 

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Section 7.10 ERISA Except for such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) The Credit Parties and each ERISA Affiliate have complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code regarding each Plan.

(b) Each Plan is, and has been, established and maintained in substantial compliance with its terms, ERISA and, where applicable, the Code.

(c) No act, omission or transaction has occurred which could result in imposition on the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i), (l) or (m) of section 502 of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under section 409 of ERISA.

(d) Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which the Credit Parties or any ERISA Affiliate is required under the terms of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as contributions to such Plan as of the date hereof.

(e) No ERISA Event individually or together with any other ERISA Event, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur.

(f) No Credit Party and no ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, with respect to which its sponsorship of, maintenance of or contribution to may not be terminated by the applicable Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate in its sole discretion at any time without any liability other than for benefits due as of, or claims incurred prior to, the effective date of such termination.

Section 7.11 Disclosure; No Material Misstatements The certificates, written statements and reports, and other written information, taken as a whole, furnished by or on behalf of the Credit Parties to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the negotiation of any Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), do not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were or are made, not misleading as of the date such information is dated or certified; provided that (a) to the extent any such certificate, written statement, written report, or written information was based upon or constitutes a forecast or projection, each Credit Party represents only that such certificate, written statement, written report or written information was prepared in good faith based on assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time delivered (it being recognized by the Lenders, however, that projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that 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 Credit Parties make no representation that such projections will be realized) and (b) as to any such written statements, written information and written reports furnished on behalf of the Credit Parties to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by third parties in connection with the negotiation of any Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), the Borrower represents only that it is not aware of any material misstatement or omission therein.

 

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Section 7.12 Insurance The Borrower has, and has caused all of its other Credit Parties to have, all insurance policies sufficient for the compliance by each of them with all material Governmental Requirements and all material agreements and insurance coverage in at least amounts and against such risk (including, without limitation, public liability) that are usually insured against by companies similarly situated and engaged in the same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Credit Parties. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders have been named as additional insured in respect of such liability insurance policies and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, has been named as lender loss payee with respect to Property loss insurance.

Section 7.13 Restriction on Liens No Credit Party is a party to any material agreement or arrangement, or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree, which either restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant Liens to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or in respect of their Properties to secure the Debt and the Loan Documents, or restricts any Credit Party from paying dividends or making any other distributions in respect of its Equity Interests to any other Credit Party, or restricts any Credit Party from making loans or advances to any other Credit Party, or which requires the consent of other Persons in connection therewith, except, in each case, for such encumbrances or restrictions permitted under Section 9.12.

Section 7.14 Subsidiaries Except as set forth on Schedule 7.14 or as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly furnish a copy to the Lenders), which shall be a supplement to Schedule 7.14, the Borrower has no Restricted Subsidiaries. The Borrower has no Foreign Subsidiaries.

Section 7.15 Location of Business and Offices The correct legal name, business address, type of organization and jurisdiction of organization, tax identification number and other relevant identification numbers of the Credit Parties are set forth on Schedule 1.3 hereto (or, in each case, as set forth in a notice delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.01(i) in accordance with Section 12.01).

Section 7.16 Properties; Titles, Etc

(a) Each of the Credit Parties has good and defensible title to their respective Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the most recently delivered Reserve Report and good title to all its material personal Properties, in each case, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens. The Credit Parties own in all material respects the net interests in production attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests as reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report, and the ownership of such Properties shall not in any material respect obligate the Credit Parties to bear the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operations of each such Property in an amount in excess of the working interest of each Property set forth in the most recently delivered Reserve Report that is not offset by at least a corresponding proportionate increase in the Credit Parties’ net revenue interest in such Property.

 

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(b) All leases and agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of the Credit Parties are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect, and no Credit Party is in default beyond all applicable grace or cure periods under any such lease or agreement which default would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The rights and Properties presently owned, leased or licensed by the Credit Parties including, without limitation, all easements and rights of way, include all rights and Properties necessary to permit the Credit Parties to conduct their business in all material respects in the same manner as their business has been conducted in the twelve months prior to the date hereof.

(d) All of the Properties of the Credit Parties which are reasonably necessary for the operation of their businesses are in good working condition, normal wear and tear excepted, and are maintained in accordance with prudent business standards.

(e) Each Credit Party owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents and other intellectual Property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Credit Parties does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Credit Parties either own or have valid licenses or other rights to use all databases, geological data, geophysical data, engineering data, seismic data, maps, interpretations and other technical information used in their businesses as presently conducted, subject to the limitations contained in the agreements governing the use of the same.

Section 7.17 Maintenance of Properties Except for such acts or failures to act as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Oil and Gas Properties (and Properties unitized therewith) of Credit Parties have in all material respects been maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in conformity in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements and in conformity in all material respects with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of the Hydrocarbon Interests and other contracts and agreements forming a part of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties.

Section 7.18 Marketing of Production Except for contracts listed and in effect on the date hereof on Schedule 7.18, and thereafter either disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent or included in the most recently delivered Reserve Report, no material agreements exist which are not cancelable on sixty (60) days’ notice or less without penalty or detriment for the sale of production from the Credit Parties’ Hydrocarbons (including, without limitation, calls on or other rights to purchase, production, whether or not the same are currently being exercised) that pertain to the sale of production at a fixed price and have a maturity or expiry date of longer than six (6) months from the date hereof or the date of such Reserve Report, as applicable.

Section 7.19 Swap Agreements Schedule 7.19, as of the date hereof, and after the date hereof, each report required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.01(e), as of the date of (or as of the date(s) otherwise set forth in) such report, sets forth, a true and complete list of all Swap Agreements of the Credit Parties, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value thereof (as of the last Business Day of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding the Effective Date and for which a mark to market value is reasonably available), all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied) and the counterparty to each such agreement.

 

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Section 7.20 Use of Loans and Letters of Credit The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit shall be used (a) to pay any fees, costs and expenses related to the Transactions, (b) to repay the Debt under the Extraction Credit Agreement and the Crestone Credit Agreement and any fees, costs and expenses in connection with the termination of such credit facilities and (c) for working capital, for lease acquisitions, for exploration and production operations, for development (including the drilling and completion of producing wells), for the payment of fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and for any other general business purposes. The Credit Parties are not engaged principally, or as one of its or their important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Board). No part of the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose which violates the provisions of Regulations T, U or X of the Board.

Section 7.21 Solvency After giving effect to the Transactions (including each Borrowing or issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder), the aggregate assets (after giving effect to amounts that could reasonably be expected to be received by reason of indemnity, offset, insurance or any similar arrangement), at a fair valuation, of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, exceed the aggregate Debt of the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis, the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, have not incurred and do not intend to incur, and do not believe that they have incurred, Debt beyond their ability to pay such Debt (after taking into account the timing and amounts of cash they reasonably expect could be received and the amounts that they reasonably expect could be payable on or in respect of their liabilities, and giving effect to amounts that that could reasonably be expected to be received by reason of indemnity, offset, insurance or any similar arrangement) as such Debt becomes absolute and matures and the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, do not have (and do not have reason to believe that it will have thereafter) unreasonably small capital for the conduct of their business.

Section 7.22 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and to the knowledge of the Borrower its employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any its Subsidiaries that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by the Credit Agreement will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

Section 7.23 Affected Financial Institutions No Credit Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

 

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Section 7.24 Security Instruments 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 security interest in the Mortgaged Property and Collateral and proceeds thereof, as applicable. Subject to the proviso to Section 8.18, the Secured Obligations are secured by legal, valid and enforceable first priority perfected Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, covering and encumbering (a) the Mortgaged Property and (b) the Collateral granted pursuant to the Security Agreement, including the pledged Equity Interests and the Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts, in each case to the extent perfection has occurred, as the case may be, by the recording of a mortgage, the filing of a UCC financing statement, or, in the case of Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts, by obtaining of “control” or, with respect to Equity Interests represented by certificates, by possession (in each case, to the extent applicable in the applicable jurisdiction); provided that, except in the case of pledged Equity Interests, Permitted Liens may exist.

Section 7.25 Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. No Credit Party or any of its respective Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations), and neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

ARTICLE VIII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder and all other amounts payable under the Loan Documents shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 8.01 Financial Statements; Other Information The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) Annual Financial Statements. Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, members’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries 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 independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than a “going concern” or like qualification or exception that is solely as a result of the Loans maturing within the next 365 days) 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 Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

 

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(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. Within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2021, the consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, members’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries 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 one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower 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.

(c) Certificate of Financial Officer — Compliance. Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) or Section 8.01(b), a compliance certificate of a Financial Officer in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto certifying as to whether a Default then exists and, if a Default then exists, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 9.01, and stating whether any change in the application of GAAP to the Borrower’s financial statements has been made since the preparation of the Borrower’s audited annual financial statements most recently delivered under Section 8.01(a) (or, if no such audited financial statements have yet been delivered, since the preparation of the Financial Statements) and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate.

(d) Certificate of Financial Officer — Consolidated Subsidiaries. If, at any time, all of the Consolidated Subsidiaries of the Borrower are not Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, then concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) or Section 8.01(b), a certificate of a Financial Officer setting forth consolidating spreadsheets that show all Consolidated Unrestricted Subsidiaries and the eliminating entries, in such form as would be presentable to the auditors of the Borrower.

(e) Certificate of Financial Officer — Swap Agreements. Concurrently with each delivery of a Reserve Report pursuant to Section 8.12(a), a certificate of a Financial Officer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, setting forth as of the last Business Day of the most recently ended fiscal year or period, as applicable, (i) a true and complete list of all Swap Agreements of the Credit Parties, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark-to-market value therefor (as of the last Business Day of such fiscal year or period, as applicable and for which a mark-to-market value is reasonably available), any new credit support agreements relating thereto not listed on Schedule 7.19, any margin required or supplied under any credit support document, and the counterparty to each such agreement and (ii) the aggregate projected production from Oil and Gas Properties for the forthcoming five-year period.

(f) Certificate of Insurer — Insurance Coverage. On or prior to the date that is thirty (30) days after the renewal of the applicable policies, one or more certificates of insurance coverage from the Credit Parties’ insurance broker or insurers with respect to the insurance required by Section 8.07, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, copies of the applicable policies.

 

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(g) SEC and Other Filings; Reports to Shareholders. To the extent not readily available on a public web site or on an intranet web site to which the Administrative Agent has access, then promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by any Credit Party with the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(a), Section 8.01(b), and this Section 8.01(g) may be delivered electronically and shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Borrower posts such documents to EDGAR (or such other free, publicly accessible internet database that may be established and maintained by the SEC as a substitute for or successor to EDGAR).

(h) Notices Under Material Instruments. Promptly after any Credit Party’s receipt thereof, copies of any notice of default received by such Credit Party pursuant to any Material Indebtedness, and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other provision of this Section 8.01.

(i) Information Regarding Borrower and Guarantors. Prompt written notice (and in any event within five (5) Business Days subsequent thereto) of any change in any Credit Party’s corporate name, in the location of any Credit Party’s chief executive office, in the Credit Party’s identity or corporate, limited liability company or partnership structure or in the jurisdiction in which such Person is incorporated or formed, in the Credit Party’s jurisdiction of organization or such Person’s organizational identification number in such jurisdiction of organization, and in the Credit Party’s federal taxpayer identification number.

(j) Production Report and Lease Operating Statements. Concurrently with the delivery of each Reserve Report under Section 8.12(a), a report setting forth, for each calendar month during the then current fiscal year to date, the volume of production and sales attributable to production (and the prices at which such sales were made and the revenues derived from such sales) for each such calendar month from the Oil and Gas Properties set forth in such Reserve Report, setting forth the related ad valorem, severance and production taxes and lease operating expenses attributable thereto and incurred for each such calendar month, and setting forth the drilling and operations for each such calendar month.

(k) Notices of Certain Changes. Promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days after the execution thereof, copies of any material amendment, modification or supplement to the certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, articles of incorporation, by-laws, any preferred stock designation or any other organic document of any Credit Party, in each case to the extent not delivered (or deemed delivered) pursuant to Section 8.01(g).

(l) Cash Flow Forecast. Concurrently with the delivery of each Reserve Report under Section 8.12(a) as of (i) November 30, 2021 and (ii) thereafter, December 31 and June 30 of each year, a copy of the plan and forecast (including a projected consolidated balance sheet, income statement and funds flow statement) of the Borrower for each fiscal quarter for the forthcoming four quarter period after such date in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(m) Other Requested Information. Promptly following any reasonable request therefor, (i) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Credit Parties (including any Plan and any reports or other information required to be filed with respect thereto under the Code or under ERISA), or compliance with the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request, (ii) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations including the USA PATRIOT Act and (iii) to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and any Lender has requested a Beneficial Ownership Certification in a written notice to the Borrower, a Beneficial Ownership Certification.

(n) Certificate of Financial Officer — Available Free Cash Flow Amount. Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(b) and within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate of a Financial Officer in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (i) setting forth (A) in the case of the certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 8.01(n) with the financial statements under Section 8.01(b) for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2021, Free Cash Flow in an amount to $550,000,000 and (B) thereafter, detailed calculations of Free Cash Flow (or Specified Free Cash Flow in the case of the Rolling Periods ending December 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022) for the most recently ended Rolling Period (including, with respect to each fiscal quarter ending December 31 of each year, unaudited financial statements necessary to support such calculations) and (ii) certifying as to (and specifying in reasonable detail) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made in reliance on Section 9.04(e), Investments made in reliance on Section 9.05(l) and Redemptions made in reliance on Section 9.15(b)(iv) during the period of three (or fewer, if applicable) consecutive Free Cash Flow Usage Periods that is ending with the delivery of such certificate.

(o) Certificate of Financial Officer — Swap Agreement Compliance. Within five (5) Business Days following each Specified Swap Test Date, a certificate of a Financial Officer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, setting forth (i) the Leverage Ratio as of the Applicable Leverage Ratio Test Date with respect to such Specified Swap Test Date (which calculation of such Leverage Ratio shall be based on the financial statements for such year-end or quarter ending on such Applicable Leverage Ratio Test Date delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(a) or Section 8.01(b), as applicable) and (ii) that the Credit Parties are in compliance with Section 8.19 as of such Specified Swap Test Date and providing supporting information reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance with Section 8.19.

 

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Section 8.02 Notices of Material Events The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

(b) the filing or commencement of, or the threat in writing of, any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not previously disclosed in writing to the Lenders or any material adverse development in any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration (whether or not previously disclosed to the Lenders) that, in either case, is reasonably likely to be adversely determined, and if so determined, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that results in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect;

(d) any change in the information provided in a Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to any Lender (if any) that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification; and

(e) any other development that results in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section 8.02 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

Section 8.03 Existence; Conduct of Business The Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect (a) its legal existence as a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof and (b) the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business and maintain, if necessary, its qualification to do business in each other jurisdiction in which its Oil and Gas Properties is located or the ownership of its Properties requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 9.08.

Section 8.04 Payment of Obligations The Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities of the Credit Parties, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and such Credit Parties have set aside on their books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and the failure to make payment pending such contest would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or result in the seizure or levy of any Property of any Credit Party.

Section 8.05 Performance of Obligations under Loan Documents The Borrower will pay the Loans in accordance with the terms hereof, and the Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, do and perform every act and discharge all of the obligations to be performed and discharged by them under the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, this Agreement, at the time or times and in the manner specified.

 

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Section 8.06 Operation and Maintenance of Properties The Borrower, at its own expense, will, and will cause each other Credit Party to:

(a) operate its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties or, if it is not the operator thereof, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties to be operated, in a careful and efficient manner in accordance with the generally accepted practices of the industry and in compliance in all material respects with all applicable contracts and agreements, except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) keep and maintain all Property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and preserve, maintain and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency (ordinary wear and tear and depletion excepted) all of its Oil and Gas Properties, except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) promptly pay and discharge, or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be paid and discharged, all delay rentals, royalties, expenses and indebtedness accruing under the leases or other agreements affecting or pertaining to its Oil and Gas Properties and do all other things necessary to keep unimpaired their rights with respect thereto and prevent any forfeiture thereof or default by the Credit Parties thereunder, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) promptly perform or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with customary industry standards, the obligations required by the assignments, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties, except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) to the extent the Borrower is not the operator of any Property, the Credit Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the operator to comply with this Section 8.06.

Section 8.07 Insurance The Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be named as additional insured in respect of such liability insurance policies, and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, shall be named as lender loss payee with respect to Property loss insurance covering Collateral and such policies shall provide that the Administrative Agent shall receive thirty (30) days’ notice of cancellation or non-renewal.

Section 8.08 Books and Records; Inspection Rights The Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, keep books of record and account in conformity with GAAP. The Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or Majority Lenders, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its Properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs,

 

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finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as reasonably requested and at the sole expense of the Borrower; provided, however, unless an Event of Default then exists and is continuing, not more than one such inspection per calendar year shall be at the expense of the Borrower.

Section 8.09 Compliance with Laws The Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by itself, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

Section 8.10 Environmental Matters

(a) The Borrower shall at its sole expense: comply, cause each of its Subsidiaries and each such Subsidiary’s Properties and operations to comply or, if it is not the operator thereof, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Properties and operations to comply, with all applicable Environmental Laws, the breach of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; not Release or threaten to Release, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries not to Release or threaten to Release, any Hazardous Material on, under, about or from any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Properties or any other property offsite the Property to the extent caused by its or any of its Subsidiaries’ operations except in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, the Release or threatened Release of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; timely obtain or file, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to timely obtain or file, all Environmental Permits, if any, required under applicable Environmental Laws to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of its Subsidiaries’ Properties, which failure to obtain or file would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; promptly commence and diligently prosecute to completion, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to promptly commence and diligently prosecute to completion, any assessment, evaluation, investigation, monitoring, containment, cleanup, removal, repair, restoration, remediation or other remedial obligations (collectively, the “Remedial Work”) in the event any Remedial Work is required under applicable Environmental Laws because of or in connection with the actual or suspected past, present or future Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material on, under, about or from any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Properties, which failure to commence and diligently prosecute to completion would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; conduct, and cause its Subsidiaries to conduct, their respective operations and businesses in a manner that will not expose any Property or Person to Hazardous Materials that would reasonably be expected to cause the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to owe material damages or compensation; and establish and implement, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to establish and implement, such procedures as may be necessary to determine and assure that the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ obligations under this Section 8.10(a) are timely and fully satisfied, which failure to establish and implement would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) If Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries receives written notice of any action or, investigation by any Governmental Authority or any threatened demand or lawsuit by any

 

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Person against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their Properties, in each case in connection with any Environmental Laws, the Borrower will within fifteen (15) days after any Responsible Officer learns thereof give written notice of the same to Administrative Agent if the Borrower would reasonably anticipate that such action will result in liability (whether individually or in the aggregate) in excess of $4,000,000, not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles.

Section 8.11 Further Assurances

(a) The Borrower at its sole expense will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent all such other documents, agreements and instruments reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to comply with, cure any defects or accomplish the covenants and agreements of any Credit Party, as the case may be, in the Loan Documents, including the Notes, or to further evidence and more fully describe the collateral intended as security for the Obligations, or to correct any omissions in this Agreement or the Security Instruments, or to state more fully the obligations secured therein, or to perfect, protect or preserve any Liens created pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Security Instruments or the priority thereof, or to make any recordings, file any notices or obtain any consents, all as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate, in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent, in connection therewith.

(b) The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file one or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relative to all or any part of the Mortgaged Property without the signature of any Credit Party where permitted by law. A carbon, photographic or other reproduction of the Security Instruments or any financing statement covering the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by law.

Section 8.12 Reserve Reports

(a) On or before (i) March 1, 2022, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders a Reserve Report evaluating the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the immediately preceding November 30, 2021 and (ii) commencing October 1, 2022, April 1 and October 1 of each year, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders a Reserve Report evaluating the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the immediately preceding December 31 or June 30, respectively. The Reserve Report as of December 31 of each year shall be prepared or audited by one or more Approved Petroleum Engineers, and the Reserve Report as of June 30 of each year shall be prepared either by Approved Petroleum Engineers or by Borrower’s internal reserve engineering staff, which shall certify such Reserve Report to be true and accurate in all material respects (with appropriate exceptions for projections and cost estimates) and to have been prepared in accordance with the procedures used in the immediately preceding December 31 Reserve Report.

 

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(b) In the event of an Interim Redetermination, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders a Reserve Report prepared by Borrower’s internal reserve engineering staff, which shall certify such Reserve Report to be true and accurate in all material respects (with appropriate exceptions for projections and cost estimates) and to have been prepared in accordance with the procedures used in the immediately preceding December 31 Reserve Report. For any Interim Redetermination requested by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.06(b), the Borrower shall provide such Reserve Report with an “as of” date as required by the Administrative Agent as soon as possible, but in any event no later than thirty (30) days following the receipt of such request.

(c) With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders a certificate from a Responsible Officer (i) certifying that (A) the information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information delivered in connection therewith is true and correct, (B) each Credit Party owns good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report and such Properties are free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens, (C) except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, there are no Material Gas Imbalances with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report, (D) none of their Proved Oil and Gas Properties have been sold since the date of the last Borrowing Base determination except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, which certificate shall list all such Oil and Gas Properties sold and attached thereto is a schedule of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that are Mortgaged Properties and (E) attached thereto is a list of all marketing agreements entered into subsequent to the later of the date hereof or the most recently delivered certificate delivered under this Section 8.12(c) which the Borrower would reasonably be expected to have been obligated to list on Schedule 7.18 had such agreement been in effect on the date hereof and (ii) demonstrating the percentage of the total value of the Proved Oil and Gas Properties that the value of such Mortgaged Properties represents in compliance with Section 8.14(a).

Section 8.13 Title Information

(a) Within thirty (30) days after the delivery to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders of each Reserve Report required by Section 8.12(a), the Borrower will deliver title information in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent covering enough of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that were not included in the immediately preceding Reserve Report, so that the Administrative Agent shall have received together with title information previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, reasonably satisfactory title information on at least (i) ninety percent (90%) of the total value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report and (ii) ninety percent (90%) of the total value of the Oil and Gas Properties that are classified as proved developed nonproducing reserves and proved developed producing reserves evaluated by such Reserve Report.

(b) If the Borrower has provided title information for additional Properties under Section 8.13(a), the Borrower shall, within sixty (60) days after notice from the Administrative Agent that title defects or exceptions exist with respect to such additional Properties, either (i) cure any such title defects or exceptions (including defects or exceptions as to priority) which are not Permitted Liens raised by such information, (ii) substitute acceptable Mortgaged Properties with no title defects or exceptions except for Excepted Liens (other than Excepted Liens described in clauses (e) and (j) of such definition) having an aggregate equivalent value or (iii) deliver title information in form and substance reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent so that the Administrative Agent shall have received, together with title information previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, satisfactory title information to comply with Section 8.13(a).

 

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(c) If the Borrower is unable to cure any title defect requested by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to be cured within the 60-day period or the Borrower does not comply with the requirements to provide reasonably acceptable title information provided for in Section 8.13(a), such default shall not be a Default or Event of Default, but instead the Administrative Agent and/or the Required Lenders shall have the right to exercise the following remedy in their sole discretion from time to time, and any failure to so exercise this remedy at any time shall not be a waiver as to future exercise of the remedy by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders: such unacceptable Mortgaged Property shall not count towards the requirement provided for in Section 8.13(a), and the Administrative Agent may send a notice to the Borrower and the Lenders that the then outstanding Borrowing Base shall be reduced by an amount as determined by the Required Lenders to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the requirement to provide acceptable title information as required in Section 8.13(a). This new Borrowing Base shall become effective immediately after receipt of such notice.

Section 8.14 Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors

(a) In connection with each redetermination of the Borrowing Base, the Borrower shall review the Reserve Report and the list of current Mortgaged Properties (as described in Section 8.12(c)) to ascertain whether the Mortgaged Properties represent at least ninety percent (90%) of the total value of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the most recently completed Reserve Report after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, dispositions and production. In the event that the Mortgaged Properties do not represent at least ninety percent (90%) of such total value as determined by the Administrative Agent, then the Borrower shall, or shall cause one or more of the other Credit Parties to, grant, within thirty (30) days after delivery of the certificate required under Section 8.12(c), to the Administrative Agent as security for the Obligations, Security Instruments covering additional Oil and Gas Properties not already subject to a Lien of the Security Instruments such that after giving effect thereto, the Mortgaged Properties will represent at least ninety percent (90%) of such total value. All such Liens will be created and perfected by and in accordance with the provisions of deeds of trust, security agreements and financing statements or other Security Instruments, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in sufficient executed (and acknowledged where necessary or appropriate) counterparts for recording purposes. If any Subsidiary of the Borrower places a Lien on its Oil and Gas Properties in order to comply with the foregoing, and such Subsidiary is not a Guarantor, then it shall become a Guarantor and comply with Section 8.14(b).

(b) The Borrower shall promptly cause each Domestic Subsidiary that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary to Guarantee the Obligations pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement. In connection with any such Guarantee, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Subsidiary to, promptly, but in any event no later than thirty (30) days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) after the formation or acquisition (or other similar event) of such Subsidiary to, execute and deliver (i) a supplement to the Guarantee Agreement executed by such Subsidiary, (ii) a supplement executed by such Subsidiary to the Security Agreement executed by the Credit Parties on the Effective Date, (iii) a pledge all of the Equity

 

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Interests of such Subsidiary (including, without limitation, delivery of original stock certificates evidencing the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary, together with an appropriate undated stock powers for each certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof) and (iv) such other additional closing documents, certificates and legal opinions as shall reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.15 ERISA Compliance The Borrower will promptly furnish and will cause its Subsidiaries and any ERISA Affiliate to promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent promptly after request therefor by the Administrative Agent, copies of each annual and other report with respect to each Plan or any trust created thereunder, and promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence of any “prohibited transaction,” as described in section 406 of ERISA or in section 4975 of the Code for which no exception exists or is available by statute, regulation, administrative exemption, or otherwise, in connection with any Plan or any trust created thereunder, a written notice signed by the President or the principal Financial Officer, such Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate, as the case may be, specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower, such Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known, any action taken or proposed by the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor with respect thereto.

Section 8.16 Marketing Activities The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in marketing activities for any Hydrocarbons or enter into any contracts related thereto other than 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, 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 Credit Parties that any Credit Party has the right to market pursuant to joint operating agreements, unitization agreements or other similar contracts that are usual and customary in the oil and gas business and 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 8.17 Unrestricted Subsidiaries

(a) Unless designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 8.17(b), any Person that becomes a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be classified as a Restricted Subsidiary.

(b) The Borrower may designate by written notification thereof to the Administrative Agent, any Person that would otherwise be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, including a newly formed or newly acquired Person that would otherwise be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if (i) prior, and after giving effect, to such designation, neither a Default nor a Borrowing Base Deficiency would exist, (ii) such Person does not own or operate any Oil and Gas Properties included in the most recently delivered Reserve Report for which a Borrowing Base has been established, other than Oil and Gas Properties permitted to be sold or otherwise transferred pursuant to Section 9.10 (which shall

 

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count as a Transfer thereunder), (iii) such Person is not a guarantor or the primary obligor with respect to any Permitted Additional Debt or any Permitted Refinancing thereof unless such Person will be released contemporaneously with such designation, (iv) such Person is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Borrower or any Subsidiary unless the terms of such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are permitted by Section 9.11, (v) such designation is deemed to be an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary and such Investment would be permitted to be made under Section 9.05(k) and (vi) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that such designation complies with the requirements of this Section 8.17(b). For purposes of the foregoing, the designation of a Person as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the designation of all present and future subsidiaries of such Person as Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Except as provided in this Section 8.17(b), no Restricted Subsidiary may be redesignated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower may designate any Subsidiary that directly owns Qualified Midstream Assets as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the requirements of this Section 8.17(b).

(c) The Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if after giving effect to such designation, (i) the representations and warranties of the Credit Parties contained in each of the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date as if made on and as of the date of such designation (or, if stated to have been made expressly as of an earlier date, were true and correct in all material respects as of such date), (ii) no Default would exist and (iii) the Borrower complies with the requirements of Section 8.14, Section 8.18 and Section 9.11.

(d) The Borrower will cause the management, business and affairs of each Credit Party to be conducted in such a manner (including, without limitation, by keeping separate books of account, furnishing separate financial statements of Unrestricted Subsidiaries to creditors and potential creditors thereof and by not permitting Properties of the Credit Parties to be commingled) so that each Unrestricted Subsidiary will be treated as an entity separate and distinct from Credit Parties;

(e) The Borrower will cause each Unrestricted Subsidiary (i) to refrain from maintaining its assets in such a manner that would make it costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or identify as its individual assets from those of any other Credit Party and (ii) to observe all corporate formalities;

(f) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Credit Party to, incur, assume, guarantee or be or become liable for any Debt of any of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries except to the extent permitted by this Agreement;

(g) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Credit Party to, permit any credit agreement for a senior credit facility, a loan agreement for a senior credit facility, a note purchase agreement for the sale of promissory notes or an indenture governing capital markets debt instruments pursuant to which any Credit Party is a borrower, issuer or guarantor (the “Relevant Debt”), the terms of which would, upon the occurrence of a default under any Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (i) result in, or permit the holder of any Relevant Debt to declare a default on such Relevant Debt or (ii) cause the payment of any Relevant Debt to be accelerated or payable before the fixed date on which the principal of such Relevant Debt is due and payable; and

 

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(h) The Borrower will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to hold any Equity Interest in, or any Debt of, any Credit Party.

Section 8.18 Account Control Agreements The Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, in connection with any Deposit Account, Securities Account and/or Commodities Account (other than an Excluded Account for so long as it is an Excluded Account) established, held or maintained on or after the Effective Date, substantially contemporaneously with the opening of such Deposit Account, Securities Account and/or Commodities Account (or at such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree to in its sole discretion), cause such Deposit Account, Securities Account and/or Commodities Account to be subject to a Control Agreement; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and/or Commodities Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) in existence on the Effective Date, the Borrower shall not be required to comply with this Section 8.18 until the date that is forty-five (45) days following the Effective Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion). In addition, the Borrower will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, maintain and hold Deposit Accounts (other than an Excluded Account for so long as it is an Excluded Account) only with Lenders or Affiliates of Lenders.

Section 8.19 Swap Agreements. Commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021, the last day of each fiscal quarter (each such date, a “Specified Swap Test Date”), the Credit Parties shall be party to Swap Agreements, in the form of fixed-price swaps and purchased put options or collars, in each case, with prices and terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, covering not less than fifty percent (50%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production from Oil and Gas Properties constituting Proved Developed Producing Reserves (as reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report prior to such Specified Swap Test Date) for each of crude oil and natural gas, calculated separately, (i) if the Leverage Ratio is less than 1.0 to 1.0 as of the Applicable Leverage Ratio Test Date, for each calendar month of the twelve (12) calendar month period commencing with the calendar month immediately following such Specified Swap Test Date or (ii) if the Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 1.0 to 1.0 as of the Applicable Leverage Ratio Test Date, for each calendar month of the twenty-four (24) calendar month period commencing with the calendar month immediately following such Specified Swap Test Date. The Borrower shall not unwind, terminate or enter into any off-setting positions to the hedges required under this Section 8.19 except to the extent necessary to comply with Section 9.14 or in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 9.10(e). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of Section 8.19, the Leverage Ratio as of September 30, 2021 shall be deemed to be less than 1.0 to 1.0.

ARTICLE IX

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder and all other amounts payable under the Loan Documents have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

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Section 9.01 Financial Covenants

(a) Current Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Current Ratio, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021, to be less than 1.0 to 1.0.

(b) Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Leverage Ratio to be greater than 3.0 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021.

Section 9.02 Debt The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Debt, except:

(a) the Notes or other Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, or Cash Management Agreements or the Secured Swap Agreements;

(b) Debt under Capital Leases or that constitutes Purchase Money Indebtedness; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Debt described in this Section 9.02(b) at the time incurred (after giving effect to such incurrence) shall not exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base;

(c) intercompany Debt between the Borrower and any other Credit Party or between Credit Parties; provided that such Debt is not held, assigned, transferred, negotiated or pledged to any Person other than a Credit Party; and, provided further, that any such Debt owed by a Credit Party shall be subordinated to the Obligations on terms set forth in the Guarantee Agreement;

(d) Debt constituting a Guarantee by a Credit Party of the Obligations;

(e) other Debt not to exceed in the aggregate at the time incurred (after giving effect to such incurrence) the greater of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base;

(f) Debt in respect of the 7.50% Senior Notes, the 5.00% Senior Notes and any other additional secured or unsecured Debt; provided that, (i) no Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency exists at the time of the incurrence of such Debt or would result therefrom (including, with respect to the incurrence of any such Debt after the Effective Date, after giving effect to any automatic reduction of the Borrowing Base and any concurrent repayment required pursuant to Section 2.06(e)), (ii) after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Debt and any concurrent repayments, (x) the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 2.50 to 1.00 and (y) the Current Ratio is not less than 1.0 to 1.0, (iii) such Debt does not require any scheduled amortization of principal or have a maturity date prior to one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date at the time of the incurrence of such Debt, (iv) the covenants and events of default contained in the documentation governing such Debt are (A) in the case of financial covenants, not more restrictive than the financial covenants of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (B) in the case of other covenants and events of default, taken as a whole, not more restrictive than the corresponding terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in each case as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower, (v) the documents governing such Debt do

 

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not contain any mandatory prepayment or Redemption provisions (other than customary change of control or asset sale tender offer provisions) which would require a mandatory prepayment or Redemption of such Debt in priority to the Loans, (vi) such Debt does not prohibit prior repayment of the Obligations and (vii) if such Debt is secured, (A) an Intercreditor Agreement shall have been entered into with respect to such Debt and (B) there shall be no Lien on the assets of any Credit Party securing any such Debt if the same assets are not subject to a Lien securing the Obligations;

(g) Debt which constitutes a Permitted Refinancing of Debt outstanding or incurred under Section 9.02(f);

(h) Debt incurred or deposits made by the Credit Parties (i) under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, (ii) in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Debt) or leases to which such Credit Party is a party, (iii) to secure public or statutory obligations of such Credit Party, and (iv) of cash or U.S. government securities made to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds to which such Credit Party is a party in connection with the operation of the Hydrocarbon Interests in the ordinary course of business; and

(i) Debt of any Credit Party assumed in connection with any acquisition permitted by Section 9.05 so long as such Debt is not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, and any Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided that after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and the assumption of such Debt, (i) the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 2.50 to 1.00 and (ii) the Current Ratio is not less than 1.0 to 1.0.

Section 9.03 Liens The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired), except:

(a) Liens securing the payment of any Obligations;

(b) Excepted Liens;

(c) Liens securing Capital Leases and Purchase Money Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.02(b) but only on the Property under lease or the Property purchased with such Purchase Money Indebtedness;

(d) Liens on escrowed proceeds for the benefit of the related holders of debt securities or other Debt (or the underwriters or arrangers thereof) or on cash set aside at the time of the incurrence of any Debt purchased with such cash, in either case to the extent such cash prefunds the payment of interest on such Debt and is held in an escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose;

(e) Liens on Property not constituting Hydrocarbon Interests and not otherwise permitted by this Section 9.03; provided that the aggregate principal or face amount of all Debt secured by such Liens pursuant to this Section 9.03(e), and the fair market value of the Properties subject to such Liens (determined as of the date such Liens are incurred), shall not exceed $25,000,000 at any time;

 

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(f) Liens to secure Debt permitted under Section 9.02(i); provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Debt secured by such Liens pursuant to this Section 9.03(f) shall not exceed $30,000,000 at any time, (ii) such Liens attach at all times only to the assets acquired pursuant to such acquisition and (iii) such Liens shall not encumber any Oil and Gas Properties;

(g) Liens on any deposits made in connection with any Investment permitted by Section 9.05; and

(h) Liens securing Permitted Additional Debt permitted under Section 9.02(f).

Section 9.04 Restricted Payments The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly (collectively in this section, “make”), any Restricted Payment except:

(a) any Credit Party may make Restricted Payments to any other Credit Party;

(b) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in additional membership interests or shares of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock);

(c) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of any Credit Party in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,500,000 in any fiscal year;

(d) any Credit Party may make a Restricted Payment not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.04, provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, and (ii) after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, (A) the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 1.0 to 1.0 and (B) the Commitment Utilization Percentage does not exceed seventy-five percent (75%); and

(e) any Credit Party may make a Restricted Payment not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.04 in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available Free Cash Flow Amount at the time made, provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, and (ii) after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, (A) the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 2.25 to 1.0 and (B) the Commitment Utilization Percentage does not exceed eighty percent (80%).

Section 9.05 Investments, Loans and Advances The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, make or permit to remain outstanding any Investments in or to any Person, except that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

(a) Investments reflected in the Financial Statements or disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 9.05;

(b) accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(c) direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof, or obligations guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof, in each case maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof;

(d) commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof rated in the highest grade by S&P or Moody’s;

(e) demand deposits, and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of creation thereof, with, or issued by any Lender or any office located in the United States of any other bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least $100,000,000 (as of the date of such bank or trust company’s most recent financial reports) and has a short term deposit rating of no lower than A2 or P2, as such rating is set forth from time to time by S&P or Moody’s, respectively;

(f) deposits in money market funds investing exclusively in Investments described in Section 9.05(c), Section 9.05(d) or Section 9.05(e);

(g) Investments made by any Credit Party in or to any other Credit Party;

(h) Investments in stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts arising from Investments permitted under this Section 9.05 owing to any Credit Party as a result of a bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding of the obligor in respect of such obligations or upon the enforcement of such obligations or of any Lien securing such obligations; provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prompt written notice in the event that the aggregate amount of all Investments held at any one time under this Section 9.05(h) exceeds $2,000,000;

(i) Investments constituting Debt permitted under Section 9.02(c);

(j) Guarantees constituting Debt permitted by Section 9.02;

(k) Investments not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.05; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, and (ii) after giving pro forma effect to such Investment, (A) the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 1.0 to 1.0 and (B) the Commitment Utilization Percentage does not exceed seventy-five percent (75%);

(l) Investments not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.05 in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available Free Cash Flow Amount at the time made; provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, and (ii) after giving pro forma effect to such Investment, (A) the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 2.25 to 1.0 and (B) the Commitment Utilization Percentage does not exceed eighty percent (80%); and

(m) The consummation of the Extraction Merger and the Crestone Merger, in each case, on the Effective Date.

 

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Section 9.06 Nature of Business The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, allow any material change to be made in the character of their business, taken as a whole, as an independent oil and gas exploration and production company.

Section 9.07 Proceeds of Loans

(a) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, permit the proceeds of the Loans to be used for any purpose other than those permitted by Section 7.20. No Credit Party or any Person acting on behalf of any Credit Party has taken or will take any action which might cause any of the Loan Documents to violate Regulations T, U or X or any other regulation of the Board or to violate section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation thereunder, in each case as now in effect or as the same may hereinafter be in effect. If requested by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 or such other form referred to in Regulation U, Regulation T or Regulation X of the Board, as the case may be.

(b) The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and no Credit Party shall use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, except to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

Section 9.08 Mergers, Etc The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, divide or merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its Property to any other Person (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) (any such transaction, a “consolidation”), or liquidate or dissolve; provided that, so long as no Default has occurred and is then continuing, (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may participate in a consolidation with the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the survivor), (b) any Restricted Subsidiary may participate in a consolidation with any other Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Restricted Subsidiary, (c) any Restricted Subsidiary may dispose of its assets to the Borrower or to another Restricted Subsidiary and (d) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.08, the Credit Parties may consummate the Extraction Merger and the Crestone Merger, in each case, on the Effective Date.

Section 9.09 Sale or Discount of Receivables Except for receivables obtained by any Credit Party out of the ordinary course of business or the settlement of joint interest billing accounts in the ordinary course of business or discounts granted to settle collection of accounts receivable or the sale of defaulted accounts arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and not in connection with any financing transaction, the Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, enter into an agreement with any Person to securitize any of its notes receivable or accounts receivable.

 

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Section 9.10 Sale of Properties The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, sell, assign, farm-out, convey or otherwise transfer (collectively in this section, “Transfer”) any Oil and Gas Property or any interest in Hydrocarbons produced or to be produced therefrom or any Equity Interest in any Credit Party that owns any Oil and Gas Property, commodity Swap Agreement or any interest in Hydrocarbons produced or to be produced therefrom (in this section, an “E&P Credit Party”) or unwind or terminate any commodity Swap Agreements, except for:

(a) the sale of Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business;

(b) farmouts, swaps or trades of undeveloped acreage not included in the most recently delivered Reserve Report and assignments in connection with such farmouts, swaps or trades;

(c) the Transfer of equipment that is no longer necessary for the business of the Borrower or such other Credit Party or is replaced by equipment of at least comparable value or use;

(d) Transfers of Oil and Gas Properties that are not Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Reserve Report used in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base;

(e) (i) Transfers of Oil and Gas Properties that comprise Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Reserve Report used in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base, provided that such Transfers are for fair market value, (ii) the unwinding or termination of commodity Swap Agreements; or (iii) Transfers of all (but not less than all) of the Equity Interests collectively owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in any E&P Credit Party; provided that in the case of clause (i) or (ii) above, except with respect to any novation or replacement, as applicable, contemplated by the final proviso of this Section 9.10(e), at least seventy-five percent (75%) (or such greater percentage as may be required to eliminate any resulting Borrowing Base Deficiency) of the consideration received in respect of such sale or other disposition or unwinding or termination, as applicable, shall be cash or cash equivalents; provided, further, that to the extent that, if during any period commencing with the later of the most recent Scheduled Redetermination Date or the most recent adjustment to the Borrowing Base pursuant to this Section 9.10 through the next Scheduled Redetermination Date, Oil and Gas Properties and commodity Swap Agreements with an aggregate Borrowing Base value in excess of five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base value of all Oil and Gas Properties included in the Borrowing Base of the Credit Parties (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent), are Transferred or unwound or terminated, as applicable, by any one or more Credit Parties pursuant to this Section 9.10(e), then the Borrowing Base will be reduced, effective immediately, by the Borrowing Base values in excess of such five percent (5%) threshold; provided, further, that for purposes of the foregoing proviso, (A) a commodity Swap Agreement shall be deemed to have not been unwound or terminated if, (x) such commodity Swap Agreement is novated from the existing counterparty to

 

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an Approved Counterparty, with the Borrower or the applicable Credit Party being the “remaining party” for purposes of such novation, or (y) upon its termination or unwinding, it is replaced, in a substantially contemporaneous transaction, with one or more commodity Swap Agreements with the same or longer tenor, covering volumes not less than and for prices not less than those Swap Agreements being replaced and without cash payments to any Credit Party in connection therewith, and (B) an Oil and Gas Property shall be deemed to have not been Transferred if upon its Transfer, it is replaced, in a substantially contemporaneous transaction, with Oil and Gas Properties with approximately the same PV-9 value as reasonably determined by Borrower in good faith and evidenced by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a certificate of a Responsible Officer containing reasonably detailed supporting information for such good faith determination; provided that, this clause (B) shall only apply and may only be relied on to the extent that the Oil and Gas Properties so Transferred in exchange for other Oil and Gas Properties in any period between two successive Scheduled Redetermination Dates does not exceed seven and a half percent (7.5%) of the Borrowing Base value of all Oil and Gas Properties included in the Borrowing Base of the Credit Parties (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent). For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the Transfer of an E&P Credit Party owning such Oil and Gas Properties and/or commodity Swap Agreements pursuant to this Section 9.10(e) shall be deemed the Transfer of the Oil and Gas Properties and the unwinding or termination of the commodity Swap Agreements owned by such E&P Credit Party;

(f) Transfers in connection with Investments permitted by Section 9.05, other than Transfers of (i) any Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Reserve Report used in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base or (ii) any Equity Interests in any E&P Credit Party owning Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Reserve Report used in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base; and

(g) Transfers of Properties among the Credit Parties; provided that (i) with respect to any Transfers of Equity Interests in any E&P Credit Party, the requirements of Section 8.14(b) are satisfied and (ii) with respect to any Transfers of Proved Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Reserve Report used in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base, the transferee promptly delivers mortgages or other Security Instruments in favor of the Administrative Agent to the extent necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 8.14.

Section 9.11 Transactions with Affiliates The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property, with any Affiliate (other than one of the other Credit Parties), other than (a) transactions that are upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to it than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate, (b) transactions between Credit Parties, (c) transactions between any Credit Party and any partnership listed on Schedule 9.11, (d) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 9.04, or (e) any Investment permitted by Section 9.05.

Section 9.12 Subsidiaries The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, create or acquire any additional Subsidiary or redesignate an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary unless the Borrower complies with Section 8.14(b). The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, sell, assign or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests in any Credit Party except (a) to another Credit Party or (b) in compliance with Section 9.10(e). No Credit Party shall have any Foreign Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 9.13 Negative Pledge Agreements; Dividend Restrictions The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any contract, agreement or understanding (other than restrictions or conditions imposed by law, this Agreement, the Security Instruments, agreements with respect to Purchase Money Indebtedness or Capital Leases secured by Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c), but then only with respect to the Property that is the subject of such Capital Lease or Purchase Money Indebtedness, Liens permitted under Section 9.03(f) but then only with respect to the assets subject of such Lien, Liens securing Permitted Additional Debt under Section 9.03(h), and documents creating Liens which are described in clause (d), (f), (h) or (i) of the definition of “Excepted Liens”, but then only with respect to the Property that is the subject of the applicable lease, document or license described in such clause (d), (f), (h) or (i)) that in any way prohibits or restricts the granting, conveying, creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its Property in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or restricts any Credit Party from paying dividends or making any other distributions in respect of its Equity Interests to any Credit Party.

Section 9.14 Swap Agreements

(a) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, enter into any Swap Agreements with any Person other than:

(i) Swap Agreements in respect of commodities with an Approved Counterparty fixing a price for a term of not more than sixty months and the notional volumes for which (when aggregated with other commodity Swap Agreements then in effect other than put or floor options as to which an upfront premium has been paid or basis differential swaps on volumes already hedged pursuant to other Swap Agreements) do not exceed, as of the date such Swap Agreement is executed (A) for any month during the first two years of the forthcoming five year period, the greater of (1) one hundred percent (100%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production from Oil and Gas Properties constituting PDP Reserves (as reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report) for each of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids calculated separately and (2) eighty-five percent (85%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production from Oil and Gas Properties constituting Proved Reserves (as reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report) for each of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids calculated separately, and (B) for any month during the last three years of the forthcoming five year period, the greater of (1) eighty-five percent (85%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production from Oil and Gas Properties constituting PDP Reserves (as reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report) for each of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids calculated separately and (2) sixty-five percent (65%) of the reasonably anticipated projected production from Oil and Gas Properties constituting Proved Reserves (as reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report) for each of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids calculated separately; provided that the Borrower (1) shall have the option to update the reasonably anticipated projected production from Oil and Gas Properties between the delivery of Reserve Reports hereunder (which updates shall be provided to the Administrative Agent in writing and shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and (2) shall have the option to enter into commodity Swap Agreements with an Approved Counterparty with

 

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respect to (x) such updated projected production and subject to the volume limitations set forth in this Section 9.14(a) and (y) reasonably anticipated projected production from Oil and Gas Properties not then owned by the Credit Parties but which are subject to a binding purchase agreement (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) for which one or more of the Credit Parties are scheduled to acquire such Oil and Gas Properties within the applicable period (a “subject acquisition”), provided that, (I) the Credit Parties are in compliance with this Section 9.14(a) after giving pro forma effect to such subject acquisition and (II) if such subject acquisition does not close for any reason on the date required thereunder, including any binding extensions thereof, within thirty (30) days of such required closing date, the Credit Parties shall unwind or otherwise terminate the Swap Agreements entered into with respect to production that was to be acquired thereunder; and

(ii) Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates with an Approved Counterparty, the notional amounts of which (when aggregated with all other Swap Agreements of the Credit Parties then in effect) do not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the then outstanding principal amount of the Borrower’s Debt for borrowed money.

(b) In no event shall any Swap Agreement, other than a master Swap Agreement pursuant to which any Credit Party executes only put or floor options as to which an upfront premium has been paid, contain any requirement, agreement or covenant for any Credit Party to post collateral or margin to secure their obligations under such Swap Agreement other than the benefit of the Security Instruments as contemplated herein.

(c) If, after the end of any calendar month, the Borrower determines that the aggregate notional volume of all Swap Agreements in respect of commodities for such calendar month exceeded one hundred percent (100%) of actual production of Hydrocarbons in such calendar month, then the Borrower shall (i) promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such determination, and (ii) if requested by the Administrative Agent (or if otherwise necessary to ensure compliance with Section 9.14(a)), within thirty (30) days after such request, terminate, create off-setting positions, or otherwise unwind or monetize existing Swap Agreements such that, at such time, future volumes under commodity Swap Agreements will not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of reasonably anticipated projected production for the then-current and any succeeding calendar months.

Section 9.15 Permitted Additional Debt Restrictions

(a) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to, any of the terms of the Permitted Additional Debt if (a) the effect thereof would be to shorten the maturity of the Permitted Additional Debt to a date that is earlier than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, or (b) such action adds or amends any representations and warranties, covenants or events of default to be more restrictive or burdensome than this Agreement in each case as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower without this Agreement being contemporaneously amended to add similar provisions.

 

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(b) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to prior to the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, make or offer to make any optional or voluntary Redemption of or otherwise optionally or voluntarily Redeem (whether in whole or in part) any principal in respect of any Permitted Additional Debt, except (i) with the Net Cash Proceeds of any substantially contemporaneous issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or in exchange for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock), (ii) with the Net Cash Proceeds of any Permitted Refinancing, (iii) if after giving pro forma effect to such Redemption, (A) no Default exists or results therefrom, (B) the Commitment Utilization Percentage is not more than seventy-five percent (75%) and (C) the Leverage Ratio is less than 1.0 to 1.0, or (iv) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available Free Cash Flow Amount at the time made, if after giving pro forma effect to such Redemption, (A) no Default or Event of Default exists or results therefrom, (B) the Commitment Utilization Percentage is not more than eighty percent (80%) and (C) the Leverage Ratio is less than 2.25 to 1.0.

Section 9.16 Amendments to Organizational Documents The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, amend, supplement or otherwise modify (or permit to be amended, supplemented or modified) its organizational documents in any respect that would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Credit Lenders without the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

Section 9.17 Changes in Fiscal Periods The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any other Credit Party to, have its fiscal year end on a date other than December 31 or change its method of determining fiscal quarters without the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

ARTICLE X

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

Section 10.01 Events of Default One or more of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any Reimbursement Obligation when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof, by acceleration or otherwise.

(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in Section 10.01(a)) payable under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days.

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party in or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification of any Loan Document or waiver under such Loan Document, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made.

 

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(d) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 8.02, Section 8.03(a), Section 8.07, Section 8.18 or Article IX.

(e) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in Section 10.01(a), Section 10.01(b) or Section 10.01(d)) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier to occur of (i) a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or any other Credit Party having knowledge of such default or (ii) written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower.

(f) any Credit Party shall fail to make any payment of principal or interest on any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure to pay shall extend beyond any applicable period of grace.

(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause such Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the Redemption thereof or any offer to Redeem to be made in respect thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this Section 10.01(g) shall not apply to (i) secured Debt that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the Property (permitted by this Agreement) securing such Debt and (ii) Debt that becomes due as a result of a change in law, tax regulation or accounting treatment so long as such Debt is paid when due.

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Credit Party or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Credit Party or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered.

(i) any Credit Party shall voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in Section 10.01(h), apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Credit Party or for a substantial part of its assets, file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.

(j) any Credit Party shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due.

 

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(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of the greater of (i) $20,000,000 or (ii) five percent (5%) of the Borrowing Base (to the extent not covered (other than with respect to deductible amounts) by independent third party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage and is not subject to an insolvency proceeding), shall be rendered against any Credit Party or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged, unvacated or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of any Credit Party to enforce any such judgment.

(l) the Loan Documents after delivery thereof shall for any reason, except to the extent permitted by the terms thereof, cease to be in full force and effect and valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms against the Credit Parties party thereto or shall be repudiated by any of them, or cease to create valid and perfected Liens of the priority required thereby on any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, except to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement or the Security Instruments, or any Credit Party shall so state in writing.

(m) a Change in Control shall occur.

(n) An ERISA Event shall occur that, individually or together with any other ERISA Event, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 10.02 Remedies

(a) In the case of an Event of Default other than one described in Section 10.01(h), Section 10.01(i) and Section 10.01(j), at any time thereafter during the continuance of such Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Majority Lenders, shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and declare the Notes and the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Credit Parties accrued hereunder and under the Notes and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the payment of cash collateral to secure the Letter of Credit Obligations in an amount equal to the greater of (x) one hundred five percent (105%) of the amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations and (y) one hundred five percent (105%) of the maximum amount that may be available to be drawn at any time prior to the stated expiry of all outstanding Letters of Credit), shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Credit Parties; and in case of an Event of Default described in Section 10.01(h), Section 10.01(i) or Section 10.01(j), the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the Notes and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and the other obligations of the Credit Parties accrued hereunder and under the Notes and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the payment of cash collateral to secure the Letter of Credit Obligations in an amount equal to the greater of (x) one

 

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hundred five percent (105%) of the amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations and (y) one hundred five percent (105%) of the maximum amount that may be available to be drawn at any time prior to the stated expiry of all outstanding Letters of Credit), shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Credit Party.

(b) In the case of the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders will have all other rights and remedies available at law and equity.

(c) All proceeds realized from the liquidation or other disposition of Collateral or otherwise received after maturity of the Notes, whether by acceleration or otherwise, shall be applied:

(i) first, to payment or reimbursement of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, expenses and indemnities payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

(ii) second, pro rata to payment or reimbursement of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, expenses and indemnities payable to the Lenders as permitted hereunder;

(iii) third, pro rata to payment of accrued interest on the Revolving Credit Loans;

(iv) fourth, pro rata to payment of (A) principal outstanding on the Revolving Credit Loans and to serve as cash collateral to secure outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations, (B) Obligations under Secured Swap Agreements then due and owing to Secured Swap Parties, (C) Obligations under Existing Secured Swap Agreements then due and owing to the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party, and (D) liabilities to any Cash Management Bank arising in connection with Secured Cash Management Agreements;

(v) fifth, pro rata to any other Obligations;

(vi) sixth, any excess, after all of the Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash, shall be paid to the Borrower or as otherwise required by any Governmental Requirement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or its assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Credit Parties to preserve the allocation to the Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section 10.02.

 

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ARTICLE XI

THE AGENTS

Section 11.01 Authorization and Action

(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

(b) As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and each Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(c) In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

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(i) the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;

(ii) where the Administrative Agent is required or deemed to act as a trustee in respect of any Collateral over which a security interest has been created pursuant to a Loan Document expressed to be governed by the laws of the United States, the obligations and liabilities of the Administrative Agent to the Secured Parties in its capacity as trustee shall be excluded to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; and

(iii) nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.

(d) The Administrative Agent may perform any 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 of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.

(e) Neither of the Documentation Agent nor any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

(f) In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Credit Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any Reimbursement 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 (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

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(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, Letter of Credit Payment and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 3.02, 3.04, 5.01, 5.03, 5.04 and 12.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party 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, the Issuing Banks or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 12.03). 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 Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.

(g) The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

Section 11.02 Administrative Agents Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.

(a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (A) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (B) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Credit Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Credit Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

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(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank, and 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 any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article VI or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Lender or any Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Credit Exposure, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank.

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 12.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 12.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Credit Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

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Section 11.03 Posting of Communications

(a) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on IntraLinks, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform).

(b) Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

(c) THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, THE DOCUMENTATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY CREDIT PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY CREDIT PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Credit Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

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(d) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

(e) Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

(f) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

Section 11.04 The Administrative Agent Individually With respect to its Commitment, Loans, Letter of Credit Maximum Amount and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.

Section 11.05 Successor Administrative Agent

(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving thirty (30) days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding Section 11.05(a), in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Security Instrument for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Security Instruments and the other Loan Documents, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Security Instrument, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 12.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, 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 and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (i) above.

Section 11.06 Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks.

(a) Each Lender represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) 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.

 

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(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.

Section 11.07 Collateral Matters

(a) Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 12.08 or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof.

(b) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation thereof, no arrangements in respect of cash management services the obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements and obligations under Secured Swap Agreements, will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Secured Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Credit Party under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any such arrangement in respect of Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Swap Agreement, as applicable, shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.

(c) The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to:

(i) subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 9.03(b) or any Transfer permitted by Section 9.10; and

(ii) release any Lien on any property granted to or held by Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (A) after the termination of the Commitments, the payment in full of all principal and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder and all other amounts payable under the Loan Documents (other than contingent indemnification or contingent reimbursement obligations not yet known) to any Agent, the Issuing Banks or any Lender under any Loan Document, the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than

 

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Letters of Credit for which other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks have been made), the reimbursement of all Reimbursement Obligations owing under the Loan Documents, and the payment in full or cash collateralization (or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) with respect to any other Obligations that are due and owing or that would become due and owing as a result of the termination of this Agreement, (B) that is, or is to be, sold, released or otherwise disposed of as permitted pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents, and (C) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Lenders (or, if approval, authorization or ratification by all Lenders is required under the first proviso in Section 12.02(b), then by all Lenders).

(d) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Credit Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

Section 11.08 Credit Bidding The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the 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 Credit 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 Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with 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 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 (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 Required 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 Required Lenders

 

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contained in Section 12.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership, limited 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 Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such 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 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 which 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.

Section 11.09 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, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement,

(ii) the prohibited 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 so as to exempt from the prohibitions of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, and the conditions for exemptive relief thereunder are and will continue to be satisfied in connection therewith,

 

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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 Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b) In addition, unless Section 11.09(a)(i) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in Section 11.09(a)(iv), 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 each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that:

(i) none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, the Documentation Agent or any of their respective Affiliates is 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 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),

(ii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21, as amended from time to time) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50 million, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),

(iii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the obligations),

(iv) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and

 

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(v) no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger or any their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement.

(c) The Administrative Agent and each Arranger and the Documentation Agent hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

Section 11.10 Erroneous Payments

(a) Each Lender hereby agrees that (i) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in any event no later than one (1) Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice from the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 11.10 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

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(b) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (i) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (ii) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in any event no later than one (1) Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

(c) The Borrower and each other Credit Party hereby agrees that (i) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (ii) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, except, in each case, to the extent any such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Credit Party for the purpose of making such erroneous Payment.

(d) Each party’s obligations under this Section 11.10 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 Notices

(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to Section 12.01(b)), 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 telecopy, to the addresses set forth on Schedule 12.01, and, if to any Lender other than JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications (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 pursuant to Article II, Article III, Article IV and Article V unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. 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.

 

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(c) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

Section 12.02 Waivers; Amendments

(a) No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, power or privilege, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right, power or privilege, under any of the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by Section 12.02(b), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Subject to Section 5.09, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof nor any other Loan Document nor any provision thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Majority Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Majority Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment or the Maximum Credit Amount or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment of any Revolving Credit Lender without the written consent of such Revolving Credit Lender, (ii) increase the Borrowing Base without the written consent of each Revolving Credit Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (iii) decrease or maintain the Borrowing Base without the consent of the Required Lenders, or modify Section 2.06 in any manner without the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that a Scheduled Redetermination may be postponed by the Required Lenders, (iv) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, or reduce any other Obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (v) postpone the scheduled date of payment or prepayment of the principal amount of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or any other Obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone or extend the Termination Date without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (vi) (A) change any term or condition hereof in a manner that

 

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would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, (B) subordinate any of the Obligations owed to the Lenders in right of payment or otherwise adversely affect the priority of payment of any of such Obligations or (C) subordinate any of the Liens on a material portion of the Collateral, taken as a whole, securing the Obligations owed to the Lenders to any other indebtedness for borrowed money other than purchase money indebtedness, capitalized lease or similar obligations and/or any debtor-in-possession financing (except as otherwise set forth in Section 11.07), in each case, without the written consent of each Lender, (vii) waive or amend Section 3.03(c), Section 6.01 or Section 10.02(c), without the written consent of each Lender, (viii) release any Guarantor (except as set forth in the Guarantee Agreement or this Agreement or as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 9.10), release, or subordinate the Administrative Agent’s Lien on or security interest in, in either case, all or substantially all of the Collateral (other than as provided in Section 11.07) or reduce the percentage set forth in Section 8.14(a) to less than eighty-five percent (85%), without the consent of each Lender, (ix) impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Revolving Credit Lender to assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of, if such Lender is a Revolving Credit Lender, the Majority Lenders or (x) change any of the provisions of this Section 12.02(b) or the definitions of “Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage”, “Majority Lenders”, “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or under any other Loan Documents or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder or any other Loan Documents, without the written consent of each Lender; provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, any other Agent or any Issuing Bank hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such other Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, fees payable hereunder to any Lender may be reduced with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the affected Lender.

Section 12.03 Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver

(a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel (which counsel shall be limited to one counsel and a single local counsel in each material jurisdiction) and other outside consultants for the Administrative Agent, the reasonable travel, photocopy, mailing, courier, telephone and other similar expenses, and the cost of environmental invasive and non-invasive assessments and audits and surveys and appraisals, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration (both before and after the execution hereof and including advice of counsel to the Administrative Agent as to the rights and duties of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect thereto) of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers of or consents related to the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), all costs, expenses, Taxes, assessments and other charges incurred by any Agent in connection with any filing, registration, recording or perfection of any security interest contemplated by this Agreement or any Security Instrument or any other document referred to therein, (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the applicable Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section 12.03, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including, without limitation, all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

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(b) THE BORROWER SHALL, AND SHALL CAUSE EACH OTHER CREDIT PARTY TO, INDEMNIFY EACH AGENT, THE ARRANGERS, EACH ISSUING BANK, EACH LENDER, AND EACH RELATED PARTY OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PERSONS (EACH SUCH PERSON BEING CALLED AN “INDEMNITEE”) AGAINST, AND DEFEND AND HOLD EACH INDEMNITEE HARMLESS FROM, ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, LIABILITIES AND RELATED EXPENSES, INCLUDING THE REASONABLE AND DOCUMENTED OUT-OF-POCKET FEES, CHARGES AND DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY COUNSEL FOR ANY INDEMNITEE (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE LIMITED TO ONE COUNSEL FOR ALL INDEMNITEES, TAKEN AS A WHOLE, AND, IF REASONABLY NECESSARY, A SINGLE LOCAL COUNSEL TO ALL INDEMNITEES, TAKEN AS A WHOLE, IN EACH RELEVANT MATERIAL JURISDICTION TO THE AFFECTED INDEMNITEES SIMILARLY SITUATED TAKEN AS A WHOLE, AND SOLELY IN THE CASE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, ONE ADDITIONAL COUNSEL IN EACH APPLICABLE MATERIAL JURISDICTION TO THE AFFECTED INDEMNIFIED PARTIES SIMILARLY SITUATED TAKEN AS A WHOLE), DAMAGES AND LIABILITIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE (THE “INDEMNIFIED OBLIGATIONS”) INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES) ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, THE PERFORMANCE BY THE PARTIES HERETO OR THE PARTIES TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER OR THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR BY ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, THE FAILURE OF ANY CREDIT PARTY TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, INCLUDING THIS AGREEMENT, OR WITH ANY GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT, ANY INACCURACY OF ANY REPRESENTATION OR ANY BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY OR COVENANT OF ANY CREDIT PARTY SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY INSTRUMENTS, DOCUMENTS OR CERTIFICATIONS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, ANY LOAN OR LETTER OF CREDIT OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREFROM, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY REFUSAL BY ANY ISSUING BANK TO HONOR A DEMAND FOR PAYMENT UNDER A LETTER OF CREDIT IF THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DEMAND DO NOT STRICTLY COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT, OR THE PAYMENT OF A DRAWING UNDER ANY LETTER OF CREDIT NOTWITHSTANDING THE NON-COMPLIANCE, NON-DELIVERY OR OTHER IMPROPER PRESENTATION OF THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, THE OPERATIONS OF THE BUSINESS OF THE CREDIT PARTIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES BY THE CREDIT PARTIES AND

 

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THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES, ANY ASSERTION THAT THE LENDERS WERE NOT ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE SECURITY INSTRUMENTS, ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE TO THE CREDIT PARTIES, ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES OR ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES OR OPERATIONS, INCLUDING, THE PRESENCE, GENERATION, STORAGE, RELEASE, THREATENED RELEASE, USE, TRANSPORT, DISPOSAL, ARRANGEMENT OF DISPOSAL OR TREATMENT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR AT ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES, THE BREACH OR NON-COMPLIANCE BY ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES WITH ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW APPLICABLE TO ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES, THE PAST OWNERSHIP BY ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES OF ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES OR PAST ACTIVITY ON ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES WHICH, THOUGH LAWFUL AND FULLY PERMISSIBLE AT THE TIME, COULD RESULT IN PRESENT LIABILITY, THE PRESENCE, USE, RELEASE, STORAGE, TREATMENT, DISPOSAL, GENERATION, THREATENED RELEASE, TRANSPORT, ARRANGEMENT FOR TRANSPORT OR ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR AT ANY OF THE PROPERTIES OWNED OR OPERATED BY ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES OR ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED PRESENCE OR RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR FROM ANY PROPERTY OWNED OR OPERATED BY ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES, ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY RELATED IN ANY WAY TO ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES, OR ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH OR SAFETY CONDITION IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR ANY ACTUAL OR PROSPECTIVE CLAIM, LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY INDEMNITEE IS A PARTY THERETO, AND SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL EXTEND TO EACH INDEMNITEE NOTWITHSTANDING THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF EVERY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, WHETHER AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT OR AN OMISSION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL TYPES OF NEGLIGENT CONDUCT IDENTIFIED IN THE RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS OF ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNITEES OR BY REASON OF STRICT LIABILITY IMPOSED WITHOUT FAULT ON ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNITEES; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR RELATED EXPENSES ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM (i) THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE, BAD FAITH OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE OR (ii) ANY DISPUTE SOLELY AMONG INDEMNITEES OTHER THAN CLAIMS AGAINST AN INDEMNITEE IN ITS CAPACITY OR IN FULFILLING ITS ROLE AS AN AGENT, ISSUING BANK OR ARRANGER HEREUNDER AND OTHER THAN ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF ANY ACT OR OMISSION ON THE PART OF THE BORROWER OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF. THIS SECTION 12.03(b) SHALL NOT APPLY WITH RESPECT TO TAXES OTHER THAN TAXES THAT REPRESENT LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, ETC. ARISING FROM ANY NON-TAX CLAIM.

 

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(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to any Agent, any Arranger or any Issuing Bank under Section 12.03(a) or (b), each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to pay to such Agent, any Arranger or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit 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 such Agent, any Arranger or such Issuing Bank in its capacity as such.

(d) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NO PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL ASSERT, AND EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES, ANY CLAIM AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO, 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 OR THEREBY, THE TRANSACTIONS, ANY LOAN OR LETTER OF CREDIT OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREOF; PROVIDED THAT NOTHING IN THIS SECTION 12.03(d) SHALL RELIEVE THE BORROWER OF ANY OBLIGATION IT MAY HAVE TO INDEMNIFY AND INDEMNITEE AGAINST SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ASSERTED AGAINST SUCH INDEMNITEE BY A THIRD PARTY.

(e) All amounts due under this Section 12.03 shall be payable not later than ten (10) days after written demand therefor.

Section 12.04 Successors and Assigns

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 12.04. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in Section 12.04(b)) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 12.04(b)(ii), any Lender may 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 Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:

 

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(A) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required if such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender that is actively engaged in the making of revolving loans, an Approved Fund or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; provided, further, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

(B) the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment to an assignee that is a Lender immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or 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) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500;

(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire;

(E) no such assignment shall be made to a natural person or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for, the primary benefit of a natural person, an Industry Competitor, any Credit Party, any Affiliate of any Credit Party, or any of their respective Subsidiaries; and

(F) no such assignment shall be made to a Defaulting Lender.

(iii) Subject to Section 12.04(b)(v) and the acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto 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 Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.01, Section 5.02, Section 5.03 and Section 12.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 12.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 12.04(b).

 

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(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices 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 Maximum Credit Amount of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and Reimbursement 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, the Issuing Banks 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, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In connection with any changes to the Register, if necessary, the Administrative Agent will reflect the revisions on Schedule 1.2 and forward a copy of such revised Schedule 1.2 to the Borrower, each Issuing Bank and each Lender.

(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 12.04(b)(ii)(C) and any written consent to such assignment required by Section 12.04(b)(i), the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this Section 12.04(b).

(vi) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and no such participation may be sold to a natural Person or an Industry Competitor. 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, modification or waiver described in the proviso to Section 12.02 that affects such Participant. In addition such agreement must provide that the Participant be bound by the provisions of Section 12.03. Subject to Section 12.04(b)(vii), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.01, Section 5.02 and Section 5.03 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 12.04(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 4.01(c) as though it were a Lender.

 

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(vii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 5.01 or Section 5.03 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 or to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 5.03 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 5.03(e) as though it were a Lender.

(viii) Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (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.

(c) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including, without limitation, any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any other central bank, and this Section 12.04(c) shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 12.04, no transfer or assignment of the interests or obligations of any Lender or any grant of participations therein shall be permitted if such transfer, assignment or grant would require the Borrower to file a registration statement with the SEC or to qualify the Loans under the “Blue Sky” laws of any state.

 

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Section 12.05 Survival; Revival; Reinstatement

(a) All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Credit Parties herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Section 5.01, Section 5.02, Section 5.03 and Section 12.03 and Article XI shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

(b) To the extent that any payments on the Obligations or proceeds of any Collateral are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver or other Person under any bankruptcy law, common law or equitable cause, then to such extent, the Obligations so satisfied shall be revived and continue as if such payment or proceeds had not been received and the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ Liens, security interests, rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement and each Loan Document shall continue in full force and effect. In such event, each Loan Document shall be automatically reinstated and the Credit Parties shall take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to effect such reinstatement.

Section 12.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

(a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.

(b) 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.

(c) Except as provided in Section 6.01, 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 which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, facsimile, as an attachment to an email or other similar electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

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Section 12.07 Severability Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document 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.

Section 12.08 Right of Setoff If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations (of whatsoever kind, including, without limitations obligations under Swap Agreements) at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Credit Party against any and all the obligations of any Credit Party owed to such Lender now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section 12.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender or its Affiliates may have.

Section 12.09 GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY

(a) THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS (AND THE BORROWER SHALL CAUSE EACH OTHER CREDIT PARTY TO SUBMIT) FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY, OR FOR RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT IN RESPECT THEREOF, TO THE NON-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, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF AND 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; PROVIDED, THAT NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT WILL PREVENT ANY PARTY FROM BRINGING ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE ANY AWARD OR JUDGMENT OR EXERCISE ANY RIGHT UNDER THE LOAN DOCUMENTS IN ANY OTHER FORUM IN WHICH JURISDICTION CAN BE ESTABLISHED. 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. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS.

 

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(c) EACH PARTY HEREBY (i) IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN; (ii) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES OTHER THAN, OR IN ADDITION TO, ACTUAL DAMAGES; (iii) CERTIFIES THAT NO PARTY HERETO NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OR AGENT OF COUNSEL FOR ANY PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, OR IMPLIED THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS, AND (iv) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 12.09.

(d) EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT (i) SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE EFFECTED BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL), POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 12.01 OR AT SUCH OTHER ADDRESS OF WHICH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED PURSUANT THERETO AND (ii) AGREES THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT TO EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

Section 12.10 Headings Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 12.11 Confidentiality Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (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 or a nationally recognized ratings agency that requires access to information regarding the Credit Parties, the Loans and the Loan Documents in connection with ratings issued with respect to a securitization (it being understood that such nationally recognized ratings agency to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party

 

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to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, 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 12.11, to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Swap Agreement relating to any Credit Party and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 12.11 or becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section 12.11, “Information” means all information received from the Credit Parties relating to the Credit Parties and their businesses, other than (i) any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Credit Party and (ii) information routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 12.11 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Section 12.12 Interest Rate Limitation It is the intention of the parties hereto that each Lender shall conform strictly to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby would be usurious as to any Lender under laws applicable to it (including the laws of the United States of America and the State of New York or any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to such Lender notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any of the Loan Documents or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for the Notes, it is agreed as follows: the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under law applicable to any Lender that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Lender under any of the Loan Documents or agreements or otherwise in connection with the Notes shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and any excess shall be canceled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited by such Lender on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Lender to the Borrower); and in the event that the maturity of the Notes is accelerated by reason of an election of the holder thereof resulting from any Event of Default under this Agreement or otherwise, or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to any Lender may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and excess interest, if any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall be canceled automatically by such Lender as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by such Lender on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Lender to the Borrower). All sums paid or agreed to be paid to any Lender for the use, forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law applicable to such Lender, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the stated term of the Loans until payment in full so that the rate or amount of interest on account of any Loans hereunder does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law. If at

 

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any time and from time to time the amount of interest payable to any Lender on any date shall be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender pursuant to this Section 12.12 and in respect of any subsequent interest computation period the amount of interest otherwise payable to such Lender would be less than the amount of interest payable to such Lender computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender, then the amount of interest payable to such Lender in respect of such subsequent interest computation period shall continue to be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender until the total amount of interest payable to such Lender shall equal the total amount of interest which would have been payable to such Lender if the total amount of interest had been computed without giving effect to this Section 12.12.

Section 12.13 EXCULPATION PROVISIONS

(A) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO SPECIFICALLY AGREES THAT IT HAS A DUTY TO READ THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND AGREES THAT IT IS CHARGED WITH NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; THAT IT HAS IN FACT READ THIS AGREEMENT AND IS FULLY INFORMED AND HAS FULL NOTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS, CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS OF THIS AGREEMENT; THAT IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED BY INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS PRECEDING ITS EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; AND HAS RECEIVED THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; AND THAT IT RECOGNIZES THAT CERTAIN OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS RESULT IN ONE PARTY ASSUMING THE LIABILITY INHERENT IN SOME ASPECTS OF THE TRANSACTION AND RELIEVING THE OTHER PARTY OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH LIABILITY. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT CONTEST THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY EXCULPATORY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS ON THE BASIS THAT THE PARTY HAD NO NOTICE OR KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH PROVISION OR THAT THE PROVISION IS NOT “CONSPICUOUS”.

(B) THE BORROWER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) THE CREDIT FACILITIES 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 BORROWER AND THE OTHER CREDIT PARTIES, ON THE ONE HAND, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THE LENDERS AND THE ISSUING BANKS, ON THE OTHER HAND, AND THE BORROWER AND THE OTHER CREDIT PARTIES ARE CAPABLE OF EVALUATING AND UNDERSTANDING AND UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE TERMS, RISKS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND BY THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENT, WAIVER OR OTHER MODIFICATION

 

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HEREOF OR THEREOF); (II) IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROCESS LEADING TO SUCH TRANSACTION, EACH OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE LENDERS AND THE ISSUING BANKS IS AND HAS BEEN ACTING SOLELY AS A PRINCIPAL AND IS NOT THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR, AGENT OR FIDUCIARY FOR ANY OF THE BORROWER, ANY OTHER CREDIT PARTY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, EQUITY HOLDERS, CREDITORS OR EMPLOYEES OR ANY OTHER PERSON; (III) NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY OTHER AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY LENDER NOR ANY ISSUING BANK HAS ASSUMED OR WILL ASSUME AN ADVISORY, AGENCY OR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IN FAVOR OF THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER CREDIT PARTY 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, ANY OTHER AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY LENDER OR ANY ISSUING BANK HAS ADVISED OR IS CURRENTLY ADVISING ANY OF THE BORROWER, THE OTHER CREDIT PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES ON OTHER MATTERS) AND NONE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY OTHER AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY LENDER OR ANY ISSUING BANK HAS ANY OBLIGATION TO ANY OF THE BORROWER, THE OTHER CREDIT PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, IN EACH CASE, EXCEPT THOSE OBLIGATIONS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN AND IN THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS; (IV) THE BORROWER, THE OTHER CREDIT PARTIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES WILL NOT ASSERT ANY CLAIM BASED ON ALLEGED BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY; (V) THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND ITS AFFILIATES, EACH LENDER AND ITS AFFILIATES AND EACH ISSUING BANK AND ITS AFFILIATES MAY BE ENGAGED IN A BROAD RANGE OF TRANSACTIONS THAT INVOLVE INTERESTS THAT DIFFER FROM THOSE OF THE BORROWER, THE OTHER CREDIT PARTIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, AND NONE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY ISSUING BANK HAS ANY OBLIGATION TO DISCLOSE ANY OF SUCH INTERESTS BY VIRTUE OF ANY ADVISORY, AGENCY OR FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP; AND (VI) NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY ISSUING BANK HAS PROVIDED AND NONE WILL 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 BORROWER HAS CONSULTED ITS OWN LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, REGULATORY AND TAX ADVISORS TO THE EXTENT IT HAS DEEMED APPROPRIATE. THE BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES AND RELEASES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY CLAIMS THAT IT MAY HAVE AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY BREACH OR ALLEGED BREACH OF AGENCY OR FIDUCIARY DUTY.

 

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Section 12.14 Collateral Matters; Swap Agreements; Cash Management The benefit of the Security Instruments and of the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Collateral securing the Obligations shall also extend to and be available to the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party, the Secured Swap Parties and the Cash Management Banks on a pro rata basis (but subject to the terms of the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, provisions thereof relating to the application and priority of payments to the Persons entitled thereto) in respect of any obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which arise under Existing Secured Swap Agreements listed on Schedule 1.5 (with respect to the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party), Secured Swap Agreements or Secured Cash Management Agreements; provided that such benefit shall not apply, with respect to the Secured Non-Lender Swap Party, to any additional transactions or confirmations entered into on or after the Effective Date, with the exception of any novations, transactions or confirmations in respect of the Existing Secured Swap Agreements listed on Schedule 1.5 that are entered into and effective as of the Effective Date. No Secured Swap Party or Secured Non-Lender Swap Party shall have any voting rights under any Loan Document as a result of the existence of obligations owed to it under any such Swap Agreements. No Cash Management Bank shall have any voting rights under any Loan Document as a result of the existence of obligations owed to it under any such Secured Cash Management Agreements.

Section 12.15 No Third Party Beneficiaries This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the agreement of the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Banks to issue, amend, renew or extend Letters of Credit hereunder are solely for the benefit of the Credit Parties, and no other Person (including, without limitation, any Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a Credit Party), any other obligor, contractor, subcontractor, supplier or materialmen) shall have any rights, claims, remedies or privileges hereunder or under any other Loan Document against the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender for any reason whatsoever. There are no third party beneficiaries.

Section 12.16 USA Patriot Act Notice Pursuant to Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby notify the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that if they or any of their Subsidiaries open an account, including any loan, deposit account, treasury management account, or other extension of credit with the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the applicable Lender will request the applicable Person’s name, tax identification number, business address and other information necessary to identify such Person (and may request such Person’s organizational documents or other identifying documents) to the extent necessary for the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender to comply with the USA Patriot Act.

Section 12.17 Keepwell Each Credit Party that is a Qualified ECP Guarantor at the time the Guarantee or the grant of the security interest under the Loan Documents, in each case, by any Specified Credit Party, becomes effective with respect to any Swap Obligation, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Credit Party with respect to such Swap Obligation as may be needed by such Specified Credit Party from time to time to honor all of its obligations under its Guarantee and the other Loan Documents in respect of such Swap Obligation (but, in each case, only up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering the such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this Section 12.17 voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The

 

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obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends this Section to constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a Guarantee of the obligations of, and a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of, each Specified Credit Party for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Section 12.18 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected 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 Affected 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 the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent entity, undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

Section 12.19 Flood Insurance Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, any Security Instrument or other Loan Document to the contrary, (a) in no event is (i) any Excluded Asset (as defined in the Security Agreement) or (ii) any Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulations) included in the definition of “Collateral” and (b) no Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulations) shall be subject to a Lien under any Security Instrument. As used herein, “Flood Insurance Regulations” shall mean (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq.), (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and (v) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, in each case as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and including any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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Section 12.20 Intercreditor Agreements.

(a) Each of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the other Secured Parties acknowledges that obligations of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties with respect to any Permitted Additional Debt or any Permitted Refinancing thereof may, to the extent set forth herein, be secured by Liens on assets of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties that constitute collateral security for the Obligations. Upon the approval of an Intercreditor Agreement by the Majority Lenders, each of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Secured Party, (i) from time to time upon the request of the Borrower, in connection with the establishment, incurrence, amendment, refinancing or replacement of any such Debt, such Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) any documents relating thereto.

(b) Each of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably (i) consents to the treatment of Liens to be provided for under the Intercreditor Agreements, (ii) agrees that, upon the execution and delivery thereof, such Secured Party will be bound by the provisions of any Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a signatory thereto and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) agrees that no Secured Party shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of any action taken by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 12.20 or in accordance with the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement and (iv) authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to carry out the provisions and intent of each Intercreditor Agreement.

(c) Each of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably further authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Secured Party, any amendments, supplements or other modifications of any Intercreditor Agreement that the Borrower may from time to time request (i) to give effect to any establishment, incurrence, amendment, extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement of any Permitted Additional Debt, (ii) to confirm for any party that such Intercreditor Agreement is effective and binding upon the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties or (iii) to effect any other amendment, supplement or modification so long as the resulting agreement would constitute an Intercreditor Agreement if executed at such time as a new agreement.

(d) Each of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the other Secured Parties hereby irrevocably further authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, in each case on behalf of such Secured Party and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Secured Party, any amendments, supplements or other modifications of any Security Instrument to add or remove any legend that may be required pursuant to any Intercreditor Agreement.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have the benefit of the provisions of Article XI with respect to all actions taken by it pursuant to this Section 12.20 or in accordance with the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement to the full extent thereof.

 

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Section 12.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Agreement 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 12.22 Existing Credit Agreement. On the Effective Date, this Agreement shall supersede and replace in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement; provided, however, that (a) all loans, letters of credit, and other indebtedness, obligations and liabilities outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement on such date shall continue to constitute Loans, Letters of Credit and other indebtedness, obligations and liabilities under this Agreement, (b) the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents hereunder shall not constitute a novation, refinancing or any other fundamental change in the relationship among the parties, (c) the Loans, Letters of Credit, and other indebtedness, obligations and liabilities outstanding hereunder, to the extent outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Effective Date, shall constitute the same loans, letters of credit, and other indebtedness, obligations and liabilities as were outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and (d) the Liens securing the “Obligations” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) and the rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the Credit Parties under the Existing Credit Agreement and the “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) to which they are a party shall not be extinguished but shall be carried forward and shall secure such Obligations and liabilities as amended, renewed, extended and restated hereby.

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The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWER:     CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
    By:  

/s/ Marianella Foschi

    Name:   Marianella Foschi
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

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ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ISSUING

BANK AND LENDER

    JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
    By:  

/s/ Umar Hassan

    Name:   Umar Hassan
    Title:   Authorized Officer

 

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ISSUING BANK AND LENDER     KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    By:  

/s/ George E. McKean

    Name:   George E. McKean
    Title:   Senior Vice President

 

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ISSUING BANK AND LENDER     WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    By:  

/s/ Jonathan Herrick

    Name:   Jonathan Herrick
    Title:   Director

 

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ISSUING BANK AND LENDER     CITIBANK, N.A.
    By:  

/s/ Cliff Vaz

    Name:   Cliff Vaz
    Title:   Vice President

 

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LENDER     U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    By:  

/s/ Bruce Hernandez

    Name:   Bruce Hernandez
    Title:   Senior Vice President

 

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LENDER     FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    By:  

/s/ Jonathan H. Lee

    Name:   Jonathan H. Lee
    Title:   Managing Director

 

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LENDER     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
    By:  

/s/ Ronald E. McKaig

    Name:   Ronald E. McKaig
    Title:   Managing Director

 

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LENDER     TRUIST BANK
    By:  

/s/ James Giordano

    Name:   James Giordano
    Title:   Managing Director

 

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LENDER     CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    By:  

/s/ Cameron Breitenbach

    Name:   Cameron Breitenbach
    Title:   Director

 

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LENDER     BOKF, NA
    By:  

/s/ Benjamin H. Adler

    Name:   Benjamin H. Adler
    Title:   Senior Vice President

 

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LENDER     COMERICA BANK
    By:  

/s/ Caroline M. McClurg

    Name:   Caroline M. McClurg
    Title:   Senior Vice President

 

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CREDIT AGREEMENT – BONANZA CREEK ENERGY, INC.


LENDER     ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
    By:  

/s/ Emilee Scott

    Name:   Emilee Scott
    Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

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LENDER     PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    By:  

/s/ John Engel

    Name:   John Engel
    Title:   Senior Vice President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

CREDIT AGREEMENT – BONANZA CREEK ENERGY, INC.


LENDER     CREDIT SUISSE AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
    By:  

/s/ Doreen Barr

    Name:   Doreen Barr
    Title:   Authorized Signatory
    By:  

/s/ Michael Dieffenbacher

    Name:   Michael Dieffenbacher
    Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

CREDIT AGREEMENT – BONANZA CREEK ENERGY, INC.


LENDER     GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
    By:  

/s/ Jacob Elder

    Name:   Jacob Elder
    Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

CREDIT AGREEMENT – BONANZA CREEK ENERGY, INC.


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

[__________], 20[___]

On or before the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”) promises to pay to [Insert name of applicable financial institution] (the “Payee”) at the Administrative Agent’s principal office located in New York, New York, in lawful money of the United States of America, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans as may from time to time have been advanced by the Payee and then be outstanding hereunder pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) dated as of November 1, 2021, by and among the financial institutions from time to time signatory thereto (individually a “Lender”, and any and all such financial institutions collectively the “Lenders”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, and the Borrower, together with interest thereon as hereinafter set forth.

Each of the Revolving Credit Borrowings made hereunder shall bear interest at the interest rate from time to time applicable thereto under the Credit Agreement or as otherwise determined thereunder, and interest shall be computed, assessed and payable on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Borrowing made by the Payee from the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing until paid at the rate and at the times set forth in the Credit Agreement.

This Note is a note under which Revolving Credit Borrowings (including refundings and conversions), repayments and readvances may be made from time to time, but only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement. This Note evidences borrowings under, is subject to, is secured in accordance with, and may be prepaid, accelerated or matured under, the terms of the Credit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms used herein, except as defined to the contrary, shall have the meanings given them in the Credit Agreement.

This Note shall be interpreted and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be determined under the laws of, and enforceable in, the State of New York.

The Borrower hereby waives presentment for payment, demand, protest and notice of dishonor and nonpayment of this Note and agrees that no obligation hereunder shall be discharged by reason of any extension, indulgence, release or forbearance granted by any holder of this Note to any party now or hereafter liable hereon or any present or subsequent owner of any property, real or personal, which is now or hereafter security for this Note.

*    *    *

[SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON SUCCEEDING PAGE]

 

Exhibit A-1


Nothing herein shall limit any right granted the Payee by any other instrument or by law.

 

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

Exhibit A-2


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT BORROWING REQUEST

 

No.____________    Dated: [_________], 20[___]

 

TO:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Administrative Agent”)

 

RE:

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) dated as of November 1, 2021, among the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), and Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”)

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby requests a Revolving Credit Borrowing from the Revolving Credit Lenders, as described herein:

 

A.

Date of Revolving Credit Borrowing1:

 

B.

☐ (check if applicable):

This Revolving Credit Borrowing is or includes a whole or partial refunding/conversion of:

Advance No(s).

 

C.

Type of Revolving Credit Borrowing (check only one):

 

 

ABR Borrowing

 

 

Eurodollar Borrowing

 

D.

Amount of Revolving Credit Borrowing:

$

 

E.

Interest Period (applicable to Eurodollar Borrowings):

 

F.

Disbursement Instructions:

 

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Account No.

 

 

Other:

The Borrower certifies to the matters specified in Section 2.03(d) of the Credit Agreement.

 

1 

Which shall be a Business Day.

 

Exhibit B-1


Capitalized terms used herein, except as defined to the contrary, have the meanings given them in the Credit Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Exhibit B-2


The undersigned by execution of this document agrees that any copy of this document signed by it and transmitted by facsimile or email, or any other method for delivery shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence.

 

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

Agent Approval:

 

Exhibit B-3


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

The undersigned hereby certifies that he/she is the [__________] of Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), and that as such he/she is authorized to execute this certificate on behalf of the Borrower. With reference to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021 (together with all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto being the “Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other agents and lenders (the “Lenders”) which are or become a party thereto, the undersigned certifies on behalf of the Borrower (and not individually) as follows (each capitalized term used herein having the same meaning given to it in the Credit Agreement unless otherwise specified):

1.1 There exists no Default or Event of Default [or specify Default and describe].

1.2 Attached hereto are the reasonably detailed computations necessary to determine whether the Borrower and the other Credit Parties is in compliance with Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement as of the end of the [fiscal quarter][fiscal year] ending [__________].

1.3 No change in the application of GAAP to the Borrower’s financial statements has been made since the preparation of the Borrower’s audited annual financial statements most recently delivered under Section 8.01(a) of the Credit Agreement2 [except ___________________].

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED this [__________] day of [__________].

 

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

 

2 

For certificates prior to first audited financial statements, replace with: “since the preparation of the Financial Statements”.

 

Exhibit C-1


EXHIBIT D

SECURITY INSTRUMENTS

 

1.

Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021 by and among each of the Credit Parties, as Grantors and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders and other Secured Parties.

 

2.

Amended and Restated Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement dated as of November 1, 2021 from Bonanza Creek Energy Operating Company, LLC, as mortgagor, to Robert D. Keepers, as trustee for the benefit of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for itself and for the ratable benefit of the other Secured Parties, as mortgagee, to be recorded in Weld County, Colorado.

 

3.

Amended and Restated Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement dated as of November 1, 2021 from HighPoint Operating Corporation, as mortgagor, to Robert D. Keepers, as trustee for the benefit of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for itself and for the ratable benefit of the other Secured Parties, as mortgagee, to be recorded in Weld County, Colorado.

 

4.

Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement dated as of November 1, 2021 from Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., as mortgagor, to Robert D. Keepers, as trustee for the benefit of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for itself and for the ratable benefit of the other Secured Parties, as mortgagee, to be recorded in various counties in Colorado.

 

5.

Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement dated as of November 1, 2021 from Crestone Peak Resources Holdings LLC, as mortgagor, to Robert D. Keepers, as trustee for the benefit of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for itself and for the ratable benefit of the other Secured Parties, as mortgagee, to be recorded in various counties in Colorado.

 

6.

Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021 by each of the Credit Parties as Guarantors in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., each of the other Secured Parties and each of their successors and assigns as permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit D-1


EXHIBIT E

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit and guarantees included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.    Assignor:   
2.    Assignee:   
      [and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]3]
3.    Borrower:    Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation
4.    Administrative Agent:    JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement
5.    Credit Agreement:    The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021, among Borrower, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents parties thereto

 

3 

Select as applicable.

 

Exhibit E-1


6.    Assigned Interest:   

 

Facility

Assigned

   Aggregate Amount of
Commitment/Loans for
all Lenders
     Amount of
Commitment/Loans
Assigned
     Percentage Assigned of
Commitment/Loans4
 
   $        $          %  
   $        $          %  
   $        $          %  

Effective Date: [____________], 20[__] [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

ASSIGNOR:     [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
    By:  

             

    Name:  

                 

    Title:  

                 

ASSIGNEE:     [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]    
    By:  

                 

    Name:  

                 

    Title:  

                 

 

 

4 

Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

 

Exhibit E-2


[Consented to and]5 Accepted:     JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
    as Administrative Agent
    By:  

 

    Name:  

 

    Title:  

 

[Consented to:]6:     [_______________]
    By:  

 

    Name:  

 

    Title:  

 

 

 

 

5 

To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

6 

To be added only if the consent of the Borrower and/or other parties (e.g. Issuing Banks) is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit E-3


ANNEX 1

[__________]7

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.2 Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.3 Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 8.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

 

7 

Describe Credit Agreement at option of Administrative Agent.

 

Exhibit E-4


2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and the other parties to the Credit Agreement and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

Exhibit E-5


EXHIBIT F

FORM OF NOTICE OF ISSUANCE OF LETTER OF CREDIT

 

TO:

Revolving Credit Lenders

 

RE:

Issuance of Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.07 of that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021, (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) by and among the financial institutions from time to time signatory thereto (individually a “Lender”, and any and all such financial institutions collectively the “Lenders”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), the Issuing Banks, and Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”)

On [____________], 20[__],8 [______]9, as Issuing Lender, in accordance with Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement, issued its Letter of Credit number [____________], in favor of [____________]10 for the account of [____________].11 The face amount of such Letter of Credit is $[____________]. The amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s participation in such Letter of Credit is as follows:12

$

$

$

$

This notification is delivered this [______] day of [____________], 20[__], pursuant to Section 2.07(c) of the Credit Agreement. Except as otherwise defined, capitalized terms used herein have the meanings given them in the Credit Agreement.

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 

Date of Issuance.

9 

Name of Issuing Lender.

10 

Beneficiary.

11 

Name of the Borrower.

12 

Amounts based on Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages.

 

Exhibit F-1


[This form of Letter of Credit Notice (including footnotes) is subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement which shall govern in the event of any inconsistencies or omissions.]

 

Exhibit F-2


EXHIBIT G-1

FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (FOREIGN LENDERS; NOT PARTNERSHIPS)

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation as Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.03 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:
Name:
Title:
Date: ________ __, 20[    ]

 

Exhibit G-1-1


EXHIBIT G-2

FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS; NOT PARTNERSHIPS)

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation as Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.03 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

By:

Name:

Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[    ]

 

Exhibit G-2-1


EXHIBIT G-3

FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS; PARTNERSHIPS)

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation as Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.03 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

By:

Name:

Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[    ]

 

Exhibit G-3-1


EXHIBIT G-4

FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (FOREIGN LENDERS; PARTNERSHIPS)

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2021 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation as Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.03 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

By:

Name:

Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[    ]

 

Exhibit G-4-1

Exhibit 10.7

Execution Version

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November 1, 2021, to be effective as of the Company Merger Effective Time (as defined below), by and among Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the Persons identified on Schedule I hereto (each, an “Initial Holder”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the Company is party to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, Raptor Condor Merger Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Raptor Condor Merger Sub 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Crestone Peak Resources LP, a Delaware limited partnership, CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc., a Delaware corporation, Crestone Peak Resources Management LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (solely for purposes of Article VI, Section 7.1, Section 7.5 through Section 7.9, Section 7.11, Section 7.24, Article VIII and Article X) (the “Merger Agreement”);

WHEREAS, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Company will issue to the Initial Holders the Shares (as defined below) in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement; and

WHEREAS, this Agreement shall become effective as of the Company Merger Effective Time.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

30% Rule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a).

Adoption Agreement” means an Adoption Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Affiliate” means as to any Person, any other Person who directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. As used in this Agreement, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, (a) the Company, on the one hand, and each of the Holders, on the other hand, shall not be considered Affiliates of one another, and (b) each Management Holder, the Broe Holder, and the CPPIB Holder shall not be considered Affiliates of one another.


Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

Block Trade” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

Broe Holder” means Broe CR Investor, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, and its Permitted Transferees.

Business Day” means a day other than a day on which banks in the State of New York are authorized or obligated to be closed.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor governmental agency.

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

Company Merger Effective Time” has the meaning assigned such term in the Merger Agreement.

Company Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c)(i).

CPPIB” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a).

CPPIB Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a).

CPPIB Holder” means CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources Canada Inc. and its Permitted Transferees.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

Governmental Entity” means any federal, state, local or municipal court, governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission or other government authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign (which entity has jurisdiction over the applicable Person).

Group Company” and “Group Companies” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a).

Holder” means a holder of Registrable Securities; provided, however, that no Broe Holder or Management Holder shall be considered a “Holder” for purposes of Section 2.5.

Holder Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b)(i).

 

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Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

Initial Holder” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Initial Period” means the period of time beginning with the Company Merger Effective Time and ending on the six month anniversary of the Company Merger Effective Time.

Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the regulations of U.S. Treasury thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

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.

Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Management Holders” means the individuals listed on Schedule I attached hereto under the heading “Management Holders.”

Managing Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the lead book-running manager(s) of such Underwritten Offering.

Merger Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Offering Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) provided, however, that no Broe Holder or Management Holder shall be considered an “Offering Holder” for purposes of Section 2.2 or Section 2.3.

Organized Offering” means a Shelf Underwritten Offering or a Block Trade.

Permitted Transferee” means any Affiliate of a Holder, provided that such Transferee has delivered to the Company a duly executed Adoption Agreement.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, association, trust, government, governmental agency or other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

Piggyback Underwritten Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).

Proceeding” means any actual or threatened claim (including a claim of a violation of applicable Law), cause of action, action, audit, demand, litigation, suit, proceeding, investigation, citation, inquiry, originating application to a tribunal, arbitration or other proceeding at Law or in equity or order or ruling, in each case whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, whether in contract, in tort or otherwise, and whether or not such claim, cause of action, action, audit, demand, litigation, suit, proceeding, investigation, citation, inquiry, originating application to a tribunal, arbitration or other proceeding or order or ruling results in a formal civil or criminal litigation or regulatory action.

 

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Registrable Securities” shall mean (a) the Shares and (b) any securities issued or issuable with respect to the Shares by way of distribution or in connection with any reorganization or other recapitalization, merger, consolidation or otherwise; provided, however, that a Registrable Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Registrable Security is disposed of under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act as a result of which the Transferee thereof does not receive “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or (iii) such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a transaction in which the Transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the Transferee pursuant to Article V; and provided, further, that any security that has ceased to be a Registrable Security shall not thereafter become a Registrable Security and any security that is issued or distributed in respect of securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities shall not be a Registrable Security.

Registration Expenses” means (a) all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Article II, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants and independent petroleum engineers for the Company, fees and expenses (including counsel fees) incurred in connection with complying with state securities or “blue sky” laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., and fees of transfer agents and registrars, and (b) reasonable fees and disbursements of one legal counsel for the Selling Holders; in each case, excluding any Selling Expenses.

Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed or to be filed with the Commission under the Securities Act, including the related prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Section 2.2 Maximum Number of Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

Section 2.5 Maximum Number of Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. References to any rule under the Securities Act shall be deemed to refer to any similar or successor rule or regulation.

Selling Expenses” means all (a) underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions allocable to the sale of Registrable Securities, (b) transfer taxes allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities, and (c) costs or expenses related to any roadshows conducted in connection with the marketing of any Shelf Underwritten Offering; in each case, excluding any Registration Expenses.

 

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Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Broe Holder or Management Holder shall be considered a “Selling Holder” for purposes of Section 2.2 or Section 2.3.

Shares” means the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Initial Holders pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

Shelf Underwritten Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Subsequent Period” means the period of time beginning on the six month anniversary of the Company Merger Effective Time and ending on the one year anniversary of the Company Merger Effective Time.

Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

Transfer” means any offer, sale, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, entry into any contract to sell, grant of an option to purchase, short sale, assignment, transfer, exchange, gift, bequest or other disposition, direct or indirect, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise. “Transfer,” when used as a verb, and “Transferee” and “Transferor” have correlative meanings.

Underwritten Offering” means a registered underwritten offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which Registrable Securities are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public.

Underwritten Offering Filing” means (a) with respect to a Shelf Underwritten Offering, a preliminary prospectus supplement (or prospectus supplement if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) to the Shelf Registration Statement relating to such Shelf Underwritten Offering, and (b) with respect to a Piggyback Underwritten Offering, (i) a preliminary prospectus supplement (or prospectus supplement if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) to an effective shelf Registration Statement (other than the Shelf Registration Statement) in which Registrable Securities could be included and the Holders could be named as selling security holders without the filing of a post-effective amendment thereto (other than a post-effective amendment that becomes effective upon filing) or (ii) a Registration Statement (other than the Shelf Registration Statement), in each case relating to such Piggyback Underwritten Offering.

WKSI” means a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

 

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ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 2.1 Shelf Registration.

(a) Within 20 Business Days of the written request of the CPPIB Holder, which written request may be delivered no earlier than three months after the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company shall prepare and file a “shelf” registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) (the “Shelf Registration Statement”), and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become or be declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, including by filing an automatic shelf registration statement that becomes effective upon filing with the Commission in accordance with Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act to the extent the Company is then a WKSI. Following the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall provide written notice of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement to each Holder of Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement.

(b) The Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company, on Form S-1 or such other form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of the Registrable Securities and shall contain a prospectus in such form as to permit the Holders to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar rule adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement. The Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for the distribution or resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to a Holder and requested by such Holder.

(c) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities until all of the Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities or the earlier termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1.

(d) When effective, the Shelf Registration Statement (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained in the Shelf Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements are made).

(e) The Company shall give written notice of any Shelf Registration Statement that is requested by the CPPIB Holder pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or that is otherwise proposed to be filed by the Company to the CPPIB Holder (to the extent the CPPIB Holder is not the initial requesting Holder under Section 2.1(a)), the Broe Holder and the Management Holders, which notice shall be held in strict confidence by the such Holders and shall include the anticipated filing date of the Shelf Registration Statement and, if known, the number of shares of Common Stock that are proposed to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement, and of such Holders’ rights under this Section 2.1(e). Such notice shall be given promptly (and in any event at least ten Business Days before the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement). If such notice is delivered pursuant to this Section 2.1(e), each of the CPPIB Holder, the Broe Holder and the Management Holders shall then have five Business Days after the date on which such Holder received notice pursuant to this Section 2.1(e) to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Shelf Registration Statement (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable

 

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Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder and such other information as is reasonably required to effect the inclusion of such Registrable Securities). If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within such period, such Holder shall have no further right to include any Registrable Securities on such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that nothing in the foregoing will eliminate or reduce any Holder’s rights to subsequently request registration of such Holder’s Registrable Securities on a separate Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or 2.1(e), if applicable.

Section 2.2 Underwritten Shelf Offering Requests.

(a) In the event that one or more Selling Holders (the “Offering Holders”) elect to dispose of Registrable Securities totaling 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering, the Company shall, at the request of the Offering Holders, subject to the agreement of the Company on the form of such Underwritten Offering (whether a typical underwritten offering, or an overnight or bought deal), enter into an underwriting agreement in a form as is customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company with the underwriter or underwriters selected pursuant to Section 2.2(c) and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are requested by the Managing Underwriter of such Underwritten Offering and/or the Offering Holders in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (a “Shelf Underwritten Offering”); provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to facilitate or participate in (i) any Shelf Underwritten Offerings that are initiated by any Offering Holder pursuant to this Section 2.2 during the Initial Period, or (ii) more than two Organized Offerings, in the aggregate, that are initiated by the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 during or after the Subsequent Period. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of such Shelf Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Section 2.2(a), such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to the Company and the Managing Underwriter of such Underwritten Offering at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect to such offering; however, after two such withdrawals, any further withdrawals shall count as Organized Offerings as limited by clause (ii) above. No such withdrawal shall affect the Company’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses.

(b) If the Managing Underwriter of the Shelf Underwritten Offering shall inform the Company and the Offering Holders in writing of its belief that the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering by any other Persons having registration rights with respect to such offering, when added to the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be offered by the Offering Holders, would materially adversely affect such offering, then the Company shall include in the applicable Underwritten Offering Filing, to the extent of the total number of Registrable Securities that the Company is so advised can be sold in such Shelf Underwritten Offering without so materially adversely affecting such offering (the “Section 2.2 Maximum Number of Shares”), Registrable Securities in the following priority:

(i) First, all Registrable Securities that the Offering Holders requested to be included therein (the “Holder Securities”), and

 

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(ii) Second, to the extent that the number of Holder Securities is less than the Section 2.2 Maximum Number of Shares, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by any other Persons having registration rights with respect to such offering, pro rata among such other Persons based on the number of Registrable Securities each requested to be included.

(c) The Company shall propose three or more nationally prominent firms of investment bankers reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as the Managing Underwriter or as other underwriters in connection with such Shelf Underwritten Offering from which the Holder shall select the Managing Underwriter and the other underwriters. The Holder shall determine the pricing of the Registrable Securities offered pursuant to any Shelf Underwritten Offering and the applicable underwriting discounts and commissions and determine the timing of any such Shelf Underwritten Offering, subject to Section 2.4.

Section 2.3 Block Trades. In the event that one or more Offering Holders elect to dispose of Registrable Securities totaling 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to a block trade with the assistance of the Company (a “Block Trade”), the Company shall, at the request of the Offering Holders, enter into customary agreements and shall take all such other customary actions as are requested by the Offering Holders in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to facilitate or participate in (i) any Block Trades that are initiated by the Holder pursuant to this Section 2.3 during the Initial Period, or (ii) more than two Organized Offerings, in the aggregate, that are initiated by the Holders pursuant to Section 2.2 or this Section 2.3 during or after the Subsequent Period.

Section 2.4 Delay and Suspension Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may (i) delay filing or effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or effecting a Shelf Underwritten Offering, (ii) suspend the Holders’ use of any prospectus that is a part of a Shelf Registration Statement upon written notice to the Holders (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material non-public information regarding the Company) (in which event the Holders shall discontinue sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement but may settle any then-contracted sales of Registrable Securities), or (iii) delay a Block Trade, in each case for a period of up to 60 consecutive days, if the Board determines (A) that such delay or suspension is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders generally due to a pending financing or other transaction involving the Company, including a proposed sale of Common Stock pursuant to a Registration Statement, (B) that such registration or offering would render the Company unable to comply with applicable securities Laws or (C) that such registration or offering would require disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential (any such period, a “Suspension Period”); provided, however, that in no event shall any Suspension Periods collectively exceed an aggregate of 120 days in any 12-month period. The Company may only exercise its suspension rights under this Section 2.4 if it exercises similar suspension rights with respect to each other holder of securities that is entitled to registration rights under an agreement with the Company.

 

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Section 2.5 Piggyback Registration Rights.

(a) Subject to Section 2.5(c), if the Company at any time proposes to file an Underwritten Offering Filing for an Underwritten Offering of shares of Common Stock for its own account or for the account of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights (a “Piggyback Underwritten Offering”), it will give written notice of such Piggyback Underwritten Offering to the Holders, which notice shall be held in strict confidence by the Holders and shall include the anticipated filing date of the Underwritten Offering Filing and, if known, the number of shares of Common Stock that are proposed to be included in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, and of such Holders’ rights under this Section 2.5(a). Such notice shall be given promptly (and in any event at least five Business Days before the filing of the Underwritten Offering Filing or two Business Days before the filing of the Underwritten Offering Filing in connection with a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering); provided, that if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering and the Managing Underwriter advises the Company that the giving of notice pursuant to this Section 2.5(a) would adversely affect such offering, no such notice shall be required (and the Holders shall have no right to include Registrable Securities in such bought or overnight Underwritten Offering). If such notice is delivered pursuant to this Section 2.5(a), each Holder shall then have four Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering) after the date on which such Holder received notice pursuant to this Section 2.5(a) to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Piggyback Underwritten Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder and such other information as is reasonably required to effect the inclusion of such Registrable Securities). If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within such period, such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering. Subject to Section 2.5(c), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include in the Piggyback Underwritten Offering all Registrable Securities that the Company has been so requested to include by a Holder; provided, however, that if, at any time after giving written notice of a proposed Piggyback Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.5(a) and prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto, the Company or such other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, as applicable, shall determine for any reason not to proceed with or to delay such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, the Company shall give written notice of such determination to the Holders participating in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering (which such Holders will hold in strict confidence) and (i) in the case of a determination not to proceed, shall be relieved of its obligation to include any Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering (but not from any obligation of the Company to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith), and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay, shall be permitted to delay inclusion of any Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in including the shares of Common Stock to be sold for the Company’s account or for the account of such other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, as applicable.

(b) Each Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any Piggyback Underwritten Offering at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw. Each Holder may deliver written notice (an “Opt-Out Notice”) to the Company requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Company of any proposed Piggyback Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Company shall not, and shall not be required to, deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.5 and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in any Piggyback Underwritten Offering.

 

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(c) If the Managing Underwriter of the Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall inform the Company of its belief that the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be offered by the Company or such other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights (and any other shares of Common Stock requested to be included by any other Persons having registration rights on parity with the Holder with respect to such offering), would materially adversely affect such offering, then the Company shall include in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, to the extent of the total number of securities which the Company is so advised can be sold in such offering without so materially adversely affecting such offering (the “Section 2.5 Maximum Number of Shares”), shares of Common Stock in the following priority:

(i) First, (A) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of the Company, all shares of Common Stock that the Company proposes to include for its own account (the “Company Securities”) or, (B) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, all shares of Common Stock that such Persons propose to include (the “Other Securities”); and

(ii) Second, (A) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of the Company, to the extent that the number of Company Securities is less than the Section 2.5 Maximum Number of Shares, the shares of Common Stock requested to be included by the Holder and holders of any other shares of Common Stock requested to be included by Persons having rights of registration on parity with the Holders with respect to such offering, pro rata among the Holders and such other holders based on the number of shares of Common Stock each requested to be included and, (B) if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights, to the extent that the number of Other Securities is less than the Section 2.5 Maximum Number of Shares, the shares of Common Stock requested to be included by the Holders.

Section 2.6 Participation in Underwritten Offerings.

(a) In connection with any Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.2 or Section 2.5, the underwriting agreement into which the Selling Holders and the Company shall enter into shall contain such representations, covenants, indemnities (subject to Article III) and other rights and obligations as are customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder’s authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by Law.

(b) Any participation by a Holder in a Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall be in accordance with the plan of distribution of the Company.

 

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(c) In connection with any Piggyback Underwritten Offering in which the Holder includes Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.5, each Holder agrees (A) to supply any information reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement and/or any other documents relating to such registered offering and (B) to execute and deliver any agreements and instruments being executed by all Holders on substantially the same terms reasonably requested by the Company or the Managing Underwriter, as applicable, to effectuate such registered offering, including, without limitation, underwriting agreements (subject to Section 2.6(a)), custody agreements, lock-ups or “hold back” agreements pursuant to which such Holder agrees with the Managing Underwriter not to sell or purchase any securities of the Company for the shorter of (i) the same period of time following the registered offering as is agreed to by the Company and the other participating Holders (not to exceed the shortest number of days that a director of the Company, “executive officer” (as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) of the Company or any stockholder of the Company (other than such Holder or director or employee of, or consultant to, the Company) who owns 10% or more of the outstanding Shares contractually agrees with the underwriters of such Piggyback Underwritten Offering not to sell any securities of the Company following such Piggyback Underwritten Offering and (ii) 60 days from the date of the execution of the underwriting agreement with respect to such Piggyback Underwritten Offering), powers of attorney and questionnaires.

Section 2.7 Registration Procedures.

(a) In connection with its obligations under this Article II (other than Section 2.3), the Company will:

(i) promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders set forth in such Registration Statement;

(ii) furnish to the Holders such number of conformed copies of such Registration Statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including without limitation all exhibits), such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such Registration Statement (including without limitation each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents, as any Holder may reasonably request;

(iii) if applicable, use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder shall reasonably request, to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such Registration Statement remains in effect, and to take any other action which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the securities owned by such Holder, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (iii) be obligated to be so qualified or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

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(iv) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, use all commercially reasonable efforts to provide to the Selling Holders a copy of any auditor “comfort” letters, customary legal opinions or reports of the independent petroleum engineers of the Company relating to the oil and gas reserves of the Company, in each case that have been provided to the Managing Underwriter in connection with the Underwritten Offering;

(v) promptly notify the Holders, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, and at the request of a Holder promptly prepare and file or furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made;

(vi) otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act;

(vii) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

(viii) cause all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement to be listed on any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;

(ix) in connection with any Underwritten Offering or Block Trade, enter into such customary agreements and take such other actions as any Holder shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; and

(x) in connection with any Underwritten Offering, cause its officers to use their commercially reasonable efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, participation in electronic or telephonic “road shows”).

(b) Each Holder agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Securities that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.7(a)(v), such Holder will forthwith discontinue such Holder’s disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the

 

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supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.7(a)(v) as filed with the Commission or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of such Registration Statement may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession of the prospectus relating to such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this Section 2.7(b).

Section 2.8 Cooperation by Holders; Expenses. The Company shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of any Holder in any Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering if such Holder has failed to timely furnish such information as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities that the Company determines, after consultation with its counsel, is reasonably required in order for any registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses and each Selling Holder will pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities hereunder.

Section 2.9 Canadian 30% Pension Plan Rule.

(a) The Company acknowledges that Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPPIB”) and its subsidiaries, including CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources Canada Inc. (each, a “CPPIB Entity”) are subject to Section 13 of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Regulations, which prohibits CPPIB from, directly or indirectly, investing in the securities of a corporation to which are attached more than 30% of the votes that may be cast to elect or remove the directors of a corporation (the “30% Rule”) and, accordingly, no CPPIB Entity may make any direct or indirect investment in the Company or in any subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the “Group Companies”, and each, a “Group Company”), or take any action or step, that would be in breach of or contravene the 30% Rule.

(b) The Company will, and will cause each other Group Company to, reasonably cooperate with the relevant CPPIB Entities to assist them in complying at all times with the 30% Rule in relation to their direct and indirect (as applicable) investment in each Group Company, including in connection with any follow-on investment by any CPPIB Entity in the Company, provided that, no such cooperation or assistance will be required in connection with any follow-on investment by any CPPIB Entity in any Group Company that is not pursuant to a restructuring of a Group Company.

ARTICLE III

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

Section 3.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its officers and directors and each Person (if any) that controls such Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and any legal or other fees or expenses incurred by such Person in connection with any investigation or Proceeding), expenses, judgments, fines,

 

13


penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (“Losses”) as incurred, caused by, arising out of or based upon, resulting from or related to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or based on any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which such statement is made), provided, however, that such indemnity shall not apply to that portion of such Losses caused by, or arising out of, any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement or any such omission or alleged omission, to the extent such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein.

Section 3.2 Indemnification by the Holder. Each Holder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers and directors and each Person (if any) that controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all Losses caused by, arising out of, resulting from or related to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which such statement is made), only to the extent such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus.

Section 3.3 Indemnification Procedures. In case any Proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2, such Person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing (provided that the failure of the Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article III, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice), and the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and, unless in the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the Indemnified Party a conflict of interest between the Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party may exist in respect of such claim, to assume the defense thereof jointly with any other Indemnifying Party similarly notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party that it so chooses, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that (i) if the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, (ii) if such Indemnified Party who is a defendant in any action or Proceeding which is also brought against the Indemnifying Party reasonably shall have concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to such Indemnified Party

 

14


which are not available to the Indemnifying Party or (iii) if representation of both parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct then, in any such case, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to assume or continue its own defense as set forth above (but with no more than one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent any Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties reasonably shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to such party or parties which are not available to the other Indemnified Parties or to the extent representation of all Indemnified Parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct) and the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any expenses therefor. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (B) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

Section 3.4 Contribution.

(a) If the indemnification provided for in this Article III is unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any Losses in respect of which indemnity is to be provided hereunder, then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall to the fullest extent permitted by Law contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of such party in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company (on the one hand) and a Holder (on the other hand) shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(b) The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Article III were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 3.4(a). The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 3.4(a) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article III, a Holder shall not be liable for indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Article III for any amount in excess of the net proceeds of the offering received by such Holder, less the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

15


ARTICLE IV

RULE 144

With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the resale of the Registrable Securities without registration, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

(a) make and keep public information regarding the Company available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) under the Securities Act, at all times from and after the date hereof;

(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and

(c) so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish (i) to the extent accurate, forthwith upon request, a written statement of the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144 then in force) under the Securities Act and (ii) unless otherwise available via the Commission’s EDGAR filing system, to the Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed as the Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing the Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

ARTICLE V

TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS

The rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities or assist in a Block Trade under Article II of this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by such Holder to one or more Transferees of Registrable Securities if such Transferee is a Permitted Transferee and such Transferee has delivered to the Company a duly executed Adoption Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1 Effectiveness. This Agreement shall not become effective until the Company Merger Effective Time and shall thereafter be effective until terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, this Agreement and all the terms hereunder shall also terminate, regardless of any other provisions set forth in this Agreement.

Section 6.2 Termination. After effectiveness in accordance with Section 6.1, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to each individual Holder, and such Holder and the Company shall have no further rights or obligations hereunder on the earlier of (a) the third anniversary of the date hereof (as may be extended pursuant to the following proviso, the “Termination Date”); provided, however, that such Termination Date shall automatically be extended for additional successive one-year periods with respect to any Holder that, together with

 

16


its Affiliates and its and their respective Permitted Transferees, continues to hold at least 10% of the then-outstanding Common Stock; or (b) on such earlier date on which both (i) such individual Holder, together with its Affiliates and its and their respective Permitted Transferees, owns less than 2.5% of the Company’s voting securities and (ii) all Registrable Securities owned by such Holder may be sold without restriction (including any limitation thereunder on volume or manner of sale and without the need for current public information) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; provided, however, that Article III shall survive any termination hereof.

Section 6.3 Severability and Construction. Each party hereto agrees that, should any court or other competent authority hold any provision of this Agreement or part hereof to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such other term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, in response to an order from a court or other competent authority for any party hereto to take any action inconsistent herewith or not to take an action consistent herewith or required hereby, to the extent that a party hereto took an action inconsistent with this Agreement or failed to take action consistent with this Agreement or required by this Agreement pursuant to such order, such party hereto shall not incur any liability or obligation unless such party hereto did not in good faith seek to resist or object to the imposition or entering of such order.

Section 6.4 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Selection of Forum; 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 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 HERETO 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 OR THE DELAWARE SUPREME COURT DETERMINES THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION 111 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, THE COURT OF CHANCERY DOES NOT HAVE OR SHOULD NOT EXERCISE SUBJECT MATTER 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 SOLELY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISPUTE THAT ARISES IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY

 

17


THE MERGER AGREEMENT, 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 HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED EXCLUSIVELY BY SUCH 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 6.7 OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF.

(c) 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 CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) 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; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 6.4.

Section 6.5 Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to any and all shares of capital stock of the Company or any successor or assignee of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution for the Shares, by reason of any stock dividend, split, reverse split, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise in such a manner and with such appropriate adjustments as to reflect the intent and meaning of the provisions hereof and so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the capital stock of the Company as so changed.

Section 6.6 Binding Effects; Benefits of Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. Except as provided in Article V, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, benefits or obligations hereunder may be assigned or transferred, by operation of law or otherwise, by a Holder without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

18


Section 6.7 Notices. All notices hereunder shall be deemed given if in writing and delivered, by electronic mail, courier, or registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), to the following addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be specified by like notice):

(a) If to the Company, to:

Civitas Resources, Inc.

410 17th St.

Denver, CO 80202

Attention: Skip Marter, General Counsel

E mail:

(b) If to a Holder, to the address or electronic mail addresses of such Holder as it appears on such Holder’s signature page attached hereto or such other address as may be designated in writing by such Holder;

or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to such other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any notice given by delivery, mail, or courier shall be effective when received.

Section 6.8 Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. No course of dealing between the Company and a Holder or any delay in exercising any rights hereunder will operate as a waiver of any rights of any party to this Agreement. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

Section 6.9 Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein, this Agreement (together with the Merger Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined in the Merger Agreement), and any other documents and instruments executed pursuant hereto or thereto) constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, oral or written, among the parties hereto with respect thereto.

Section 6.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered in any number of counterparts and by way of electronic signature and delivery, each such counterpart, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same agreement. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, each individual executing this Agreement on behalf of a party hereto has been duly authorized and empowered to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of said party hereto.

Section 6.11 Further Assurances. Subject to the other terms of this Agreement, the parties hereto agree to execute and deliver such other instruments and perform such acts, in addition to the matters herein specified, as may be reasonably appropriate or necessary, from time to time, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, as applicable.

 

19


Section 6.12 Prior Registration Rights. For the avoidance of doubt, the Holders are deemed to have registration rights on parity with the registration rights granted in (i) that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2021, by and among the Company and Franklin Advisers, Inc., as investment manager on behalf of certain funds and accounts, and (ii) that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2021, by and among the Company and Kimmeridge Chelsea, LLC.

[signature page follows]

 

20


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed by its undersigned duly authorized representative as of the date first written above.

 

THE COMPANY:
CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:   /s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV
Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV

Title:

 

General Counsel and Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


HOLDERS:
CPPIB CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES CANADA INC.
By:   /s/ David Chambers
Name:   David Chambers
Title:   Managing Director
  Address:
            c/o Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
            One Queen Street East, Suite 2500
            Toronto, Ontario M5C 2W5 Canada
  Contact Person:
  Telephone No:
  Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


BROE CR INVESTOR, LLC
By:   /s/ Greg Gallagher
Name:   Greg Gallagher
Title:   Manager
  Address:
 

          Broe CR Investor, LLC

          252 Clayton Street

            Denver, Colorado 80206
  Contact Person: Doug Van Wyk
  Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Anthony G. Buchanon
Anthony G. Buchanon
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ James Moore Trimble
James Moore Trimble
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ John A. Crum
John A. Crum
Cell Ph:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Benita Warmbold
Benita Warmbold
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Roger Huang
Roger Huang
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Jan C. Wilson

Jan C. Wilson

Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Robert F. Heinemann

Robert F. Heinemann

Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Barry Turcotte

Barry Turcotte

Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Klair John Schmidt

Klair John Schmidt

Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Ross Ohlmeier

Ross Ohlmeier

Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Emily Anne Miller

Emily Anne Miller

Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Kristen L. Busang

Kristen L. Busang

Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ David Stewart
David Stewart
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Chad Mulliniks
Chad Mulliniks
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Shea Anne Starr Kauffman
Shea Anne Starr Kauffman
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Jason Charles Oates
Jason Charles Oates
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Matthew J. Purchase
Matthew J. Purchase
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


/s/ Sean Travis Austin
Sean Travis Austin
Address:
Telephone No:
Email:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

HOLDERS

CPPIB Holder:

 

   

CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources Canada Inc.

Broe Holder:

 

   

Broe CR Investor, LLC

Management Holders:

 

   

Anthony Buchanon

 

   

James Trimble

 

   

John Crum

 

   

Benita Warmbold

 

   

Roger Huang

 

   

Jan Wilson

 

   

Robert Heinemann

 

   

Barry Turcotte

 

   

Klair Schmidt

 

   

Ross Ohlmeier

 

   

Emily Miller

 

   

Kristen Busang

 

   

David Stewart

 

   

Chad Mulliniks

 

   

Shea Kauffman

 

   

Jason Oates

 

   

Matthew Purchase

 

   

Sean Austin

Schedule I


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“Adoption Agreement”) is executed by the undersigned transferee (“Transferee”) pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021, between Civitas Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) and the Persons identified on Schedule I thereto (as amended from time to time, the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Terms used and not otherwise defined in this Adoption Agreement have the meanings set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

By the execution of this Adoption Agreement, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

1.

Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement among the Company and the Holders.

 

2.

Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the Registrable Securities acquired by Transferee shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Registration Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he, she or it were originally a party thereto.

 

3.

Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Registration Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

4.

Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption Agreement to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Registration Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Signature:

 
 

Address:

Contact Person:

Telephone No:

Email:

Exhibit A

Exhibit 10.8

Execution Version

BOARD OBSERVER AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

This BOARD OBSERVER AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT, dated as of November 1, 2021 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources Canada Inc. (the “CPP Holder”), and Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). The CPP Holder and the Company are herein referred to as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, on June 6, 2021, the Company entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, among Crestone Peak Resources LP, a Delaware limited partnership, CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Crestone Peak”), Crestone Peak Resources Management LP, a Delaware limited partnership, the Company, Raptor Condor Merger Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Raptor Condor Merger Sub 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (solely for purposes of Article VI, Section 7.1, Section 7.5 through Section 7.9, Section 7.11, Section 7.24, Article VIII and Article X thereof) (the “Merger Agreement”);

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, the Company and the CPP Holder agreed upon a form of registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), which shall become effective at the Company Merger Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement);

WHEREAS, on June 6, 2021, in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company and the CPP Holder entered into that certain Support Agreement, among the Company, the CPP Holder and Crestone Peak (the “Support Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, in connection with entry into the Merger Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Support Agreement, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined it to be in the best interests of the Company to provide the CPP Holder with certain observation rights in respect of the Board, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each of the Parties hereto, the Parties hereby agree as follows:


AGREEMENT

Section 1. Board Observation Rights.

(a) During the period commencing upon the Closing and ending on the Board Rights Termination Date (as defined below), the Company shall grant the CPP Holder the option and right, exercisable by the CPP Holder delivering a written notice signed by the CPP Holder of such appointment to the Company (an “Observer Notice”), to appoint a single representative (the “Board Observer”) to attend all meetings (including telephonic) of the Board and each committee of the Board in an observer capacity. Each such Observer Notice shall remain effective until the earlier of (i) the date it is revoked in writing by the CPP Holder, (ii) the date on which the CPP Holder replaces it with a revised Observer Notice and (iii) the Board Rights Termination Date (as defined below). The Observer Notice shall be delivered to the Company prior to the Board Observer’s attendance at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof. The Board Observer shall not constitute a member of the Board or any committee thereof and shall not be entitled to vote on, or consent to, any matters presented to the Board or any committee thereof. The initial Board Observer shall be David Chambers. The Company shall have the right to approve any subsequent representative to be appointed by the CPP Holder to replace Mr. Chambers as Board Observer, provided that such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed with respect to any representative that, at the time of appointment by such CPP Holder, is an employee of the CPP Holder or any of its affiliates.

(b) The Company shall (i) give the Board Observer written notice of each meeting or action taken by written consent at the same time and in the same manner as notice is given to the members of the Board, (ii) provide the Board Observer with copies of all written materials and other information (including copies of minutes of meetings or written consents of the Board and each committee of the Board given to the members of the Board and each such committee in connection with such meetings or actions taken by written consent) at the same time such materials and information are furnished to such members of the Board and each such committee, and (iii) provide the Board Observer with the same right to attend (whether in person or by telephone or other means of electronic communication as solely determined by the Board Observer) such meetings as is given to a member of the Board or each such committee, as applicable. Each of the Board Observer and the CPP Holder shall agree to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information and proceedings of the Board and any committee of the Board and to comply with, and be bound by, in all respects, the terms and conditions of the confidentiality agreement set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). The CPP Holder shall be responsible for any breach by the Board Observer of the Confidentiality Agreement and for the breach by any Permitted Recipient (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) of their confidentiality obligations. Notwithstanding any rights to be granted or provided to the Board Observer hereunder, the Board or any Board committee (solely as to the material or meeting of such committee) may exclude the Board Observer from access to any material or meeting or portion thereof if the Board or such Board committee concludes, in good faith, that (i) such exclusion is reasonably necessary to preserve the attorney-client or work product privilege between the Company and its affiliates and its counsel (provided, however, that any such exclusion shall apply only to such portion of such material or meeting which would be reasonably required to preserve such privilege), (ii) such materials or discussion relates to an existing or potential contractual or other relationship or transaction between the Company or any of its affiliates, on the one hand, and the CPP Holder or any of its affiliates, on the other hand, or (iii) such exclusion is necessary because the Board Observer or the CPP Holder has or may have a conflict of interest with respect to any matter under discussion or consideration by the Board or any committee thereof. In the event that the Board Observer or the CPP Holder has or may have a conflict of interest with respect to any matter under discussion or consideration by the Board or any committee thereof, the Board Observer and the CPP Holder shall be required to disclose to the Board, in writing, the existence of such conflict, and the Board Observer shall recuse himself or herself from such meeting; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent such conflict of interest is personal to such Board Observer, the CPP Holder shall have the right, upon delivery of written notice to the Company, to appoint a single substitute Board Observer to attend such meeting or any subsequent meeting (or the applicable portion thereof), and such notice shall not be deemed to be a revocation of any Observer Notice then in effect.

 

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(c) The rights of the CPP Holder contained in this Section 1 shall immediately cease and terminate on the earlier of (i) the date on which the CPP Holder no longer owns an amount of shares of Company Common Stock that is equal to ten percent (10%) or more of the total number of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, regardless of whether such failure to own such number of shares of Company Common Stock results from sales by the CPP Holder, dilution as the result of new issuances by the Company, or otherwise and (ii) the date on which the CPP Holder has permanently waived and renounced, in writing, its board observation rights in this Section 1 of this Agreement (such earlier date, the “Board Rights Termination Date”).

(d) The option and right to appoint a Board Observer granted to the CPP Holder by the Company under this Section 1 may not be transferred or assigned by the CPP Holder without the prior written consent of the Company; provided, however, that the CPP Holder may assign all (but not less than all) of its rights under this Section 1 to any of its Affiliates without the prior written consent of the Company. Such a permitted assignee, upon and after such consent, shall be considered the CPP Holder under this Agreement.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Board Observer shall not have, and shall not be deemed to have or otherwise be subject to, (i) any duties (fiduciary or otherwise) to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective stockholders or other equityholders or owners, and (ii) except as described in Section 1 and Section 2 of this Agreement, no obligations to the Company under this Agreement.

Section 2. Confidentiality.

(a) As used in this Agreement, subject to Section 2(c) below, “Confidential Information” means any and all non-public financial information or other non-public information concerning the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates that may hereafter be disclosed to the Board Observer by the Company, its Subsidiaries, their Affiliates or by any of the directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors or other representatives (including financial advisors, accountants or legal counsel) (the “Representatives”) of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including all notices, minutes, consents, materials, ideas or other information (to the extent constituting information concerning the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Affiliates that is non-public financial information or other non-public information) provided to the Board Observer.

(b) Except to the extent permitted by this Section 2(b) or by Section 2(c) or Section 2(d) below, the CPP Holder shall cause the Board Observer to keep such Confidential Information strictly confidential and shall cause the Board Observer not to use the Confidential Information for any purpose other than in connection with his or her role as a Board Observer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided, that the Board Observer may share Confidential Information with the CPP Holder and its Affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, legal counsel and other representatives (the “Permitted Recipients”) who (a) have a need to know such information and (b) are informed of the confidential

 

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nature of such information. The CPP Holder and the other Permitted Recipients shall keep such Confidential Information strictly confidential and shall not use the Confidential Information for any purpose other than monitoring the CPP Holder’s investment in the Company and exercising the CPP Holder’s rights as an investor in the Company and its rights under this Agreement; provided, however, that, subject to Section 2(e) below, the foregoing shall not apply to the extent the CPP Holder, its Affiliates, or any of the Permitted Recipients or the Board Observer is requested or compelled to disclose Confidential Information by statute, rule, regulation, arbitral or judicial or regulatory process or otherwise requested by any governmental authority. The Board Observer may not record the proceedings of any meeting of the Board by means of an electronic recording device.

(c) The term “Confidential Information” does not include information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than (a) as a result of a disclosure by the Board Observer in violation of this Agreement or (b) in violation of a confidentiality obligation to the Company or its Subsidiaries known to the Board Observer or the CPP Holder, (ii) is or becomes available to the Board Observer or the CPP Holder or any of its Affiliates or the Permitted Recipients on a non-confidential basis from a source not known by the Board Observer or the CPP Holder or any of its Affiliates to have an obligation of confidentiality to the Company or its Subsidiaries, (iii) was already known to the Board Observer or the CPP Holder or any of its Affiliates or the Permitted Recipients at the time of disclosure, or (iv) is independently developed by the Board Observer or the CPP Holder or any of its Affiliates or the Permitted Recipients without reference to any Confidential Information disclosed to the Board Observer.

(d) The CPP Holder acknowledges and will advise the Board Observer and the Permitted Recipients that United States securities laws prohibit any person who has received from an issuer any material, non-public information from purchasing or selling securities of such issuer or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.

(e) In the event that the Board Observer or the CPP Holder or any of its Affiliates or Permitted Recipients is required or compelled by statute, rule, regulation, arbitral or judicial process or otherwise requested by any governmental authority to disclose the Confidential Information, the CPP Holder shall use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent permitted and practicable, to provide the Company with prompt prior written notice of such requirement so that the Company or its Subsidiaries or their Affiliates may seek, at such their sole expense and cost, an appropriate protective order. If in the absence of a protective order, the Board Observer or the CPP Holder or any of its Affiliates or Permitted Recipients is nonetheless legally required or compelled to disclose Confidential Information, such person may disclose only the portion of the Confidential Information or other information that it is so legally required or compelled or requested to be disclosed.

(f) All Confidential Information disclosed by the Company, its Subsidiaries or their Representatives to the Board Observer or the CPP Holder is and will remain the property of the Company, so long as such information remains Confidential Information.

 

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(g) It is understood and acknowledged that neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor any Representative makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the Confidential Information or any component thereof.

(h) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the obligations of this Section 2 will automatically expire one (1) year after the occurrence of the Board Rights Termination Date.

Section 3. Miscellaneous.

(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) is intended by the Parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by the Company or any of its Affiliates or the CPP Holder or any of its Affiliates set forth herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(b) Notices. All notices and demands provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given if delivered personally or sent by overnight courier (providing 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):

If to the Company:

Civitas Resources, Inc.

410 17th Street, Suite 1400

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: Cyrus D. Marter IV

Email: smarter@civiresources.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Vinson & Elkins LLP

1114 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd Floor

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Shelley A. Barber

Email: sbarber@velaw.com

If to the CPP Holder:

CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources Canada Inc.

One Queen Street East, Suite 2500

Toronto, ON

M5C 2W5

Canada

Attention: Bruce Hogg, Managing Director, Head of Sustainable

Email: legalnotice@cppib.com

 

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with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street, Suite 3700

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Jeff Munoz

       Thomas Brandt

Email:     jeff.munoz@lw.com

                thomas.brandt@lw.com

(c) Interpretation. Section references in this Agreement are references to the corresponding Section to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All references to instruments, documents, contracts and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified. The word “including” shall mean “including but not limited to” and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it. Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by a Party, such action shall be in such Party’s sole discretion, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement. If any provision in this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, not binding or unenforceable, (i) such provision shall be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, not binding or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and (ii) the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible. When calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded, and if the last day of such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day. Any words imparting the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa. The words such as “herein,” “hereinafter,” “hereof” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context otherwise requires. The division of this Agreement into Sections and other subdivisions and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect or be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

(d) Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. 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 (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement), will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any action against any Party relating to the foregoing shall be brought in any federal or state court of

 

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competent jurisdiction located within the State of Delaware, and the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located within the State of Delaware over any such action. Each of the Parties agrees (i) that this Agreement involves at least $100,000.00, and (ii) that this Agreement has been entered into by the Parties in express reliance upon 6 Del. C. § 2708. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees (1) that it is and shall continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware, and (2)(A) to the extent that such Party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such Party’s agent for acceptance of legal processes and notify the other Parties of the name and address of such agent, and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law, that service of process may also be made on such Party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the U.S. Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, service made pursuant to (2)(A) or (B) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably 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 such dispute brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the Parties hereto agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.

(e) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, AND AGREES TO CAUSE ITS AFFILIATES TO WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION (i) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (ii) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

(f) No Waiver; Modifications in Writing.

(i) Delay. No failure or delay on the part of any Party in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to a Party at law or in equity or otherwise.

 

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(ii) Specific Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment, waiver, consent, modification or termination of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless signed by each of the Parties hereto. Any amendment, supplement or modification of or to any provision of this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement and any consent to any departure by a Party from the terms of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which made or given. Except where notice is specifically required by this Agreement, no notice to or demand on a Party in any case shall entitle such Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Any investigation by or on behalf of any Party shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Party taking such action of compliance with any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein.

(g) Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(h) Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, but, subject to Section 1(d), will not be assignable or delegable by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party.

(i) Independent Counsel. Each of the Parties acknowledges that it has been represented by independent counsel of its choice throughout all negotiations that have preceded the execution of this Agreement and that it has executed the same with consent and upon the advice of said independent counsel. Each Party and its counsel cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents referred to herein, and any and all drafts relating thereto will be deemed the work product of the Parties and may not be construed against any Party by reason of its preparation. Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against the Party that drafted it is of no application and is hereby expressly waived.

(j) Specific Enforcement. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that monetary damages would not adequately compensate an injured Party for the breach of this Agreement by any Party, that this Agreement shall be specifically enforceable and that any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement shall be the proper subject of a temporary or permanent injunction or restraining order without a requirement of posting bond. Further, each Party waives any claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law for such breach or threatened breach.

(k) Further Assurances. Each of the Parties shall, from time to time and without further consideration, execute such further instruments and take such other actions as any other Party shall reasonably request in order to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY
CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV
Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

[Signature Page to Board Observer and Confidentiality Agreement]


CPP HOLDER:
CPPIB CRESTONE PEAK RESOURCES CANADA INC.
By:  

/s/ David Chambers

Name:   David Chambers
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Board Observer and Confidentiality Agreement]

Exhibit 10.9

INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

This Agreement (this “Agreement”) made and entered into as of November 1, 2021 by and between Civitas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the individual signing this Agreement under the heading “Indemnitee” on the signature page hereto (“Indemnitee”), who is currently serving the Company in the capacity of director or executive officer.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize that the interpretation of ambiguous statutes, regulations and court opinions and of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as amended, the “Bylaws”), and the vagaries of public policy, are too uncertain to provide the directors and executive officers of the Company with adequate or reliable advance knowledge or guidance with respect to the legal risks and potential liabilities to which they become personally exposed as a result of performing their duties in good faith for the Company;

WHEREAS, competent and experienced individuals are reluctant to serve as members of the board of directors or executive officers of a corporation unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or indemnification against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of such service;

WHEREAS, Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Incorporation, which set forth certain provisions relating to the mandatory and permissive indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, officers and directors (among others) of a Delaware corporation by such corporation, are specifically not exclusive of other rights to which those indemnified thereunder may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise;

WHEREAS, after due consideration and investigation of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the various other options available to the Company and the Indemnitee in lieu thereof, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) has determined that the following Agreement is not only reasonable and prudent but necessary to promote and ensure the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to have Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or executive officer of the Company, free from undue concern for unpredictable, inappropriate or unreasonable legal risks and personal liabilities by reason of her acting in good faith in the performance of her duty to the Company; and Indemnitee desires to serve (provided that she is furnished the indemnity provided for hereinafter), in such capacity;


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

1. Agreement to Serve. Indemnitee agrees to serve or continue to serve as a director or executive officer of the Company for so long as she is duly appointed and qualified in accordance with the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws or until such time as she tenders her resignation. The Company acknowledges that the Indemnitee is relying on this Agreement in so serving as a director or executive officer.

2. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

(a) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”). For purposes of this Section 2(a), the following acquisitions by a Person will not constitute a Change of Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of paragraph (iii) below;

(ii) the individuals who, as of the later of the date hereof or the last amendment to this Agreement approved by the Board of Directors, constitute the board of directors (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the board of directors. Any individual becoming a director subsequent to the later of the date hereof or the last amendment to this Agreement approved by the Board of Directors whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, is approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board of Directors will be considered a member of the Incumbent Board as of the later of the date hereof or the last amendment to this Agreement approved by the Board of Directors, but any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Incumbent Board of Directors will not be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board as of the later of the date hereof or the last amendment to this Agreement approved by the Board of Directors;

(iii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), unless following such Business Combination: (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners,

 

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respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination; or

(iv) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(b) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(c) “Enterprise” shall mean any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, organization or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.

(d) The term “Expenses” includes, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise involved in, a Proceeding. Should any payments by the Company under this Agreement be determined to be subject to any federal, state or local income or excise tax, Expenses will also include such amounts as are necessary to place Indemnitee in the same after-tax position, after giving effect to all applicable taxes, Indemnitee would have been in had such tax not have been determined to

 

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apply to those payments. Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent and (ii) Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise, but shall not include the amount of judgments, fines or penalties actually levied against Indemnitee.

(e) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

(f) “Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative, any appeal in such an action, suit, or proceeding, and any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such an action, suit or proceeding irrespective of the initiator thereof. The final disposition of a Proceeding shall be as determined by a settlement or the judgment of a court or other investigative or administrative body. The Board of Directors shall not make a determination as to the final disposition of a Proceeding.

(g) References to “fines” shall include any (i) excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan and (ii) penalties; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent with respect to an Enterprise; and a person who acts in good faith and in a manner she reasonably believed to be in the interest of the Enterprise shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

3. Indemnity in Third Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding (other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or executive officer of the Company, or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of an Enterprise, against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts

 

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paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee (or on his behalf) in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, provided it is determined pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement or by the court having jurisdiction in the matter, that Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner that she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that her conduct was unlawful.

4. Indemnity in Proceedings By or In the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to or otherwise involved in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or executive officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of an Enterprise, against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee (or on her behalf) in connection with such Proceeding provided it is determined pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement or by the court having jurisdiction in the matter, that Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, except that no indemnification shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such Proceeding was brought or is pending, shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such Expenses as the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or executive officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of an Enterprise, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, she shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee (or on her behalf) in connection therewith.

6. Indemnification for Expenses of Successful Party. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding referred to in Sections 3 and/or 4 of this Agreement, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, including dismissal with or without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee (or on her behalf) in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in any Proceeding referred to in Sections 3 and/or 4 of this Agreement, but is successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal with or without prejudice) as to one or more, but less than all claims, issues or matters therein, including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be

 

5


indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee (or on her behalf) in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section 6, and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in any Proceeding referred to in Sections 3 and/or 4 of this Agreement by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

7. Advances of Expenses; Notification and Defense of Claim.

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee pursuant to Sections 3 and/or 4 of this Agreement in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein shall be paid by the Company currently and in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein no later than 20 days after receipt by the Company of a request for an Expense advancement with appropriate documentation (which shall include invoices received by Indemnitee in connection with such expenses but, in the case of invoices in connection with legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditures made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law shall not be included with the invoice); provided, however, that Indemnitee shall deliver such request for an Expense advancement to the Company within 60 days after the Indemnitee receives appropriate documentation with regard to such Expense. The undersigned Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay the advanced Expenses to the Company to the extent that it is ultimately determined pursuant to Section 8, or, in the event the Indemnitee elects to pursue other remedies pursuant to Section 10, that the undersigned Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified therefor by the Company. This agreement of Indemnitee to repay is unsecured and interest free.

(b) Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if a claim thereof is to be made against the Company hereunder, notify the Company of the commencement thereof. The failure to promptly notify the Company of the commencement of the Proceeding, or Indemnitee’s request for indemnification, will not relieve the Company from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder, except to the extent that the Company is prejudiced in its defense of such Proceeding as a result of such failure.

(c) In the event the Company shall be obligated to pay the expenses of Indemnitee with respect to an action, suit or proceeding, as provided in this Agreement, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, the approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding, provided that (1) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee’s own counsel in such Proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense and (2) if (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the Company, (ii) counsel to the Company or Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest or position, or reasonably believes that a conflict is likely to arise, on any significant issue

 

6


between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (iii) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company, except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement. The Company shall not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Company or as to which counsel for the Company or Indemnitee shall have reasonably made the conclusion provided for in clause (ii) above.

8. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.

(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request.

(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Disinterested Directors shall direct Independent Counsel to make such determination in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, or (B) by a committee of the Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, or (C) if there are no Disinterested Directors or, if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within 20 days after such determination. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred in connection with successfully establishing Indemnitee’s right to indemnification, in whole or in part, by Indemnitee in cooperating with the person, persons or entity making the determination discussed in this Section 8(b) with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, shall be borne by the Company and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(c) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 8(c). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the

 

7


requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court of Chancery or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 8(a) hereof.

(d) Indemnitee will be deemed a party to a Proceeding for all purposes hereof if Indemnitee is named as a defendant or respondent in a complaint or petition for relief in that Proceeding, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ever served with process or makes an appearance in that Proceeding.

 

  9.

Presumptions and Effect of Certain Provisions.

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof in overcoming such presumption by clear and convincing evidence. Neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 8 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within 30 days after receipt by the Company therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 15 days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

8


(c) For purposes of any determination of whether Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had no reasonable cause to believe her conduct was unlawful (collectively, “Good Faith”), Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in Good Faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Company and any other Enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent or information, opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements and other financial information, concerning the Company and any other Enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent or any other person which were prepared or supplied to Indemnitee by: (i) one or more officers or employees of the Company and any Enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent; (ii) appraisers, engineers, investment bankers, legal counsel or other persons as to matters Indemnitee reasonably believed were within the professional or expert competence of those persons; and (iii) any committee of the Board of Directors or equivalent managing body of the Company and any other Enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of which Indemnitee is or was, at the relevant time, not a member. The provisions of this Section 9(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(d) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company and any other Enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

  10.

Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement within the time period provided in Section 9(b) after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, Section 6, the last sentence of Section 8(b), or the last sentence of Section 2(d) of this Agreement within 20 days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or Section 4 of this Agreement is not made within 20 days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court of Chancery of her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses and appeals therefrom, concluding in a final and unappealable judgment by the Delaware Supreme Court. The Board of Directors shall not make a determination as to the final disposition of such adjudication. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication.

 

9


(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 10 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.

(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 10, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 10, seeks a judicial adjudication of her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, if such judicial adjudication determines that Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in Section 2(d) of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by her in such judicial adjudication.

(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 10 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

11. Exclusivity; Survival of Rights. The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to and not limited by any other rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, any other agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or otherwise; provided this Agreement shall supersede the indemnification and advancement of Expenses provisions of any employment agreement entered into between the Indemnitee and the Company prior to the date of this Agreement. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

10


12. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification or to receive advancement by the Company for a portion of the Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee (or on her behalf) in connection with such Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter therein, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

13. Rights Continued. The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee even though Indemnitee may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

14. No Construction as an Employment Agreement or Any Other Commitment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in the employ or as an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, if Indemnitee currently serves as an officer of the Company, or to be renominated or reelected as a director of the Company, if Indemnitee currently serves as a director of the Company.

15. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, general partners, managing members, fiduciaries, employees or agents of the Company or any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies.

16. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable under this Agreement if, and to the extent that, Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any contract, agreement or insurance policy, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or otherwise.

17. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including without limitation the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

18. Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, to:

(a) indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee with respect to any Proceeding initiated, brought or made by Indemnitee, including by way of cross-claim, counter claim or the like, except with respect to a Proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification, unless Proceeding was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors;

 

11


(b) indemnify Indemnitee with respect to any Proceeding in which final judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale or the sale and purchase by Indemnitee of securities of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Act; or

(c) indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any Proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, unless Indemnitee is successful in establishing Indemnitee’s right to indemnification in such Proceeding, in whole or in part, or unless and to the extent that the court in such Proceeding shall determine that, despite Indemnitee’s failure to establish her right to indemnification, Indemnitee is entitled to indemnity for such expenses; provided, however that nothing in this Section 18(c) is intended to limit the Company’s obligation with respect to the advancement of expenses to Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, as provided in Section 7 of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any reimbursements hereunder that are taxable as compensation to an Indemnitee, the amount of the Expenses that are eligible for reimbursement during one calendar year may not affect the amount of reimbursements to be provided in any subsequent calendar year, the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred, and the right to reimbursement of the expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

19. Settlements. The Company shall not be required to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or Proceeding effected without its written consent. The Company shall not settle any action or claim in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s written consent. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee may unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement.

20. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given or made to the Company or Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement shall be given if made in writing and deposited in the United States mail, with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the person to whom such notice or communication is directed at the address of such person on the records of the Company, and such notice or communication shall be deemed given or made at the time when the same shall be so deposited in the United States mail. Any such notice or communication to the Company shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company.

21. Contractual Rights. The right to be indemnified or to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement (i) is a contract right based upon good and valuable consideration, pursuant to which Indemnitee may sue, (ii) is and is intended to be retroactive and shall be available as to events occurring prior to the date of this Agreement and (iii) shall continue after any rescission or restrictive modification of this Agreement as to events occurring prior thereto.

 

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22. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provisions held invalid, illegal or unenforceable; and those provision or provisions held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto.

23. Successors; Binding Agreement. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect), by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid that executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 23 or that otherwise becomes bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company) and will inure to the benefit of Indemnitee (and Indemnitee’s spouse, if Indemnitee resides in Texas or another community property state), heirs, executors and administrators.

24. Counterparts, Modification, Headings, Gender.

(a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and either party hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. Any such counterpart delivered by facsimile or other electronic means shall constitute an original signature for all purposes hereunder.

(b) No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Indemnitee and an appropriate officer of the Company. No waiver by any party at any time of any breach by any other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by any other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or at any prior or subsequent time.

(c) Section headings are not to be considered part of this Agreement, are solely for convenience of reference, and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision set forth herein.

(d) Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter genders shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

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25. Exclusive Jurisdiction; Governing Law. The Company and Indemnitee agree that all disputes in any way relating to or arising under this Agreement, including, without limitation, any action for advancement of Expenses or indemnification, shall be litigated, if at all, exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and if necessary, the corresponding appellate courts. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws. The Company and Indemnitee (i) expressly submit themselves to the personal jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) irrevocably appoint, to the extent such party is not a resident of the State of Delaware, The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court of Chancery has been brought in an improper or otherwise inconvenient forum.

26. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) 10 years after the date that Indemnitee shall cease to serve as a director or executive officer of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise which Indemnitee served at the request of the Company; or (b) one year after the final, nonappealable termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement relating thereto.

27. Contribution. If it is established, under Section 8 or otherwise, that Indemnitee has the right to be indemnified under this Agreement in respect of any claim, but that right is unenforceable by reason of applicable law or public policy, then, to the fullest extent applicable law permits, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying or causing the indemnification of Indemnitee under this Agreement, will contribute to the amount Indemnitee has incurred, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement or for Expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with that Proceeding, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all the circumstances of that Proceeding in order to reflect:

(a) the relative benefits Indemnitee and the Company have received as a result of the event(s) or transactions(s) giving rise to that Proceeding; or

(b) the relative fault of Indemnitee and of the Company and its other functionaries in connection with those event(s) or transaction(s).

[Signature page to follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Indemnitee have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:    
 

Cyrus D. Marter IV

General Counsel

and Secretary

INDEMNITEE:
By:    

 

Indemnity Agreement – Signature Page

Exhibit 10.10

Civitas Resources, Inc.

Independent Director Compensation Program

Effective November 1, 2021, all independent directors of Civitas Resources, Inc. (“Civitas”) will generally convert to the director compensation program currently in place at Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (“Extraction”). More specifically, the elements of the Civitas Independent Director Compensation Program shall be as follows:

 

  1.

Annual director cash fee – none.

 

  2.

Annual committee-member cash fee – none.

 

  3.

Annual committee-chair cash fee – (A) $25,000 for Audit Committee, (B) $20,000 for Compensation Committee; (C) $15,000 for Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; and (D) $20,000 for ESG Committee, with each paid on a quarterly basis.

 

  4.

Annual equity awards – deferred stock units (“DSUs”) with a grant-date fair value (“GDFV”) of $300,000, determined using a 30-trading day CIVI VWAP for the period ending on the day before the grant-date, with 25% vesting each quarter; each annual award shall be granted on the day of the Civitas annual stockholder meeting. Dividends on all DSUs shall be paid to directors on a current basis. Acceleration and forfeiture events are addressed below.

For members of the Extraction board of directors who will be continuing as members of the Civitas board, no changes to their existing compensation components shall occur except as specified herein. Their unvested Extraction DSUs shall convert to economically equivalent Civitas DSUs on or about November 1, 2021 and vest in accordance with their existing time-based vesting schedule.

For members of the Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (“Bonanza”) and Crestone Peak Resources (“Crestone”) boards who will be continuing as independent directors of Civitas (“Continuing Bonanza Directors” and “Continuing Crestone Directors”), the following provisions shall be made for the period of time prior to the 2022 Civitas annual stockholder meeting:

 

  A.

cash fees under the Bonanza director compensation program, to the extent applicable, shall be paid through October 31, 2021;

 

  B.

all future cash fees, if any, shall be limited to the Civitas committee-chair fees described above, prorated downward to 7/12ths to cover the partial year between November 1, 2021 and the 2022 Civitas annual stockholder meeting;

 

  C.

Jim Trimble’s compensation under the Crestone Peak director compensation program for the period prior to November 1, 2021 shall be fully satisfied through a one-time grant of whole shares of Civitas common stock with a GDFV of $83,333, determined based on the 30-trading day BCEI VWAP ending on October 31, 2021;

 

1


  D.

existing RSUs awards held by Continuing Bonanza Directors shall vest in accordance with their existing vesting schedule; and

 

  E.

to cover the period starting on November 1, 2021 and ending on the date of the 2022 Civitas annual stockholder meeting, each Continuing Bonanza Director and Continuing Crestone Director shall receive an interim award of DSUs with a GDFV of $175,000, determined based on the 30-trading day BCEI VWAP ending on October 31, 2021, which shall vest one-third on January 1, 2022, one-third on April 1, 2022, and one-third on the date of the 2022 Civitas annual stockholder meeting, with settlement and other governing terms and conditions as set forth in accordance with the terms of their DSU award agreements.

For so long as they remain Civitas independent directors, all directors shall be required to retain ownership of all Civitas shares that they receive as a result of their DSU awards under this Independent Director Compensation Program or under the predecessor Bonanza, Extraction, or Crestone compensation programs.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary within previous form award agreements for Extraction DSUs, in the event of a Civitas independent director’s cessation of service due to removal without cause, or due to death or disability, all unvested DSUs shall vest on an accelerated basis, and all vested shares will be released to such director, effective on the date of the director’s cessation of service. In the event an independent director resigns voluntarily (except as a result of a Civitas change in control), all of such director’s unvested DSUs shall be forfeited and cancelled at the effective time of the resignation; any Civitas shares underlying DSUs that vested prior to such effective time shall be released to such director upon his or her separation from the Board. Removal due to a conflict of interest, where a director cannot serve in multiple capacities long-term and chooses others over Civitas, shall be deemed a voluntary resignation. By way of clarification, a director’s decision not to stand for reelection shall not be deemed a voluntary resignation; in such event, the director’s unvested DSUs shall continue to vest until the next Civitas annual stockholder meeting (when the director’s term expires), and such director shall not receive any further grant of new DSUs.

If an independent director’s continuous service as a director of Civitas terminates for cause (as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith) at any time, all of his or her DSUs (vested or unvested) shall be forfeited upon such termination for cause; provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall have the discretion to adjust the extent of such forfeiture based on the facts and circumstances associated with such director’s termination, any harm that was caused to Civitas, and other considerations that the Board reasonably deems relevant to its decision.

 

2

Exhibit 10.11

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE

BONANZA CREEK ENERGY, INC.

2021 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

(Originally Effective June 2, 2021)

This FIRST AMENDMENT (this “First Amendment”) to the Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. 2021 Long Term Incentive Plan (effective June 2, 2021) (the “Plan”), is adopted as of November 1, 2021 (the “Effective Date”).

WHEREAS, the Plan was previously adopted to promote the interests of Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (the “Company”), by providing equity-based incentive awards to employees, consultants and directors of the Company and its affiliates, who perform services for or on behalf of those entities; and

WHEREAS, the Plan may be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the merger transactions with Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Extraction”) and the acquisition of CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Crestone Peak”) (together, the “Transactions”), the Company’s Board has adopted a new director compensation policy that provides for the current payment of dividends or dividend equivalent rights (the “DERs”) upon outstanding Plan awards, including Stock Units (as defined in the Plan);

WHEREAS, the Plan currently prohibits DER rights granted as a component of a Plan award until such time as the outstanding Plan award has vested, and the Board now desires to amend the Plan to allow DER payments to be paid to award holders at the same time other Company stockholders receive dividend payments pursuant to the Company’s common stock, or to be reinvested in the form of additional Plan awards;

WHEREAS, in conjunction with the Transactions, the Company will change its name from Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. to Civitas Resources, Inc. (the “Name Change”);

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that it is desirable to amend the Plan, all outstanding award agreements granted pursuant to the Plan, or any other outstanding or active documents related to the Plan as of the Effective Date (each, a “Plan Document”) to reflect the Name Change and the update of all other terminology within the Plan Documents that are related to the Name Change.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan shall be amended as of the Effective Date as set forth below, and the Board has resolved other matters relating to the Plan as follows:

1.     Amendments to the Plan

 

  (a)

Section 10.5.1, Voting and Dividend Rights. Section 10.5.1 of the Plan shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Document, holders of Stock Units shall have no rights as stockholders of the Company. The Board may provide in an Award Document evidencing a grant of Stock Units that the holder of such


Stock Units shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalent Rights. Unless otherwise set forth within an Award Document, any Dividend Equivalent Rights granted with respect to Stock Units shall be payable to the Grantee only if, when and to the extent such underlying Stock Unit vests, and such Dividend Equivalent Rights granted with respect to Stock Units that do not vest shall be forfeited. Award Documents may provide for alternative treatment of Dividend Equivalent Rights, including provisions that such cash payment will be deemed reinvested in additional Stock Units at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date that such dividend is paid, or that Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be payable with respect to the underlying Stock Unit award on the dividend payment date in cash or in shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the dividends, or a combination thereof.

 

  (b)

Section 13.1, Dividend Equivalent Rights. The last three (3) sentences of Section 13.1 shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Unless otherwise set forth within an Award Document, a Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award shall be settled upon payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other Award, and that Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award; provided, however, that the Award Document may provide for alternative treatment, including provisions that the Dividend Equivalent Right be reinvested in the form of additional Awards at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date that such dividend is paid, or paid currently in the form of cash, shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of the dividends, or a combination thereof.

2.    Updates Relating to Name Change. The Board has resolved that, as of the Effective Date, all references to “Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.” with in the Plan Documents shall now refer to “Civitas Resources, Inc.” as the “Company.” All other terminology within the Plan Documents related to the Name Change shall also be interpreted in accordance with the Name Change, as applicable.

3.    Except as set forth above, the Plan shall continue to read in its current state.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS.]

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this First Amendment has been executed by a duly authorized officer, effective as of the Effective Date.

 

CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:   /s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV
Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV
Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit 10.13

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is entered into by and between Matthew R. Owens (“Executive”), Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (“Extraction”), and Civitas Resources, Inc. (each of which are referred to individually as a “Party” and together as the “Parties”).

WHEREAS, Executive and Extraction entered into that certain Employment Agreement effective as of the effective date of Extraction’s chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Agreement”) and the Parties desire to amend the Agreement to modify certain terms of the original Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Extraction, Raptor Eagle Merger Sub, Inc., and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. have entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 9, 2021, which is expected to close (the “Closing”) on November 1, 2021, in conjunction with which Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. will change its name to Civitas Resources, Inc. (“Civitas”).

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each Party agrees as follows:

1.     Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Agreement.

2.     Amendment Effective Date. The Amendment shall be effective upon the Closing (the “Amendment Effective Date”).

3.     Substitution of Company and Novation. The Agreement shall be amended so that all references in the Agreement to Extraction or the Company shall instead be to Civitas. The Parties hereby agree that Civitas shall assume and be solely responsible for all rights and obligations of the Company under the Agreement, whether arising before or after the Amendment Effective Date, and that Extraction shall be fully novated and released from all further obligations under the Agreement. Executive hereby stipulates and agrees that, so long as the Civitas board of directors elects him to the office of Chief Operating Officer of Civitas in conjunction with the Closing, he shall not have experienced a termination of his employment with the Company as a result of the transfer of his employment from Extraction to Civitas.

4.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Continuation of Agreement. From and after the date of this Amendment, all references to the Agreement set forth therein or in any other agreement shall, unless otherwise specifically provided, be references to the Agreement as amended by this Amendment and as may be further amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time by the Parties. This Amendment is limited as specified and shall not constitute or be deemed to constitute an amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Agreement except as expressly set forth herein. As amended hereby, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect according to its terms.

(b)    Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by in any number of counterparts, each which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the Amendment Effective Date.

 

MATTHEW R. OWENS

/s/ Matthew R. Owens

EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV
Title:   President and Secretary
CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV
Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

 

2

Exhibit 10.15

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is entered into by and between Marianella Foschi (“Executive”), Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (“Extraction”), and Civitas Resources, Inc. (each of which are referred to individually as a “Party” and together as the “Parties”).

WHEREAS, Executive and Extraction entered into that certain Employment Agreement effective as of the effective date of Extraction’s chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Agreement”) and the Parties desire to amend the Agreement to modify certain terms of the original Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Extraction, Raptor Eagle Merger Sub, Inc., and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. have entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 9, 2021, which is expected to close (the “Closing”) on November 1, 2021, in conjunction with which Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. will change its name to Civitas Resources, Inc. (“Civitas”).

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each Party agrees as follows:

1.    Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Agreement.

2.    Amendment Effective Date. The Amendment shall be effective upon the Closing (the “Amendment Effective Date”).

3.    Substitution of Company and Novation. The Agreement shall be amended so that all references in the Agreement to Extraction or the Company shall instead be to Civitas. The Parties hereby agree that Civitas shall assume and be solely responsible for all rights and obligations of the Company under the Agreement, whether arising before or after the Amendment Effective Date, and that Extraction shall be fully novated and released from all further obligations under the Agreement. Executive hereby stipulates and agrees that, so long as the Civitas board of directors elects her to the office of Chief Financial Officer of Civitas in conjunction with the Closing, she shall not have experienced a termination of her employment with the Company as a result of the transfer of her employment from Extraction to Civitas.

4.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Continuation of Agreement. From and after the date of this Amendment, all references to the Agreement set forth therein or in any other agreement shall, unless otherwise specifically provided, be references to the Agreement as amended by this Amendment and as may be further amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time by the Parties. This Amendment is limited as specified and shall not constitute or be deemed to constitute an amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Agreement except as expressly set forth herein. As amended hereby, the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect according to its terms.

(b)    Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by in any number of counterparts, each which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

[Signature Page Follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the Amendment Effective Date.

 

MARIANELLA FOSCHI

/s/ Marianella Foschi

EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV
Title:   President and Secretary
CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Cyrus D. Marter IV

Name:   Cyrus D. Marter IV
Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

 

2

Exhibit 14.1

 

   LOGO       

410 17th Street, Suite 1400

Denver, CO 80202

(720) 440-6100 phone

(720) 305-0804 fax

 

civiresources.com/

Policies & Procedures

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Policy Statement

Introduction

This code of business conduct and ethics (this “Code”) has been adopted by Civitas Resources, Inc., on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, the “Company”) pursuant to Item 406 of Regulation S-K (“Regulation S-K”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and Section 303A.10 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual (the “Listing Rules” and, together with Regulation S-K, the “Applicable Rules”) in order to provide written standards and guidance to the Company’s directors, officers and employees (collectively, the “Covered Persons”) as well as third parties dealing with the Covered Persons and covers a wide range of business practices and procedures. While it does not cover every issue that may arise, it sets out basic principles to guide the way Covered Persons conduct the Company’s business. All Covered Persons must conduct themselves accordingly and seek to avoid even the appearance of improper behavior.

The Company is committed to maintaining the highest standards of business conduct and ethics. This Code reflects the business practices and principles of behavior that support this commitment. We expect every Covered Person to read and understand this Code and its application to the performance of your business responsibilities.

Officers, managers and other supervisors are expected to develop in employees a sense of commitment to the spirit, as well as the letter, of this Code. Supervisors are also expected to use best efforts to ensure that all agents and contractors conform to Code standards when working for or on behalf of the Company. The compliance environment within each supervisor’s assigned area of responsibility will be a significant factor in evaluating the quality of that individual’s performance. In addition, any Covered Person who makes an exemplary effort to implement and uphold the Company’s legal and ethical standards will be recognized for that effort in their performance review. Nothing in this Code alters the employment at-will policy of the Company applicable to employees.

This Code cannot possibly describe every practice or principle related to honest and ethical conduct. This Code addresses conduct that is particularly important to proper dealings with the people and entities with which we interact on behalf of the Company, but reflects only a part of our commitment. The Company’s Employee Handbook contains additional policies of the Company that supplement or amplify this Code in certain areas and should be read in conjunction with this Code, including the Company’s Corporate Policy on Insider Trading and Related Party Transactions Policy.

 

1

As of 04/28/17; Updated 10/09/19


Actions by Family Members (defined below) also may potentially result in ethical issues to the extent that they involve Company business. For example, acceptance of inappropriate gifts by a Family Member from one of the Company’s suppliers could create a conflict of interest and result in a Code violation attributable to you. Consequently, in complying with this Code, you should consider not only your own conduct, but also that of your Family Members. For purposes of this Code, a “Family Member” means any person who is an immediate family member of a Covered Person, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of a Covered Person, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of the Covered Person.

The integrity and reputation of the Company depends on the honesty, fairness and integrity brought to the job by each person associated with us. Each Covered Person should act honestly and ethically when dealing with the Company’s customers, suppliers, partners, service providers, competitors, employees and anyone else such Covered Person has contact with in performing such Covered Person’s job. It is the responsibility of each Covered Person to apply common sense, together with their own highest personal ethical standards, in making business decisions where there is no stated guideline in this Code. Unyielding personal integrity is the foundation of corporate integrity.

YOU SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER ANY CONDUCT MAY VIOLATE THIS CODE, VOICE CONCERNS OR CLARIFY AMBIGUOUS AREAS. SECTION 14 BELOW DETAILS THE COMPLIANCE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU. IN ADDITION, YOU SHOULD BE ALERT TO POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF THIS CODE BY OTHERS AND REPORT SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS, WITHOUT FEAR OF ANY FORM OF RETALIATION, AS FURTHER DESCRIBED IN SECTION 14. Violations of this Code will not be tolerated. Any Covered Person who violates the standards in this Code may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment and, in appropriate cases, civil legal action or referral for criminal prosecution. As further discussed in Section 14, the Company has engaged Convercent (the “Compliance Hotline”) to provide certain services to the Company and enhance the anonymity of any reporting by Covered Persons.

The Company’s Compliance Officer (the “Compliance Officer”) is responsible for interpreting and applying this Code in specific situations in which questions may arise. Questions relating to the interpretation or application of this Code may be addressed to the Compliance Officer. The Compliance Officer’s contact information is provided on the Company’s intranet.

 

1.

Legal Compliance

Obeying the law, both in letter and in spirit, is the foundation of this Code. Our success depends upon each Covered Person operating within legal guidelines and cooperating with local, national and international authorities. It is therefore essential that you understand the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to your business unit and area of responsibility. We will hold periodic training sessions to ensure that all Covered Persons understand the relevant laws, rules and regulations associated with their employment, including laws prohibiting insider trading (which are discussed in further detail in Section 2 below). While we do not expect you to memorize every detail of these laws, rules and regulations, we want you to be able to determine when to seek advice from others. If you do have a question in the area of legal compliance, it is important that you not hesitate to seek answers from your supervisor, the Compliance Officer or the Company’s General Counsel.

Disregard of the law will not be tolerated. Violation of domestic or foreign laws, rules and regulations may subject an individual, as well as the Company, to civil and/or criminal penalties. You should be aware that conduct and records, including emails, are subject to internal and external audits, and to discovery by third parties in the event of a government investigation or civil litigation. It is in everyone’s best interests to know and comply with our legal and ethical obligations.

 

2

Updated 11/01/21


2.

Insider Trading

Covered Persons who have access to confidential (or “inside”) information of the Company are not permitted to use or share that information for stock trading purposes or for any other purpose except to conduct our business. All non-public information about the Company or about companies with which we do business is considered confidential information of the Company. To use material non-public information in connection with buying or selling securities, including directly or indirectly “tipping” others who might make an investment decision on the basis of this information, is not only unethical, it is illegal. Covered Persons must exercise the utmost care when handling material inside information. We have adopted a separate Corporate Policy on Insider Trading to which you are bound as a condition of your employment here. You should consult the Corporate Policy on Insider Trading for more specific information on the definition of “material inside information” and on buying and selling our securities or securities of companies with which we do business.

 

3.

Environment Compliance

Federal law imposes criminal liability on any person or company that contaminates the environment with any hazardous substance that could cause injury to the community or environment. Violation of environmental laws can be a criminal offense and can involve monetary fines and imprisonment. We expect Covered Persons to comply with all applicable environmental laws.

 

4.

Conflicts of Interest

A “conflict of interest” occurs when an individual’s personal interest (or the interest of his or her Family Member) may interfere in any way with the performance of his or her duties or the interests of the Company as a whole. A conflict of interest can arise when a Covered Person (or his or her Family Member) takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work for the Company objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest also arise when a Covered Person (or his or her Family Member) receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company. We expect our employees, officers and directors to be free from influences that conflict with the interests of the Company. Even the appearance of a conflict of interest where none actually exists can be damaging and should be avoided. Whether or not a conflict of interest exists or will exist can be unclear.

If you have any questions about a potential conflict or if you become aware of an actual or potential conflict and you are not an officer or director of the Company, you should discuss the matter with your supervisor or the Compliance Officer. Conflicts of interest are prohibited unless specifically approved by authorized persons. Supervisors are not authorized to approve a conflict of interest without first seeking the written approval of the Compliance Officer and filing with the Compliance Officer a written description of the approved activity. If your supervisor is involved in the potential or actual conflict, initially you should discuss the matter directly with the Compliance Hotline or the Compliance Officer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, officers and directors must seek authorization from the Audit Committee. Factors that may be considered in evaluating a potential conflict of interest are, among others:

 

   

whether it may interfere with the Covered Person’s job performance, responsibilities or morale;

 

   

whether the Covered Person has access to confidential information;

 

   

whether it may interfere with the job performance, responsibilities or morale of others within the organization;

 

3

Updated 11/01/21


   

any potential adverse or beneficial impact on our business;

 

   

any potential adverse or beneficial impact on our relationships with our customers or suppliers or other service providers;

 

   

whether it would enhance or support a competitor’s position;

 

   

the extent to which it would result in financial or other benefit (direct or indirect) to the Covered Person;

 

   

the extent to which it would result in financial or other benefit (direct or indirect) to one of our customers, suppliers or other service providers; and

 

   

the extent to which it would appear improper to an outside observer.

The following are examples of situations that may, depending on the facts and circumstances, involve conflicts of interests:

 

   

Employment by (or consulting for) or service on the board of a competitor, customer or supplier or other service provider. Activity that enhances or supports the position of a competitor to the detriment of the Company is prohibited. Advance authorization is required for any Covered Person to serve as a director, officer, partner, consultant, employee or in any other role in an unaffiliated company (excluding any nonprofit organization) that competes with us, is a customer of ours or provides goods or services to us. Advance authorization is required from the Audit Committee, in the case of officers and directors, and the Compliance Officer, in the case of employees who are not officers or directors.

 

   

Lending to, borrowing from or having a material interest (financial, equity or otherwise) in any entity that does business, seeks to do business or competes with us. In addition to the factors described above, persons evaluating ownership for conflicts of interest will consider the size and nature of the investment; the nature of the relationship between the other entity and the Company; the Covered Person’s access to confidential information and the Covered Person’s ability to influence the Company’s decisions. If you would like to acquire a financial or equity interest of that kind, you must seek approval in advance.

 

   

Soliciting or accepting gifts, favors, loans or preferential treatment from any person or entity that does business or seeks to do business with us. See Section 7 for further discussion of the issues involved in this type of conflict.

 

   

Soliciting contributions to any charity or for any political candidate from any person or entity that does business or seeks to do business with us.

 

   

Taking personal advantage of corporate opportunities. See Section 5 for further discussion of the issues involved in this type of conflict.

 

   

Moonlighting without permission.

 

   

Conducting our business transactions with your Family Member or a business in which you have a significant financial interest. Material related-party transactions approved by the Audit Committee and involving any executive officer or director will be publicly disclosed as required by applicable laws and regulations.

 

   

Accepting compensation (in any form) for services performed for the Company from any source other than the Company.

 

4

Updated 11/01/21


Loans to, or guarantees of the obligations of, Covered Persons (or their Family Members) by the Company could constitute an improper personal benefit to the recipients of these loans or guarantees, depending on the facts and circumstances. Loans by the Company to, or guarantees by the Company of obligations of, any director or executive officer or their Family Members are expressly prohibited and applicable law requires that our Board of Directors (the “Board”) approve all loans to and guarantees of the obligations of other Covered Persons (or their Family Members). As a result, all loans and guarantees from the Company must be approved in advance by the Audit Committee. In accordance with the Related Party Transactions Policy established by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Audit Committee shall review and approve all related party transactions and ensure proper disclosure of such transactions in accordance with Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

 

5.

Corporate Opportunities

All Covered Persons owe a duty to the Company to advance its interest when the opportunity arises. You may not take personal advantage of opportunities that are presented to you or discovered by you as a result of your position with us or through your use of corporate property or information, unless authorized by the Compliance Officer or, in the case of officers and directors, by the Audit Committee. Even opportunities that are acquired privately by you may be questionable if they are related to the Company’s existing or proposed lines of business. You cannot use your position with us or corporate property or information for improper personal gain (including gain of friends or Family Members). Unless otherwise set forth in any agreement between you and the Company or otherwise approved by the Compliance Officer, the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board, you may not compete with us in any way during the term of your engagement with the Company.

 

6.

Maintenance of Corporate Books, Records, Documents and Accounts; Financial Integrity; Public Reporting

The integrity of our records and public disclosure depends on the validity, accuracy and completeness of the information supporting the entries to our books of account. Therefore, our corporate and business records should be completed accurately and honestly. The making of false or misleading entries, whether they relate to financial results or test results, is strictly prohibited. Our records serve as a basis for managing our business and are important in meeting our obligations to customers, suppliers, creditors, employees and others with whom we do business. As a result, it is important that our books, records and accounts accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable detail, our assets, liabilities, revenues, costs and expenses, as well as all transactions and changes in assets and liabilities.

Our accounting records are also relied upon to produce reports for our management, stockholders and creditors, as well as for governmental agencies. In particular, we rely upon our accounting and other business and corporate records in preparing the periodic and current reports that we file with the SEC. These reports must provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure and fairly present our financial condition and results of operations. Covered Persons who collect, provide or analyze information for or otherwise contribute in any way in preparing or verifying these reports must be familiar with and comply with the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting and should strive to ensure that our financial disclosure is accurate and transparent and that our reports contain all of the information about the Company that would be important to enable stockholders and potential investors to assess the soundness and risks of our business and finances and the quality and integrity of our accounting and disclosures. In addition:

 

   

no Covered Person may take or authorize any action that would cause our financial records or financial disclosure to fail to comply with generally accepted accounting principles, the rules and regulations of the SEC or other applicable laws, rules and regulations;

 

5

Updated 11/01/21


   

all Covered Persons must cooperate fully with our Accounting and Internal Audit Departments, as well as our independent public accountants and counsel, respond to their questions with candor and provide them with complete and accurate information to help ensure that our books and records, as well as our reports filed with the SEC, are accurate and complete; and

 

   

no Covered Person should knowingly make (or cause or encourage any other person to make) any false or misleading statement in any of our reports filed with the SEC or knowingly omit (or cause or encourage any other person to omit) any information necessary to make the disclosure in any of our reports accurate in all material respects.

Any Covered Person who becomes aware of any departure from these standards has a responsibility to report his or her knowledge promptly to a supervisor, the Compliance Officer or the Compliance Hotline. In addition, each Covered Person must promptly bring to the attention of the Compliance Hotline any information that the Covered Person may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management, directors, or other Covered Persons who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls.

 

7.

Anti-Bribery/Fair Dealing

Each Covered Person must endeavor to deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, partners, service providers, competitors, employees and anyone else with whom he or she has contact in the course of performing his or her job. No Covered Person should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of facts, or any other unfair dealing practice.

The exchange of gifts, meals and entertainment is a common practice in business and can help build better relationships with customers, vendors and other business allies. Although customs about gifts and entertainment vary, one principle is clear and common: no gift, favor, entertainment or the like should be accepted or provided if it will obligate, appear to obligate or is intended to obligate or unduly influence the recipient.

The types of gifts and entertainment that is appropriate to give or receive as a Company employee depends on many factors. If the gift, meal or entertainment in question is lavish, frequent or unusual for the receiver’s job or community, it is probably not acceptable. If you’re in the middle of negotiations or bid evaluations, extra care is merited. Never request or solicit personal gifts, favors, entertainment or services or the like. Never offer or accept gifts of cash or cash equivalents such as securities. Never accept a gift, favor, entertainment, services or the like in exchange for Company information or Company business.

Gifts to governmental personnel must be permitted by law and applicable regulation. Gifts to federal and state employees are subject to strict dollar limitations. For example, federal law prohibits employees of the federal government from soliciting or accepting gifts, including meals, with a value of over $20 per occasion or $50 per year if those gifts come from “prohibited sources” or if the gifts are given because of their official position. “Prohibited sources” are persons or entities seeking official action from, doing business with or conducting activities regulated by the employee’s agency. States such as Colorado have similar restrictions on employees of the State.

 

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The purpose of business entertainment and gifts in a commercial setting is to create goodwill and sound working relationships, not to gain unfair advantage. No business gift or entertainment should ever be offered, given, provided or accepted by any Covered Person unless it:

 

   

is not a cash or cash equivalent gift;

 

   

is consistent with customary business practices;

 

   

is objectively not excessive in value;

 

   

cannot be construed as a bribe, a payoff, or as otherwise intended to inappropriately influence a business decision; and

 

   

does not violate any laws, regulations, or applicable policies.

Please discuss with your supervisor or the Compliance Officer any business entertainment or gifts that you are not certain are appropriate.

 

8.

Health and Safety

The Company strives to provide each employee with a safe and healthy work environment. Each Covered Person has responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for all employees by following security, health and safety rules. Suspicious or criminal activity, accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment, practices or conditions should be immediately reported to your supervisor. Performing work while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or improperly used prescription medication is unsafe and puts us all at risk. This is prohibited, and working under the influence of such substances will not be tolerated. The only exception to this rule is when alcohol is used responsibly and in moderation at business dinners and at certain authorized events. Violence and threatening behavior are not permitted. Any acts or threatened acts of violence must be immediately reported to your supervisor and Human Resources.

 

9.

Political Involvement or Contributions

The Company respects your right to be involved in, and to participate in, the political process as you see fit. However, when engaging in personal civic and political affairs, your views and actions are your own, and not those of the Company. You may not use the Company’s resources (including work time) to support political parties, causes or candidates, or to promote your personal political views.

 

10.

Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets

All Covered Persons are expected to protect our assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct impact on our profitability and are prohibited. Company property is expected to be used only for legitimate business purposes, although incidental personal use may be permitted. Covered Persons should be mindful of the fact that we retain the right to access, review, monitor and disclose any information transmitted, received or stored using our electronic equipment, with or without an employee’s or third party’s knowledge, consent or approval. Any misuse or suspected misuse of our assets must be immediately reported to your supervisor or the Compliance Hotline.

 

11.

Confidentiality

One of our most important assets is our confidential information. Covered Persons who have received or have access to confidential information about the Company should take care to keep this information confidential and you should refer to the Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement you executed with the Company. Except when disclosure is authorized or legally mandated, you must not share our or our suppliers’ or customers’ confidential information with third parties or others within the Company who have no legitimate business purpose for receiving that information. Unauthorized use or distribution of this information could also be illegal and result in civil liability and/or criminal penalties.

 

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You should also take care not to inadvertently disclose confidential information about the Company. Materials that contain confidential information, such as memos, notebooks and computers should be stored securely. Unauthorized posting or discussion of any information concerning our business, information or prospects on the Internet is prohibited. Be cautious when discussing sensitive information in public places like elevators or airports. All business related emails, voicemails and other communications are presumed confidential and should not be forwarded or otherwise disseminated outside of the Company, except where required for legitimate business purposes.

 

12.

Encouraging the Reporting of any Illegal or Unethical Behavior

When there is any ambiguity about the proper ethical or legal action to take in a particular situation, Company employees and other Covered Persons should talk to supervisors or other appropriate personnel. Covered Persons must promptly report potential violations of applicable laws, rules, regulations or this Code (“Potential Violations”). Reports of Potential Violations may be submitted to the Compliance Hotline anonymously if the Covered Person so desires. The Company will not allow retaliation for reports of Potential Violations that are made in good faith. Any such retaliation will be a cause for discipline, including possible loss of employment. A person may report retaliation by the same means described in this Code for reporting Potential Violations.

 

13.

Waivers

Any waiver of this Code for executive officers (including, without limitation, our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller (or persons performing similar functions)) or directors may be authorized only by our Board or an independent committee of the Board. Any waiver of this Code for any other person must be authorized by the General Counsel of the Company. All waivers of this Code will be disclosed to stockholders as required by the Applicable Rules.

 

14.

Compliance Standards and Procedures

Compliance Resources

We have contracted with the Compliance Hotline to provide intake and reporting for any suspected non-compliance with this Code. The Compliance Hotline provides employees the ability to bring forward any concerns or issues and communicate with management and acts as a central repository for any concerns within the Company. An agent is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at the Compliance Hotline and can be reached anonymously at the number and website listed on the Company’s intranet.

While the Compliance Hotline is a resource to field questions with respect to this Code or to express concerns with respect to Potential Violations, the Compliance Officer is responsible for:

 

   

investigating Potential Violations;

 

   

training new employees in Code policies;

 

   

conducting annual training sessions to refresh employees’ familiarity with this Code;

 

   

distributing copies of this Code annually via email to each employee with a reminder that each employee is responsible for reading, understanding and complying with this Code;

 

   

updating this Code as needed and alerting employees to any updates, with appropriate approval of the Audit Committee of the Board, to reflect changes in the law, the Company operations and in recognized best practices, and to reflect the Company’s experience; and

 

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otherwise promoting an atmosphere of responsible and ethical conduct.

Your most immediate resource for any matter related to this Code is your supervisor. Your supervisor may have the information you need, or may be able to refer the question to another appropriate source. There may, however, be times when you prefer not to go to your supervisor. In these instances, you should feel free to discuss your concern with the Compliance Hotline via the 800 number or the website or with the Compliance Officer.

Clarifying Questions and Concerns; Reporting Potential Violations

If you encounter a situation or are considering a course of action and its appropriateness is unclear, you should discuss the matter promptly with your supervisor or the Compliance Hotline; even the appearance of impropriety can be very damaging and should be avoided.

If you are aware of Potential Violations of Code standards by others, you are encouraged to report it and to promptly provide your supervisor, the Compliance Officer or the Compliance Hotline with a specific description of the Potential Violation that you believe has occurred, including any information you have about the persons involved and the time of the Potential Violation. Whether you report a Potential Violation to your supervisor, the Compliance Officer, the Compliance Hotline or pursuant to applicable federal or state law, you should do so without fear of any form of retaliation, including, but not limited to the Company discharging, demoting, suspending, threatening, harassing, director or indirectly, or in any other manner discriminating against you. We will take prompt disciplinary action against any employee who retaliates against you, up to and including termination of employment.

Supervisors must promptly report any complaints or observations of Potential Violations to the Compliance Hotline. The Compliance Hotline will report to the designated Company contacts your concern for investigation. All reported Potential Violations will promptly be investigated with the highest degree of confidentiality that is possible under the specific circumstances. Your cooperation in the investigation will be expected. As needed, the Compliance Hotline and the Compliance Officer will consult with legal counsel, the Human Resources Department, the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board.

The Audit Committee shall review compliance with this Code. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall review any allegation that any executive officer or director may have violated this Code and report its findings to the Board.

If the investigation indicates that a violation of this Code has probably occurred, we will take such action as we believe to be appropriate under the circumstances. If we determine that an employee is responsible for a Code violation, he or she will be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including, termination of employment and, in appropriate cases, civil action or referral for criminal prosecution. Appropriate action may also be taken to deter any future Code violations.

 

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CIVITAS RESOURCES, INC.

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CERTIFICATION

The undersigned does hereby acknowledge receipt of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”). The undersigned has read and understands (or has had explained) the Code and agrees to be governed by the Code at all times.

Company Assistance

Anyone with a question about the Code and whether it applies to a particular circumstance should contact the Company’s Office of the General Counsel for additional guidance:

Civitas Resources, Inc.

Attn: Office of the General Counsel

410 - 17th Avenue, Suite 1400

Denver, CO 80202

Office Telephone: 720.440.6100

 

Facsimile: 720.305.0804

 

(Signature)

 

(Please print name)
Date: ________________________

We request that all Civitas Resources, Inc. directors, officers, and employees, as Covered Persons under the Code, sign this acknowledgment and certification form and return it to the Office of the General Counsel. Please return the original to the address listed above. Alternatively, you may return your signed form via facsimile to the number listed above, or email a PDF copy of the signed certification to the email address listed above.

 

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Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-229431, 333-217545 and 333-257295 on Form S-8 of Civitas Resources, Inc. (formerly known as Bonanza Creek Energy Inc.) of our report dated July 2, 2021, relating to the financial statements of CPPIB Crestone Peak Resources America Inc., incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 2, 2021 from, and appearing in, Registration Statement No. 333-257882 on Form S-4 of Bonanza Creek Energy Inc. filed on July 14, 2021, as amended.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Denver, Colorado

November 2, 2021

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-229431, 333-217545 and 333-257295) of Civitas Resources, Inc. (formerly known as Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.) of our report dated March 18, 2021 relating to the financial statements of Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., which appears in this Current Report on Form 8-K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Denver, Colorado

November 1, 2021

Exhibit 23.3

 

LOGO

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS AND GEOLOGISTS

As independent petroleum engineers, we hereby consent to the references to our firm, in the context in which they appear, and to the references to and the incorporation by reference of our firm’s reserves report dated July 13, 2021, prepared for Crestone Peak Resources LLC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, included in the registration statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-229431, 333-217545, and 333-257295) of Civitas Resources, Inc. (formerly known as Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.), as well as in the notes to the financial statements included therein, included in or made a part of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including any amendments thereto of Civitas Resources, Inc., in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.
By:   /s/ C.H. (Scott) Rees III
  C.H. (Scott) Rees III, P.E.
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Dallas, Texas

November 3, 2021

Exhibit 23.4

LOGO

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS

We hereby consent to the references to our firm, in the context in which they appear, and to the references to and the incorporation by reference into the registration statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-229431, 333-217545 and 333-257295) of Civitas Resources, Inc. (formerly known as Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.), of our report letter dated February 18, 2021, in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

/s/ Ryder Scott Company, L.P.

RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.

TBPE Firm Registration No. F-1580

 

Denver, Colorado

November 3, 2021

 

 

1100 LOUISIANA, SUITE 4600   HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5294   TEL (713) 651-9191   FAX (713) 651-0849
SUITE 2800, 350 7TH STREET, S.W.   CALGARY, ALBERTA T2P 3N9   TEL (403) 262-2799  

Exhibit 99.1

BONANZA CREEK AND EXTRACTION ANNOUNCE CLOSING OF MERGER

AND SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION OF CRESTONE PEAK

DENVER, November 1st, 2021 – Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (NYSE: BCEI) (“Bonanza Creek” or the “Company”) and Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ: XOG) (“Extraction”) today announced the closing of their merger and subsequent acquisition of Crestone Peak Resources (“Crestone Peak”). The transactions were overwhelmingly approved, with over 99.9% of the votes cast by Bonanza Creek stockholders and over 99.9% of the votes cast by Extraction stockholders voting in favor.

The combined company has now formally been rebranded Civitas Resources, Inc. (“Civitas”) and will commence public trading on the NYSE under the ticker “CIVI” on November 2, 2021. Upon closing, Civitas became the largest pure-play energy producer in Colorado’s DJ Basin and the state’s first carbon neutral oil and gas company. Civitas expects to exemplify the new E&P business model for U.S. producers, with a focus on operational discipline, free cash flow generation, financial alignment with shareholders, and ESG leadership.

Ben Dell, Chairman of Civitas, commented, “Civitas embodies an E&P model that is poised to deliver value for all of our stakeholders through disciplined capital deployment, operational and cost excellence, and governance standards aligned with the highest expectations – including our status as Colorado’s first carbon neutral oil & gas producer. Our team has worked diligently over these last several months to launch Civitas consistent with these ambitious goals, and we plan to bring forward the ‘best of’ our organizational and community values.”

New Members of the Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors

Eric Greager, who previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bonanza Creek, will continue as CEO of Civitas and serve as a member of the Board. Marianella Foschi will be Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and Matt Owens will serve as Civitas’ Chief Operating Officer (“COO”). Ms. Foschi and Mr. Owens served in the same roles at Extraction. Brian Cain has been appointed to the role of Chief Sustainability Officer of Civitas, having previously served as Extraction’s VP of External Affairs and ESG Policy.

The Civitas board of directors is now composed of nine members, four from legacy Bonanza Creek, four from legacy Extraction and one representative from legacy Crestone. Extraction’s former Chairman, Ben Dell, will serve as Chairman of the Civitas Board.

Eric Greager, President and CEO of Civitas, commented, “Civitas has the resource quality, low-cost structure, meaningful free cash flow generation, and low financial leverage to deliver sustained shareholder value. The integration of Extraction and Crestone is proceeding very well, and we believe that the combined companies’ ability to operate safely and efficiently during this process of consolidation and change affirms the operational excellence at the heart of Civitas. This distinctive consolidation capability, combined with a commitment to sustainability and a strong balance sheet, positions Civitas exceptionally well moving forward.”

Brian Steck, former Chairman of Bonanza Creek and a continuing member of the Civitas Board, commented, “I am proud that the values, which galvanized Bonanza Creek’s success over the years – a relentless competitive spirit, safety and environmental responsibility, and a focus on shareholder value – will continue under Eric’s leadership at Civitas. We are poised to lead the way in the E&P market and possess the assets, strategy and people to succeed.”


New Corporate Website

In connection with the rebranding and renaming of Civitas, the company has launched a new corporate website. Additional details about the company can now be found at www.civitasresources.com.

Further details regarding the transactions can be found in the report on Form 8-K that Civitas will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Conference Call Information

The company plans to publish an updated presentation on November 4, 2021 on the Civitas website and host a conference call with institutional analysts and investors on November 4, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time). A replay of the call will be available for one week. Dial-in information for the conference call is included below.

 

Type

  

Phone Number

  

Conference ID

Live participant    (877) 793-4362    1794818
Replay    (855) 859-2056    1794818

About Civitas Resources, Inc.

Civitas Resources, Inc. is Colorado’s first carbon neutral oil & gas producer and is focused on developing and producing crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in Colorado’s Denver-Julesburg Basin. The company is committed to pursuing compelling economic returns and cash flow while delivering best-in-class cost leadership and capital efficiency. Civitas is dedicated to safety, environmental responsibility, and implementing industry leading practices to create a positive local impact. For more information about Civitas, please visit www.civitasresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Statements

Certain statements in this press release concerning the Bonanza Creek and Extraction merger and subsequent acquisition of Crestone Peak (the “Transactions”), including any statements regarding the combined company’s expected credit facility, the results, effects, benefits and synergies of the Transactions, future opportunities for Civitas, future financial performance and condition, guidance and any other statements regarding Civitas’ future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical facts. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “ensure,” “expect,” “if,” “intend,” “estimate,” “probable,” “project,” “forecasts,” “predict,” “outlook,” “aim,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “likely” “plan,” “positioned,” “strategy,” and similar expressions or other words of similar meaning, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements include statements regarding Civitas’ plans and expectations with respect to the Transactions and the anticipated impact of the Transactions on Civitas’s results of operations, financial position, growth opportunities and competitive position. The forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

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These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the completion of the Transactions; the diversion of management time on Transaction-related issues; the ultimate timing, outcome and results of integrating the operations of Civitas; the effects of the business combination on Civitas, including Civitas’ future financial condition, results of operations, strategy and plans; the ability of Civitas to realize anticipated synergies in the timeframe expected or at all; changes in capital markets and the ability of Civitas to finance operations in the manner expected; the effects of commodity prices; the risks of oil and gas activities; and the fact that operating costs and business disruption may be greater than expected following the public announcement or consummation of the Transactions. Expectations regarding business outlook, including changes in revenue, pricing, capital expenditures, cash flow generation, strategies for our operations, oil and natural gas market conditions, legal, economic and regulatory conditions, and environmental matters are only forecasts regarding these matters.

Additional information concerning other risk factors is also contained in Bonanza Creek’s (now Civitas’) and Extraction’s most recently filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other SEC filings.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations:

John Wren, ir@civiresources.com

Media:

Brian Cain, info@civiresources.com

Source: Civitas Resources, Inc.

 

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