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): December 31, 2021
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-08246 | 71-0205415 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
(Commission
File Number) |
(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
10000 Energy Drive
Spring, TX 77389
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(832) 796-1000
(Registrant‘s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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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
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Name of each exchange
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Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 | SWN | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
On December 31, 2021, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 3, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Southwestern Energy Company (“Southwestern”), Mustang Acquisition Company, LLC (“Merger Sub”), GEP Haynesville, LLC (“GEPH”), and GEPH Unitholder Representative, LLC solely in its capacity as the Unitholder Representative, Southwestern completed its previously announced acquisition of GEPH.
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Registration Rights Agreements
In connection with the closing of the Merger (as defined in Item 2.01 below), Southwestern entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with all of the unitholders of GEPH (the “RRA Holders”) that received a portion of the Stock Consideration (as defined below) in connection with the Merger. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, among other things, Southwestern (a) is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-3, or amend an existing shelf registration statement registering for resale the shares of Southwestern common stock received by the RRA Holders as part of the Merger (the “Shelf Registration Statement”), and (b) granted the RRA Holders certain underwritten shelf offering request and piggyback registration rights.
The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 2.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
Lock-Up Agreement
In connection with entering into the Registration Rights Agreement, Southwestern also entered into a lock-up agreement with an RRA Holder that, in the aggregate, received approximately 90% of the Stock Consideration (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, such RRA Holder has agreed to transfer only up to a certain specified portion of the Stock Consideration received by such RRA Holder in the Merger (or any other Southwestern securities) as follows: the RRA Holder subject to the Lock-Up Agreement (i) may not transfer any shares of Company Common Stock (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any shares of Southwestern common stock on or before the date that is six months following the closing of the Merger but (ii) may transfer after 30 days from the closing of the Merger until the expiration of such six month period up to an aggregate of 25% of the RRA Holder’s Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) beginning on the 31st day after closing pursuant to (i) Initial Demand Registrations (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), (ii) any other method of distribution permitted by the plan of distribution in the Shelf Registration Statement, or (iii) any other applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.
The foregoing description of the Lock-Up Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Lock-Up Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 2.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
Supplemental Indentures
Following the closing of the Merger, GEPH became a guarantor of Southwestern’s credit agreements. In addition, Southwestern entered into supplemental indentures to the indentures governing Southwestern’s 4.100% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”), 4.950% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”), 7.750% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”), 8.375% Senior Notes due 2028, 5.375% Senior Notes due 2029, 5.375% Senior Notes due 2030 and 4.750% Senior Notes due 2032 (collectively, the “Notes”) to add GEPH as a guarantor of those Notes.
The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the supplemental indentures, each of which is incorporated herein by reference into and is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4, respectively.
Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
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.
In accordance with the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), Southwestern acquired all of the outstanding units of GEPH in exchange for the consideration described below. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into GEPH, with GEPH continuing as the surviving company (the “Merger”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwestern.
Under the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, on December 31, 2021, each issued and outstanding Preferred Unit (as defined in the Merger Agreement) was redeemed in full for an aggregate amount in cash for all Preferred Units equal to $1,165,000,000, without interest. The aggregate consideration paid to the holders of Company Units (as defined in the Merger Agreement) in the transaction consisted of approximately $103,500,000 in cash and 99,337,748 shares of Southwestern common stock (the “Stock Consideration”), as adjusted pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
The description of the Merger Agreement and related transactions (including, without limitation, the Merger) in this Current Report on Form 8-K does not purport to be complete and is subject, and qualified in its entirety by reference, to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to Southwestern’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 5, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
Southwestern issued a notice of redemption to holders of its 2022 Notes to redeem all issued and outstanding 2022 Notes on January 24, 2022 in accordance with the indenture governing the 2022 Notes.
On December 30, 2021, the previously announced cash tender offers (the “Tender Offers”) by Southwestern to purchase for cash up to $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount (the “Maximum Tender Amount”) of its 2025 Notes and its 2027 Notes expired. As of the expiration time, $401,547,000 aggregate principal amount of 2025 Notes had been validly tendered. Because the increased Maximum Tender Amount was exceeded by the aggregate principal amount of 2025 Notes tendered in the Tender Offers, the Company did not purchase any tendered 2027 Notes. On December 31, 2021, the Company purchased the Maximum Tender Amount of the 2025 Notes, with such amount being prorated across all 2025 Notes, validly tendered.
On December 31, 2021, Southwestern issued a press release announcing the completion of the Merger, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired. The financial statements of GEPH required by this item will be filed by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the date this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.
(b) Pro forma financial information. The pro forma financial information required by this item will be filed by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the date this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.
(d) Exhibits
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Annexes, schedules and certain exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. Southwestern Energy Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted annexes, schedules and exhibits upon request by the SEC. |
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.
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SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY |
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Dated: January 4, 2022 |
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By: |
/s/ Chris Lacy |
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Name: |
Chris Lacy |
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Title: |
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and |
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Corporate Secretary |
Exhibit 2.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of December 31, 2021, is made by and among Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the Company), each of the other parties listed on the signature pages attached hereto (the Initial Holders), the other Holders from time to time parties hereto, and GEPH Unitholder Rep, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, solely in its capacity as the representative of the Holders (the Unitholder Representative).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, this Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement), dated as of November 3, 2021, by and among GEP Haynesville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (Parent), Mustang Acquisition Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and Unitholder Representative;
WHEREAS, in connection with closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the Closing), on the date hereof the Company is issuing to the Holders 99,337,748 shares of the Company Common Stock (such shares of Company Common Stock, the Shares) in the aggregate; and
WHEREAS, the Company has required, as a condition to its willingness to enter into this Agreement, that the Company and GeoSouthern Haynesville, LP, a Texas limited partnership (GeoSouthern), simultaneously herewith, enter into a lock-up agreement, dated as of the date hereof, on terms substantially similar to those set forth on Exhibit A hereto (as may be amended, the Lock-Up 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 are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
3 | |||||
ARTICLE II REGISTRATION RIGHTS |
7 | |||||
Section 2.01 |
Shelf Registration | 7 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Underwritten Shelf Offering Requests | 8 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Delay and Suspension Rights | 9 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Piggyback Registration Rights | 10 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Participation in Underwritten Offerings | 12 | ||||
Section 2.06 |
Registration Procedures | 12 | ||||
Section 2.07 |
Cooperation | 14 | ||||
Section 2.08 |
UW Lock-Up Agreements | 15 | ||||
Section 2.09 |
Expenses | 16 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Other Registration Rights | 16 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Opt-Out Notices | 16 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Holder Lock-Up Agreements | 16 | ||||
Section 2.13 |
Non-Affiliate Status | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE III INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION |
17 | |||||
Section 3.01 |
Indemnification by the Company | 17 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Indemnification by the Holders | 17 | ||||
Section 3.03 |
Indemnification Procedures | 17 | ||||
Section 3.04 |
Contribution | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE IV RULE 144 |
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ARTICLE V LEGENDS AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS |
19 | |||||
Section 5.01 |
Share Legend | 19 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Transfer of Rights | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS |
20 | |||||
Section 6.01 |
Termination | 20 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Severability | 20 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial | 21 | ||||
Section 6.04 |
Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities | 21 | ||||
Section 6.05 |
Binding Effects; Benefits of Agreement | 21 | ||||
Section 6.06 |
Notices | 21 | ||||
Section 6.07 |
Modification; Waiver | 22 | ||||
Section 6.08 |
Entire Agreement | 22 | ||||
Section 6.09 |
Counterparts | 22 |
Exhibit A Form of Lock-Up Agreement
Exhibit B Adoption Agreement
Schedule 1 Excluded Holders
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
Adoption Agreement means an Adoption Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
Affiliate means (a) as to any Person, other than an individual Holder, any other Person who directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person and (b) as to any individual, (i) any Relative of such individual, (ii) any trust whose primary beneficiaries are one or more of such individual and such individuals Relatives, (iii) the legal representative or guardian of such individual or any of such individuals Relatives if one has been appointed and (iv) any Person controlled by one or more of such individual or any Person referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above. As used in this definition, 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) (i) the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, shall not be considered Affiliates and (ii) any fund, entity or account managed, advised or sub-advised, directly or indirectly, by a Holder or any of its Affiliates, shall be considered an Affiliate of such Holder and (b) with respect to any fund, entity or account managed, advised or sub-advised directly or indirectly, by any Holder or any of its Affiliates, the direct or indirect equity owners thereof, including limited partners of any Holder or any Affiliate thereof, shall be considered an Affiliate of such Holder.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Board means the board of directors of the Company.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by applicable law to be closed in Houston, Texas.
Closing has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor governmental agency.
Company has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Company Common Stock means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.
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Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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.
Excluded Holders means the Persons listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto.
Holder means any record holder of Registrable Securities, including, solely for the purposes of Section 2.01, any Excluded Holders.
Holder Demand Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b).
Indemnified Party has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
Indemnifying Party has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
Initial Demand Registrations has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).
Initial Holders has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Lock-Up Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Losses has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01.
Majority Holders means, at any time, the Holder or Holders of more than 50% of the Registrable Securities at such time.
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.
Notice Response Period has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b).
Offering Holder has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
Opt-Out Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
Permitted Transferee means (a) with respect to any Initial Holder, any of the direct or indirect partners, shareholders or members of such Initial Holder or any trust, family partnership or family limited liability company, the beneficiaries, partners or members of which are such Initial Holder or Relatives of such Initial Holder and (b) any Affiliate of a Holder, in each case 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 Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
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Piggyback Notice Response Period has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
Piggyback Underwritten Offering has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
Piggybacking Holder has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a)
Priority Securities has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(c)(i).
Registrable Securities means (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) a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Security has become effective under the Securities Act and such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such Registrable Security has been 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 legend on any certificate or book-entry notation representing such Registrable Security restricting transfer of such Registrable Security is able to be removed in accordance with Section 9.10 of the Merger Agreement, or (iii) such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a transaction in which the Transferors rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the Transferee pursuant to Section 5.02; 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 all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Article II, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, road show expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants 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, but 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.
Relative means, with respect to any natural person: (a) such natural persons spouse, (b) any lineal descendant, parent, grandparent, great grandparent or sibling or any lineal descendant of such sibling (in each case whether by blood or legal adoption), and (c) the spouse of a natural person described in clause (b) of this definition.
Requesting Holder means any Holder or group of Holders that makes a Shelf Underwritten Offering Request.
Requesting Holder and Shelf Piggybacking Holders Securities has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(c)(i).
Section 2.02 Maximum Number of Shares has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(c).
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Section 2.04 Maximum Number of Shares has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(c).
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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, (c) costs or expenses related to any roadshows conducted in connection with the marketing of any Shelf Underwritten Offering and (d) fees and expenses of counsel engaged by any Holders (subject to Article III).
Selling Holder means a Holder selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
Shares has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Shelf Piggybacking Holder has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b).
Shelf Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).
Shelf Underwritten Offering has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).
Shelf Underwritten Offering Request has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).
Suspension Period has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.
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 an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which shares of Company Common Stock 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 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.
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UW Lock-Up Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08.
WKSI means a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 2.01 Shelf Registration.
(a) Subject to Section 2.12, the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after the date hereof, file a Registration Statement, or amend an existing shelf registration previously filed by the Company (provided that such amendment becomes effective upon filing with the Commission) (the Shelf Registration Statement), under the Securities Act to permit the public resale by the Holders of all Registrable Securities from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act and subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of this Agreement and the Lock-Up Agreement. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such Shelf 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. Promptly following the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall notify the Holders of the effectiveness of 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 such Registrable Securities and shall contain a prospectus in such form as to permit any Holder to sell such 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 resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to the Holders and requested by the Majority Holders.
(c) Until all of the Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities or the earlier termination of this Agreement (as to all Holders) pursuant to Section 6.01, the Company shall use 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 by the Holders of all Registrable Securities as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act and subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of this Agreement and the Lock-Up Agreement.
(d) When effective, (i) 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 and (ii) in the case of any prospectus
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contained in the Shelf Registration Statement, such prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements are made, not misleading.
Section 2.02 Underwritten Shelf Offering Requests.
(a) Subject to Section 2.12, in the event that a Holder or group of Holders elects to dispose of Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering and reasonably expects gross proceeds of at least $100 million in the aggregate from such Underwritten Offering (including proceeds attributable to any Registrable Securities included in such Underwritten Offering by any Shelf Piggybacking Holders), the Company shall, at the request (a Shelf Underwritten Offering Request) of the applicable Requesting Holders, 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 2.02(d) and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are requested by the Managing Underwriter of such Underwritten Offering and/or the Requesting Holder in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and, subject to Section 2.02(c), the Registrable Securities requested to be included by any Shelf Piggybacking Holder (a Shelf Underwritten Offering); provided, however, that the Companys obligation to facilitate or participate in any Shelf Underwritten Offering shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.07(c) (the Initial Demand Registrations).
(b) If the Company receives a Shelf Underwritten Offering Request, it will give written notice of such proposed Shelf Underwritten Offering to each Holder (other than the Requesting Holder), which notice shall be held in strict confidence by such Holders and shall include the anticipated filing date of the related Underwritten Offering Filing and, if known, the number of shares of Company Common Stock that are proposed to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering, and of such Holders rights under this Section 2.02(b). 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) (a Holder Demand Notice); provided, that the Company shall not so notify any such other Holder that has notified the Company (and not revoked such notice) requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Company of any proposed Shelf Underwritten Offering. Each such Holder shall then have three Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering) after the date on which the Holders received notice pursuant to this Section 2.02(b) (the Notice Response Period) to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Shelf 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) (any such Holder making such request, a Shelf Piggybacking Holder). If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within such Notice Response Period, such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Shelf Underwritten Offering.
(c) If the Managing Underwriter of the Shelf Underwritten Offering shall inform the Company and the Requesting Holders in writing, with a copy to be provided upon request to any Shelf Piggybacking Holder, of its good faith belief that the number of Registrable
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Securities requested to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering by the Shelf Piggybacking Holders (and any other shares of Company Common Stock requested to be included 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 Requesting 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 2.02 Maximum Number of Shares), Registrable Securities in the following priority:
(i) First, all Registrable Securities that the Requesting Holder and Shelf Piggybacking Holders requested to be included therein (the Requesting Holder and Shelf Piggybacking Holders Securities) (pro rata among the Requesting Holders and Shelf Piggybacking Holders based on the number of Registrable Securities each requested to be included); and
(ii) Second, to the extent that the number of Requesting Holder and Shelf Piggybacking Holders Securities is less than the Section 2.02 Maximum Number of Shares, the shares of Company Common Stock 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 shares of Company Common Stock each requested to be included.
(d) The Company shall be entitled, subject to the Requesting Holders consent (which is not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), to select the Managing Underwriter in connection with any Shelf Underwritten Offering. The Requesting Holders 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 2.03.
Section 2.03 Delay and Suspension Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may (a) delay filing or effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or effecting a Shelf Underwritten Offering or (b) suspend the Holders use of any prospectus that is a part of a Shelf Registration Statement upon written notice to each Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in such Shelf Registration Statement (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material non-public information regarding the Company) (in which event such Holder shall discontinue sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement but may settle any then-contracted sales of Registrable Securities), in each case for a period of up to (i) 60 days if such period begins on or before the date that is six months after the date hereof or (ii) 90 days if such period begins after the date that is six months after the date hereof, in each case if the Board determines, in good faith, that (w) 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 shares of Company Common Stock by the Company for its own account, (x) such registration or offering would render the Company unable to comply with applicable securities laws, (y) such registration or offering would require disclosure of material information that the Company would otherwise not have to disclose at such time or (z) such registration or offering
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would be materially detrimental to the Company (any such period, a Suspension Period); provided, however, that the Company may not exercise its delay and suspension rights under this Section 2.03 more than (i) once prior to the date that is six months after the date hereof or (ii) twice in any twelve consecutive month period. For the purposes of calculating the number of days of one or more Suspension Periods under this Section 2.03, such number shall include any number of days during the applicable period during which the Holders were obligated to discontinue their disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.06(b) of this Agreement.
Section 2.04 Piggyback Registration Rights.
(a) Subject to Sections 2.04(c) and 2.12, if the Company or any holder of Company Common Stock (other than a Holder) (the Offering Holder) at any time proposes to file an Underwritten Offering Filing for an Underwritten Offering of shares of Company Common Stock (a Piggyback Underwritten Offering), the Company will give written notice of such Piggyback Underwritten Offering to each Holder, which notice shall be held in strict confidence by such Holders and shall include the anticipated filing date of the Underwritten Offering Filing and, if known, the number of shares of Company Common Stock that are proposed to be included in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, and of such Holders rights under this Section 2.04(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) (a Piggyback Notice); provided, that if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering and the Managing Underwriter advises the Company in writing that the giving of notice pursuant to this Section 2.04(a) would adversely affect the offering, no such notice shall be required (and such Holders shall have no right to include Registrable Securities in such bought or overnight Underwritten Offering). Each such Holder shall then have three Business Days (or one Business Day in the case of a bought or overnight Underwritten Offering) after the date on which the Holders received notice (the Piggyback Notice Response Period) pursuant to this Section 2.04(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) (any such Holder making such request, a Piggybacking Holder). If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within the Piggyback Notice Response Period, such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering. Subject to Section 2.04(c), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to, or cause the Offering Holder to, include in the Piggyback Underwritten Offering all Registrable Securities that the Company has been so requested to include by the Piggybacking Holders; provided, however, that if, at any time after giving written notice of a proposed Piggyback Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.04(a) and prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto, the Company or the Offering Holder 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 Piggybacking Holders (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 Company Common Stock to be sold for the Companys or the Offering Holders account.
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(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 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; provided, further, that if the Company has provided a Piggyback Notice at the time a Holder revokes its Opt-Out Notice, such revocation shall not extend the Piggyback Notice Response Period. 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 2.04 and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in any Piggyback Underwritten Offering.
(c) If the Managing Underwriter of the Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall inform the Company in writing of its good faith belief that the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, when added to the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be offered by the Company or the Offering Holder (and any other shares of Company Common Stock requested to be included by any other Persons having registration rights on parity with the Piggybacking Holders with respect to such offering), would materially adversely affect such offering, then the Company or the Offering Holder shall include in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering, to the extent of the total number of securities which the Company or the Offering Holder is so advised can be sold in such offering without so materially adversely affecting such offering (the Section 2.04 Maximum Number of Shares), shares of Company Common Stock in the following priority:
(i) First, if the Piggyback Underwritten Offering is for the account of (x) the Company, all shares of Company Common Stock that the Company proposes to include for its own account in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering or (y) an Offering Holder, all shares of Company Common Stock that such Offering Holder and any other holders of shares of Company Common Stock that have rights of registration on parity with the Offering Holder with respect to such offering propose to include for their own account in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering (the Priority Securities); and
(ii) Second, to the extent that the number of Priority Securities is less than the Section 2.04 Maximum Number of Shares, the shares of Company Common Stock requested to be included by the Piggybacking Holders and holders of any other shares of Company Common Stock requested to be included by Persons having rights of registration on parity with the Piggybacking Holders with respect to such offering, pro rata among the Piggybacking Holders and such other holders based on the number of shares of Company Common Stock each requested to be included.
(d) The Company shall select the underwriters in any Piggyback Underwritten Offering and shall determine the pricing of the shares of Company Common Stock offered pursuant to any Piggyback Underwritten Offering, the applicable underwriting discounts and commissions and the timing of any such Piggyback Underwritten Offering.
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Section 2.05 Participation in Underwritten Offerings.
(a) In connection with any Underwritten Offering contemplated by Sections 2.02 or 2.04, the underwriting agreement into which each Selling Holder 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; provided that the Company shall not be required to make any representations or warranties with respect to written information specifically provided by a Selling Holder for inclusion in the applicable Registration Statement. 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 Holders authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of and title to, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by law or reasonably requested by the underwriters.
(b) Any participation by Holders in a Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall be in accordance with the plan of distribution of the Company.
(c) In connection with any Piggyback Underwritten Offering in which any Holder includes Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.04, such Holder agrees to (i) 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 (ii) 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 2.05(a)), custody agreements, lock-ups, hold back agreements pursuant to which such Holder agrees not to sell or purchase any securities of the Company for the same period of time following the registered offering as is agreed to by the Company and the other participating holders, powers of attorney and questionnaires.
(d) If the Company or Managing Underwriter, as applicable, requests that the Holders take any of the actions referred to in Section 2.05(c), the Holders shall take such action promptly but in any event within three Business Days following the date of such request.
Section 2.06 Registration Procedures.
(a) In connection with its obligations under this Article II, 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 seller or sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;
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(ii) furnish to each Selling Holder 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 such seller 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 each Selling Holder thereof 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 such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the securities owned by such seller, 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;
(iv) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to each Selling Holder 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 each Selling Holder, 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 necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and at the request of any such seller promptly prepare and furnish to such seller a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus 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 necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
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(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, and shall furnish to each such Selling Holder at least the Business Day prior to the filing thereof a copy of any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or prospectus;
(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 Company Common Stock is then listed; and
(ix) enter into such customary agreements and take such other actions as the Selling Holder or Selling Holders shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, in the case of a Shelf Underwritten Offering or Piggyback Underwritten Offering, to agree, and to cause its directors and executive officers (as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) to agree, to customary lock-up arrangements for up to 45 days with the underwriters thereof to the extent reasonably requested by the Managing Underwriters, subject to exceptions for permitted sales by directors and executive officers during such period consistent with underwritten offerings previously conducted by the Company).
(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 2.06(a)(v), such Holder will forthwith discontinue such Holders disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Holders receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.06(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 Companys expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holders 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 2.06(b).
Section 2.07 Cooperation
(a) The Company shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in any Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering if such Holder has failed to timely furnish such information 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.
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(b) In connection with any non-marketed, non-underwritten offering taking the form of a block trade to a financial institution, qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or institutional accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) or other disposition of Registrable Securities by any Holder, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.07(c), the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to timely furnish any information or take any actions reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with such a block trade (a block trade in which such cooperation is so requested from the Company, a Company Facilitated Block Trade), including the delivery of customary comfort letters, customary legal opinions and customary underwriter due diligence, in each case subject to receipt by the Company, its auditors and legal counsel of representation and documentation by such persons to permit the delivery of such comfort letter and legal opinions.
(c) The aggregate number of Company Facilitated Block Trades pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, together with any Shelf Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.02(a), shall not exceed five (5) in total; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to facilitate or participate in (i) any such Company Facilitated Block Trade or Shelf Underwritten Offering on or before the date that is 30 calendar days after the date hereof, (ii) more than either one such Company Facilitated Block Trade or one Shelf Underwritten Offering between the date that is 30 calendar days after the date hereof and on or before the date that is six months after the date hereof, or (iii) more than two Shelf Underwritten Offerings (subject to the overall limitation set forth above on five (5) total Company Facilitated Block Trades and Shelf Underwritten Offerings) on or after the date that is six months after the date hereof; provided further, that the Company shall not be required to effect more than one of either such a Company Facilitated Block Trade or a Shelf Underwritten Offering within any 60 day period.
Section 2.08 UW Lock-Up Agreements. In connection with any Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.02, if reasonably requested by the Managing Underwriter of such Underwritten Offering, each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in such Underwritten Offering shall enter into a customary lock-up agreement with the Managing Underwriter of such Underwritten Offering to not make any sale or other disposition of any Company Common Stock owned by such Holder (a UW Lock-Up Agreement); provided that all executive officers and directors of the Company are bound by and have entered into substantially similar UW Lock-Up Agreements on terms no more favorable than any UW Lock-Up Agreement to be entered into by a Holder in connection with such Underwritten Offering; provided further, that nothing herein, and no UW Lock-Up Agreement, shall prevent any Holder from (i) making a distribution of Registrable Securities to any of its partners, members or stockholders thereof or a transfer of Registrable Securities to an Affiliate that is otherwise in compliance with the applicable securities laws, so long as such distributees or transferees, as applicable, agree to be bound by the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.08 or (ii) making sales of shares of Company Common Stock that were purchased in the open market; and provided further, that the foregoing provisions shall only be applicable to the Holders if all Holders are treated similarly with respect to any release prior to the termination of the lock-up period such that if any Holder is released, then all Holders shall also be released to the same extent on a pro rata basis. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities) subject to a UW Lock-Up Agreement until the end of the applicable period of such UW Lock-Up Agreement. The provisions of this Section 2.08 shall cease to apply to such Holder once such Holder no longer beneficially owns any Registrable Securities.
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Section 2.09 Expenses. The Company shall be responsible for all Registration Expenses incident to its performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Article II. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder.
Section 2.10 Other Registration Rights. From and after the date hereof, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Majority Holders, enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of the Company that would allow such current or future holder to require the Company to include securities in any registration statement filed by the Company for such Holders on a basis other than pari passu with, or expressly subordinate to, the piggyback rights of the Holders hereunder provided, that in no event shall the Company enter into any agreement that would permit another holder of securities of the Company to participate on a pari passu basis (in terms of priority of cut-back based on advice of underwriters) with a Requesting Holder or a Shelf Piggybacking Holder in a Shelf Underwritten Offering.
Section 2.11 Opt-Out Notices. Any Holder may deliver written notice (an Opt-Out Notice) to the Company requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Company of the proposed filing of any Shelf Underwritten Offering, Piggyback Underwritten Offering, the withdrawal of any Shelf Underwritten Offering or Piggyback Underwritten Offering or any event that would lead to a Suspension Period as contemplated by Section 2.03; provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing; provided, further, that if the Company has provided a Holder Demand Notice or a Piggyback Notice at the time a Holder revokes its Opt-Out Notice, such revocation shall not extend the Notice Response Period or the Piggyback Notice Response Period, as applicable. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Company shall not deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to Section 2.02, Section 2.03, Section 2.04 or Section 2.06, as applicable, and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to the rights associated with any such notice and each time prior to a Holders intended use of an effective Registration Statement, such Holder will notify the Company in writing at least two Business Days in advance of such intended use, and if a notice of a Suspension Period was previously delivered (or would have been delivered but for the provisions of this Section 2.11) and the Suspension Period remains in effect, the Company will so notify such Holder, within one Business Day of such Holders notification to the Company, by delivering to such Holder a copy of such previous notice of such Suspension Period, and thereafter will provide such Holder with the related notice of the conclusion of such Suspension Period immediately upon its availability.
Section 2.12 Holder Lock-Up Agreements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, none of the rights of any Holder set forth herein shall be effective, and the Company shall have no obligations to any Holder hereunder, unless and until such time as GeoSouthern has delivered to the Company a duly and validly executed Lock-Up Agreement.
Section 2.13 Non-Affiliate Status. The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Holder is an Affiliate of the Company as of the date of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE III
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
Section 3.01 Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling 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 and expenses (including attorneys fees) (Losses) caused by, arising out of, resulting from or related to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact (a) contained in any Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), 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 or (b) included in any 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 any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, 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 3.02 Indemnification by the Holders. 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 (a) contained in any Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), 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 or (b) included in any 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 any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, 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 any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus.
Section 3.03 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 3.01 or 3.02, 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
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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 (a) if the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, (b) 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 which are not available to the Indemnifying Party or (c) 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 (i) includes an unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.
Section 3.04 Contribution.
(a) If the indemnification provided for in this Article III is unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities 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, claims, damages or liabilities 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, claims, damages or liabilities, 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 each Holder 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
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to in Section 3.04(a). The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 3.04(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, no Holder shall 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.
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 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 a 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 under the Securities Act and (ii) unless otherwise available via the Commissions EDGAR filing system, to such 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 such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.
ARTICLE V
LEGENDS AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS
Section 5.01 Share Legend.
(a) Each certificate or book-entry notation representing the Shares shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of Section 5.01(b)) bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.
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(b) The legend on any shares of Company Common Stock covered by this Agreement shall be removed if (i) such shares of Company Common Stock are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement, (ii) (A) a registration statement covering the resale of such shares of Company Common Stock is effective under the Securities Act and the applicable holder of such share of Company Common Stock delivers to the Company a representation letter agreeing that such shares of Company Common Stock will be sold under such effective registration statement, or (B) six months after the date of this Agreement, and in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 9.11(a) of the Merger Agreement, such Holder has held such shares for at least six months and is not, and has not been in the preceding three months, an Affiliate of the Company (as defined in Rule 144), and such holder or permitted assignee provides to the Company any other information the Company deems reasonably necessary to deliver to the transfer agent an instruction to so remove such legend, (iii) such shares of Company Common Stock may be sold by the holder thereof free of restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(b) under the Securities Act or (iv) such shares of Company Common Stock are being sold, assigned or otherwise transferred pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; provided, that with respect to clause (iii) or (iv) above, the holder of such shares of Company Common Stock has provided all necessary documentation and evidence (which may include an opinion of counsel) as may reasonably be required by the Company to confirm that the legend may be removed under applicable securities law. The Company shall cooperate with the applicable holder of Company Common Stock covered by this Agreement to effect removal of the legend on such shares pursuant to this Section 5.01(b) as soon as reasonably practicable after delivery of notice from such holder that the conditions to removal are satisfied (together with any documentation required to be delivered by such holder pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence). The Company shall bear all direct costs and expenses associated with the removal of a legend pursuant to this Section 5.01(b).
Section 5.02 Transfer of Rights. The rights to registration and other rights under this Agreement may be assigned to a Transferee of Registrable Securities if such Transferee is a Permitted Transferee.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.01 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate, and the parties shall have no further rights or obligations hereunder, on the earliest of: (a) as to any Holder, on such earlier date on which (i) such Holder, together with such Holders Affiliates, owns less than 1.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and such Holder is able to sell their shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without restriction and without regard to the current public information requirement in such Rule and (ii) all Registrable Securities owned by such Holder and such Holders Affiliates have been sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act and the Company is compliant with Rule 144(c) under the Securities Act, (b) the mutual written consent of all parties or (c) the second anniversary of the date hereof.
Section 6.02 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be illegal and unenforceable by any court of law, the remaining provisions shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms.
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Section 6.03 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would direct the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
(b) THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANOTHER IN ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN RELATION TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. FURTHER, NOTHING HEREIN SHALL DIVEST A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION OF THE RIGHT AND POWER TO GRANT A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, TO GRANT TEMPORARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, OR TO COMPEL SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OF ANY DECISION OF AN ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL MADE PURSUANT TO THIS PROVISION.
Section 6.04 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 Registrable Securities, 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 6.05 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 each Holder and its successors and assigns. Except as provided in Section 5.02, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, benefits or obligations hereunder may be assigned or transferred, by operation of law or otherwise, by any Holder without the prior written consent of the Company.
Section 6.06 Notices. All notices or other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if (a) personally delivered, (b) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, (c) sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (d) sent by email. Such notices and other communications must be sent to the following addresses or email addresses:
(a) If to the Company, to:
Southwestern Energy Company
10000 Energy Drive
Spring, Texas 77389-4954
Attention: Chris Lacy
Email: chris_lacy@SWN.COM
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
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1000 Louisiana Street
Suite 6800
Houston, Texas 77002-5026
Telephone: 713-655-5100
Facsimile: 713-655-5200
Attention: Frank Ed Bayouth II, Eric C. Otness, Cody Carper
Email: frank.bayouth@skadden.com; eric.otness@skadden.com; cody.carper@skadden.com
(b) If to an Initial Holder, to the address or email address of such Initial Holder as they appear on such Initial Holders signature page attached hereto or such other address or email address as may be designated in writing by such Holder; and
(c) If to any other Holders, to their respective addresses or email addresses set forth on the applicable Adoption Agreement; or to such other address or email address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to such other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) when delivered, if personally delivered, (b) the next Business Day after delivery, if sent by nationally recognized, overnight courier, (c) on the third Business Day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted, if sent by first-class mail or (d) on the date sent, if sent by email during normal business hours of the recipient or on the next Business Day, if sent by email after normal business hours of the recipient.
Section 6.07 Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company, the Unitholder Representative and the Majority Holders; provided, however, that this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented in a manner that is disproportionately adverse to the rights of a Holder under this Agreement as compared to the other Holders under this Agreement without the prior written consent of such Holder. No course of dealing between the Company and the Holders (or any of them) 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 6.08 Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings of the parties in connection therewith.
Section 6.09 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute but one agreement.
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[Signature page follows]
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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.
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY |
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By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
HOLDERS: |
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GSO GEPH HOLDINGS LP |
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By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Address: |
Contact Person: | ||
Email: |
GSO ENERGY PARTNERS-B LP |
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By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Address: |
Contact Person: | ||
Email: |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
GEOSOUTHERN HAYNESVILLE, LP |
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By: | GeoSouthern Haynesville GP, LLC, its general partner | |
By: |
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Name: | Margaret W. Molleston | |
Title: | President | |
Address: |
c/o GeoSouthern Energy Corporation 1425 Lake Front Circle The Woodlands, TX 77380 |
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Contact
Person: |
Gregg Kosterlitzky | |
Email: | gkoster@geosouthernenergy.com |
By: |
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Name: | George H. Bishop | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Address: |
c/o GeoSouthern Energy Corporation 1425 Lake Front Circle The Woodlands, TX 77380 |
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Contact
Person: |
Gregg Kosterlitzky | |
Email: | gkoster@geosouthernenergy.com |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
[To be attached]
EXHIBIT B
ADOPTION AGREEMENT
This Adoption Agreement (Adoption Agreement) is executed by the undersigned transferee (Transferee) pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights and Lockup Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2021, among Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the Company), and the Holders party 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 Company Common Stock subject to the terms and conditions of Registration Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto.
2. Agreement. Transferee (a) agrees that the shares of Company Common Stock acquired by Transferee shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (b) 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 below Transferees signature.
4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption Agreement to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouses best interest, and to bind such spouses community interest, if any, in the shares of Company Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Registration Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.
Signature:
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Address: |
Contact Person: |
Telephone Number: |
Email: |
B-1
SCHEDULE 1
EXCLUDED HOLDERS
None.
C-2
Exhibit 2.3
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
This Lock-Up Agreement (this Agreement) is dated as of December 31 2021, and is between Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the Company), and the undersigned (the Holder). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, this Agreement is being entered into pursuant to that Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2021, by and among the Company and the other parties thereto (the Registration Rights Agreement);
WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to set forth herein certain understandings between such parties with respect to restrictions, in the case of the Holder, on the transfer of Company Common Stock and, in the case of the Company, the issuance or sale of Company Common Stock.
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 1.
LOCK-UP
Section 1.01 Lock-Up.
(a) Except as provided in Section 1.01(b), from the date of Closing to the date that is six months after Closing, Holder agrees that it shall not offer, sell, contract to sell (including any short sale), pledge, hypothecate, establish an open put equivalent position within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, purchase any option or contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, or otherwise encumber, dispose of or transfer, or grant any rights with respect to, directly or indirectly (any such action, a Transfer), any shares of Company Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of Common Stock, enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Company Common Stock, whether any such aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of the Company Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any Transfer, without, in each case, the prior written consent of the Company, which consent may be withheld in the Companys sole discretion; provided, however, Holder may, without the Companys consent, transfer or assign any shares of Company Common Stock to any of the direct or indirect partners, shareholders or members of such Holder or any trust, family partnership or family limited liability company, the beneficiaries, partners or members of which are such Holder or Relatives of such Holder (each such person, a Permitted Transferee and such transfer or assignment a Permitted Transfer) and such Permitted Transfers shall not be applied to the Aggregate Threshold Amount (defined below); provided, further, that at the time of and as a condition to any Permitted Transfer, each Permitted Transferee shall execute a joinder to this Agreement agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof with respect to the Company Common Stock transferred or assigned in such Permitted Transfer.
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 1.01(a), from the date that is 30 days after Closing to and including the date that is six months after the date of Closing, the Holder and its Permitted Transferees may collectively Transfer up to an aggregate of 25% of the Registrable Securities issued to such Holder pursuant to the Merger Agreement (the Aggregate Threshold Amount) pursuant to the (i) Initial Demand Registrations, (ii) any other method of distribution permitted by the plan of distribution in the Shelf Registration Statement, which shall be in substantially the form as set forth on Exhibit A hereto, subject to the delay and suspension rights set forth in Section 2.03 of the Registration Rights Agreement, or (iii) any other applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (each, a Permitted Sale); provided, however, that the Company may, in its sole discretion, increase the Aggregate Threshold Amount if requested by the Requesting Holders in connection with any Permitted Sale; provided further that if a party to the Registration Rights Agreement elects not to participate in an Initial Demand Registration or a participant in an Initial Demand Registration elects not to sell a number of Registrable Securities equal to such holders Aggregate Threshold Amount, then Holder may elect to sell an additional number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in such Initial Demand Registration so long as the total number of Registrable Securities sold by all participants in the Initial Demand Registrations does not exceed 25% of the Registrable Securities in any Initial Demand Registration made pursuant to Section 2.02(a)(ii) of the Registration Rights Agreement.
(c) From the date of Closing to and including the date that is 30 days after Closing, the Company agrees that it shall not Transfer any shares of Company Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of Company Common Stock or enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer or sale or to enter into any such transaction or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of the Majority Holders; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to obtain the written consent of the Majority Holders for (A) issuance of Company Common Stock upon (1) exercise of options, (2) settlement of performance share units, (3) vesting of restricted shares, (4) vesting of shares issued at the election of a participant or as a matching contribution under employee 401(k) plans, (5) the vesting of deferred stock units, (6) settlement of phantom units and (7) elections under employee stock purchase programs, in each case, granted under the Companys benefit and compensation plans as in effect on the date of this Agreement and (B) the issuance of Company Common Stock, restricted stock, stock options, performance share units, phantom units, or other stock performance awards under the Companys benefit and compensation plans as in effect on the date of this Agreement or under any Company employee benefit plan.
ARTICLE 2.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 2.01 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be illegal and unenforceable by any court of law, the remaining provisions shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms.
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Section 2.02 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would direct the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
(b) THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANOTHER IN ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN RELATION TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. FURTHER, NOTHING HEREIN SHALL DIVEST A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION OF THE RIGHT AND POWER TO GRANT A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, TO GRANT TEMPORARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, OR TO COMPEL SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OF ANY DECISION OF AN ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL MADE PURSUANT TO THIS PROVISION.
Section 2.03 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 Holder and its successors and assigns. 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 party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party.
Section 2.04 Notices. All notices or other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if (a) personally delivered, (b) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, (c) sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (d) sent by email. Such notices and other communications must be sent to the following addresses or email addresses:
(a) If to the Company, to:
Southwestern Energy Company
10000 Energy Drive
Spring, Texas 77389-4954
Attention: Chris Lacy
Email: chris_lacy@SWN.COM
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
1000 Louisiana Street
Suite 6800
Houston, Texas 77002-5026
Telephone: 713-655-5100
Facsimile: 713-655-5200
Attention: Frank Ed Bayouth II, Eric C. Otness, Cody Carper
Email: frank.bayouth@skadden.com; eric.otness@skadden.com; cody.carper@skadden.com
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(b) If to Holder, to the address or email address of Holder as they appear on Holders signature page attached hereto or such other address or email address as may be designated in writing by Holder.
Section 2.05 Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the Holder. No course of dealing between the Company and the 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 2.06 Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings of the parties in connection therewith.
Section 2.07 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute but one agreement.
[signature page follows]
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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.
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement]
[Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Holders may sell the shares of common stock from time to time on any stock exchange or automated interdealer quotation system on which the shares of common stock are traded, in the over-the-counter market, in privately-negotiated transactions or otherwise, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at prices otherwise negotiated. The Holders may act independently of the Company in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each of their sales. The Holder may, from time to time, sell, distribute or otherwise transfer the shares of Company Common Stock by one or more of the following methods, without limitation:
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block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares of common stock as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, or in crosses in which the same broker acts as agent on both sides; |
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purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by the broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this Shelf Registration Statement; |
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a public auction by or through a broker-dealer; |
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an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of any stock exchange on which the shares of common stock are listed or any automated inter-dealer quotation system on which the shares of common stock are traded; |
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in ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
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in privately negotiated transactions; |
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in short sales, whether through a broker or dealer or itself; |
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through the writing of options on the shares of common stock, swaps or other derivatives, including warrants, exchangeable securities or forward delivery contracts, whether or not the options or other such instruments are listed on an exchange or inter-dealer quotation system; |
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one or more underwritten offerings on a firm commitment or best efforts basis or other purchases by underwriters, brokers, dealers, and agents who may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions or commissions from the Holder and/or the purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent; |
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pledges of the shares of common stock as security for any loan or obligation, including pledges to brokers or dealers who may from time to time effect sales or other distributions of the shares of common stock; |
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sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to institutions or individual purchasers; and |
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any combination of the foregoing methods or by any other legally available means. |
A Holder may also distribute any or all of the shares of Company Common Stock covered by this Shelf Registration Statement to its members or other direct or indirect successor-in-interest to such Holder who may from time to time effect sales or other distributions of the shares of Company Common Stock.
In the event that any such member or other direct or indirect successor-in-interest to the Holder receives any such shares in such a distribution or other non-sale-related transfer after the date of the Shelf Registration Statement, such member or other successor-in-interest may offer, sell, distribute or otherwise transfer such shares under this Shelf Registration Statement and, in doing so, will be a Holder for purposes of this Shelf Registration Statement.
The Holder may engage underwriters, brokers or dealers, and any underwriters, brokers or dealers may arrange for other underwriters, brokers or dealers to participate in effecting sales of the shares of Company Common Stock. These brokers, dealers or underwriters may act as principals, or as an agent of the Holders. Broker-dealers may agree with the Holders to sell a specified number of the shares of Company Common Stock at a stipulated price per security. If the broker-dealer is unable to sell shares of Company Common Stock acting as agent for the Holders, it may purchase as principal any unsold shares of Company Common Stock at the stipulated price. Broker-dealers who acquire shares of Company Common Stock as principals may thereafter resell the shares of Company Common Stock from time to time in transactions in any stock exchange or automated interdealer quotation system on which the shares of Company Common Stock are then listed or in over-the-counter market, at prices and on terms then prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions. Broker-dealers may use block transactions and sales to and through broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature described above. The Holders may also sell the shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with Section 4(a)(1) of the Securities Act and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, rather than pursuant to this Shelf Registration Statement, regardless of whether the shares of common stock are covered by this Shelf Registration Statement.
In addition, the Holders may, from time to time, sell the shares of Company Common Stock short or enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, and, in those instances, this Shelf Registration Statement and the accompanying prospectus may be delivered in connection with these transactions and the shares of Company Common Stock offered under this Shelf Registration Statement may be used to cover short sales or close out any related positions resulting from these transactions.
The Holders may also enter into derivative or hedging transactions with broker-dealers and the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the shares of Company Common Stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume with the Holder, including, without limitation, in connection with distributions of the shares of Company Common Stock by those broker-dealers. The Holders may enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of the shares of Company Common Stock offered hereby to the broker-dealers, who may then resell or otherwise transfer those shares of Company Common Stock. The Holders may also loan or pledge the shares of Company Common Stock offered hereby to a broker-dealer and the broker-dealer may sell the shares of common stock offered hereby so loaned or upon a default may sell or otherwise transfer the pledged shares of Company Common Stock offered hereby.
To the extent required under the Securities Act, the aggregate amount of the Holders shares of Company Common Stock being offered and the terms of the offering, the names of any agents, brokers, dealers or underwriters and any applicable commission with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Any underwriters, dealers, brokers
or agents participating in the distribution of the shares of Company Common Stock may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions or fees from a Holders and/or purchasers of a Holderss shares of Company Common Stock, for whom they may act (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). To the extent the shares of Company Common Stock offered pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement remain unsold, the Holders may offer those shares of Company Common Stock on different terms pursuant to another Shelf Registration Statement. The Holders and any underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of the shares of Company Common Stock may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts, concessions, commissions or fees received by them and any profit on the resale of the shares of Company Common Stock sold by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
Exhibit 4.1
SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
THIS SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (Sixth Supplemental Indenture), dated as of January 4, 2022, among (i) SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), (ii) A.W. REALTY COMPANY, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, ANGELINA GATHERING COMPANY, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, SWN DRILLING COMPANY, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, SWN E & P SERVICES, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, SWN ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, SWN INTERNATIONAL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, SWN MIDSTREAM SERVICES COMPANY, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, SWN PRODUCER SERVICES, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, SWN PRODUCTION COMPANY, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, SWN PRODUCTION (LOUISIANA), LLC, a Texas limited liability company, SWN PRODUCTION (OHIO), LLC, a Texas limited liability company, SWN WATER RESOURCES COMPANY, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and SWN WELL SERVICES, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (each Person in this clause (ii), an Existing Guaranteeing Subsidiary, and together, the Existing Guaranteeing Subsidiaries), each, a subsidiary of the Company, (iii) GEP HAYNESVILLE, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Additional Guaranteeing Subsidiary, and together with the Existing Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries), a subsidiary of the Company, and (iv) THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the Trustee).
W I T N E S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the Base Indenture), dated as of March 5, 2012, a first supplemental indenture (the First Supplemental Indenture), dated as of November 29, 2017, a second supplemental indenture (the Second Supplemental Indenture), dated as of April 26, 2018, a third supplemental indenture (the Third Supplemental Indenture), dated as of September 17, 2018, a fourth supplemental indenture, dated as of December 10, 2020 (the Fourth Supplemental Indenture), a fifth supplemental indenture, dated as of September 10, 2021 (the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and, the Base Indenture as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture), providing for the issuance of 4.10% Senior Notes due 2022 (the Notes);
WHEREAS, Section 3.10 of the Indenture provides that if any of the Companys Subsidiaries that is not a Note Guarantor guarantees, becomes a borrower or guarantor under, or grants any Lien to secure any obligations pursuant to (i) the Senior Credit Facility or any future Credit Facility, or (ii) any other indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of $500.0 million, then the Company shall cause such Subsidiary to become a Note Guarantor by executing a supplement to the Indenture and delivering such supplement to the Trustee promptly (but in any event within ten Business Days of the date on which it guaranteed or incurred such obligations or granted such Lien, as the case may be), in accordance with Article X of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Additional Guaranteeing Subsidiary has been added as a guarantor to the Senior Credit Facility (as defined in the Indenture); and
WHEREAS, all acts and requirements necessary to make this Sixth Supplemental Indenture a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company have been done;
WHEREAS, the Company has requested and hereby requests that the Trustee join with the Company and the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries in the execution of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Sixth Supplemental Indenture.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, each Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee, as applicable, 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. Guarantee. The Additional Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby provides a Note Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture including, but not limited to, Article X thereof.
3. No Recourse Against Others. An incorporator, director, officer, employee, stockholder or controlling Person, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes, the Indenture, this Sixth Supplemental Indenture or any Note Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability.
4. Governing Law. THIS SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
5. Counterparts. This Sixth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original; and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture, but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability and binding effect of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture.
The exchange of copies of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages that are executed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or by other electronic signing created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signing (such as Adobe Sign) that is acceptable to the Trustee shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto that are executed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or by other electronic signing created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signing (such as Adobe Sign) that is acceptable to the Trustee shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original.
6. Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
7. The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible and makes no representation as to the validity, sufficiency or adequacy of this Sixth Supplemental Indenture, and it shall not be responsible for the recitals or statements in this Sixth Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture, all of which are made solely by the Company and the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. All of the provisions contained in the Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of the Notes and this Sixth Supplemental Indenture or fully and with like effect as if set forth in full herein.
[Signature pages follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Sixth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.
Dated: January 4, 2022
A.W. REALTY COMPANY, LLC |
ANGELINA GATHERING COMPANY, LLC |
GEP HAYNESVILLE, LLC |
SWN DRILLING COMPANY, LLC |
SWN E & P SERVICES, LLC |
SWN ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN INTERNATIONAL, LLC |
SWN MIDSTREAM SERVICES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN PRODUCER SERVICES, LLC |
SWN PRODUCTION COMPANY, LLC SWN PRODUCTION (LOUISIANA), LLC SWN PRODUCTION (OHIO), LLC |
SWN WATER RESOURCES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN WELL SERVICES, LLC |
By: |
/s/ Carl Giesler, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl Giesler, Jr. | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Carl Giesler, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl Giesler, Jr. | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee | ||
By: |
/s/ Ann Dolezal |
|
Name: | Ann Dolezal | |
Title: | Vice President |
Exhibit 4.2
EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture), dated as of January 4, 2022, among GEP Haynesville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Guaranteeing Subsidiary), a subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the Company), the other Security Guarantors named therein (as defined in the Indenture referred to below), and Regions Bank, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (in such capacity, the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore entered into an Indenture, dated as of January 23, 2015 (the Base Indenture) providing for the issuance from time to time of Securities in one or more series;
WHEREAS, the Company, the other Security Guarantors named therein, as applicable, and the Trustee have heretofore entered into a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 23, 2015 (the First Supplemental Indenture), a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 25, 2017 (the Second Supplemental Indenture), a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 29, 2017 (the Third Supplemental Indenture), a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 26, 2018 (the Fourth Supplemental Indenture), a Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 3, 2018 (the Fifth Supplemental Indenture), a Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 10, 2020 (the Sixth Supplemental Indenture) and Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 10, 2021 (the Seventh Supplemental Indenture) amending and supplementing the Base Indenture and establishing a series of Securities designated as the Companys 4.950% Senior Notes due 2025 (the Notes);
WHEREAS, the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture and the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall guarantee all of the Companys obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (but only with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Base Indenture, as supplemented from time to time, including without limitation pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, is referred to herein as the Indenture; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10.01 and 10.06 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee, as applicable, mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes as follows:
1
ARTICLE ONE
RELATION TO INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Relation to Indenture.
With respect to the Notes, this Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture.
SECTION 1.02 Definitions.
For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Base Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented.
SECTION 1.03 General References.
Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references in this Supplemental Indenture to Articles and Sections refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the terms herein, hereof, hereunder and any other word of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture.
ARTICLE TWO
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
SECTION 2.01 Agreement To Guarantee.
The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby guarantees all of the Companys obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (but only with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, including without limitation in Article XI of the Indenture, Article VII of the First Supplemental Indenture, 5.03 of the Second Supplemental Indenture and Section 5.03 of the Third Supplemental Indenture and shall be deemed to be a Security Guarantor with respect to the Notes for all purposes under the Indenture.
ARTICLE THREE
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 3.01 Certain Trustee Matters.
The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.
The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or any Securities Guarantee or the proper authorization or the due execution hereof or thereof by the Company.
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Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall alter the duties, rights or obligations of the Trustee set forth in the Base Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented.
SECTION 3.02. Continued Effect.
Except as expressly supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof, and the Base Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Supplemental Indenture and all its provisions shall be deemed a part of the Indenture, in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
SECTION 3.03. Governing Law.
This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 3.04. Counterparts.
This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original; and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture. The words execution, signed, signature, delivery, and words of like import in or relating to this Supplemental Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.
SECTION 3.05 Effect of Headings.
The Article and Section headings in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
(Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.
Dated: January 4, 2022
A.W. REALTY COMPANY, LLC |
ANGELINA GATHERING COMPANY, L.L.C. |
GEP HAYNESVILLE, LLC |
SWN DRILLING COMPANY, LLC |
SWN E & P SERVICES, LLC |
SWN ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN INTERNATIONAL, LLC |
SWN MIDSTREAM SERVICES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN PRODUCER SERVICES, LLC |
SWN PRODUCTION COMPANY, LLC SWN PRODUCTION (LOUISIANA), LLC SWN PRODUCTION (OHIO), LLC |
SWN WATER RESOURCES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN WELL SERVICES, LLC |
By: |
/s/ Carl Giesler, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl Giesler, Jr. | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Carl Giesler, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl Giesler, Jr. | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
4
TRUSTEE | ||
REGIONS BANK, as Trustee | ||
By: |
/s/ Doug Milner |
|
Authorized Signatory |
5
Exhibit 4.3
EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture), dated as of January 4, 2022, among GEP Haynesville, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Guaranteeing Subsidiary), a subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the Company), the other Security Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (in such capacity, the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore entered into an Indenture dated as of September 25, 2017 (the Base Indenture) providing for the issuance from time to time of Securities in one or more series;
WHEREAS, the Company, the other Security Guarantors named therein and the Trustee have heretofore entered into a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 25, 2017 (the First Supplemental Indenture), a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 26, 2018 (the Second Supplemental Indenture), a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 3, 2018 (the Third Supplemental Indenture), a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 27, 2020 (the Fourth Supplemental Indenture), a Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 10, 2020 (the Fifth Supplemental Indenture), a Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 30, 2021 (the Sixth Supplemental Indenture) and a Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 10, 2021 (the Seventh Supplemental Indenture) amending and supplementing the Base Indenture and establishing series of Securities designated as the Companys 7.750% Senior Notes due 2027 and 8.375% Senior Notes due 2028 (collectively, the Notes);
WHEREAS, the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture and the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall fully and unconditionally guarantee all of the Companys obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (but only with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Base Indenture, as supplemented from time to time, including without limitation pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, is referred to herein as the Indenture; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10.01 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the other Security Guarantors and the Trustee, as applicable, mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes as follows:
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ARTICLE ONE
RELATION TO INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Relation to Indenture.
With respect to the Notes, this Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture.
SECTION 1.02 Definitions.
For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Base Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented.
SECTION 1.03 General References.
Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references in this Supplemental Indenture to Articles and Sections refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the terms herein, hereof, hereunder and any other word of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture.
ARTICLE TWO
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
SECTION 2.01 Agreement To Guarantee.
The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees all of the Companys obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (but only with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, including without limitation in Article XI of the Base Indenture, Article VII of the First Supplemental Indenture and Article VII of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and shall be deemed to be a Security Guarantor with respect to the Notes for all purposes under the Indenture.
ARTICLE THREE
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 3.01 Certain Trustee Matters.
The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.
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The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for, and makes no representations as to, the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or any Securities Guarantee or the proper authorization or the due execution hereof or thereof by the Company.
All of the provisions contained in the Indenture in respect of the duties, rights, privileges, immunities, powers and obligations of the Trustee set forth in the Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, shall be applicable in respect of the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture.
SECTION 3.02. Continued Effect.
Except as expressly supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof, and the Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Supplemental Indenture and all its provisions shall be deemed a part of the Indenture, in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
SECTION 3.03. Governing Law.
This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 3.04. Counterparts.
This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original; and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture. The words execution, signed, signature, delivery and words of like import in or relating to this Supplemental Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.
SECTION 3.05 Effect of Headings.
The Article and Section headings in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
(Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.
Dated: January 4, 2022
A.W. REALTY COMPANY, LLC |
ANGELINA GATHERING COMPANY, L.L.C. |
GEP HAYNESVILLE, LLC |
SWN DRILLING COMPANY, LLC |
SWN E & P SERVICES, LLC |
SWN ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN INTERNATIONAL, LLC |
SWN MIDSTREAM SERVICES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN PRODUCER SERVICES, LLC |
SWN PRODUCTION COMPANY, LLC SWN PRODUCTION (LOUISIANA), LLC SWN PRODUCTION (OHIO), LLC |
SWN WATER RESOURCES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN WELL SERVICES, LLC |
By: |
/s/ Carl Giesler, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl Giesler, Jr. | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Carl Giesler, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl Giesler, Jr. | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
4
TRUSTEE | ||
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: |
/s/ Alejandro Hoyos |
|
Authorized Signatory |
5
Exhibit 4.4
FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture), dated as of January 4, 2022, among GEP Haynesville, a Delaware limited liability company (the Guaranteeing Subsidiary), a subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the Company), the other Security Guarantors named therein (as defined in the Indenture referred to below), and Regions Bank, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (in such capacity, the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore entered into an Indenture dated as of August 30, 2021 (the Base Indenture) providing for the issuance from time to time of Securities in one or more series;
WHEREAS, the Company, the other Security Guarantors named therein, as applicable, and the Trustee have heretofore entered into a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 30, 2021 (the First Supplemental Indenture), a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 3, 2021 (the Second Supplemental Indenture ), a Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 10, 2021 (the Third Supplemental Indenture) and a Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 22, 2021 (the Fourth Supplemental Indenture), amending and supplementing the Base Indenture and establishing a series of Securities designated as the Companys, 5.375% Senior Notes due 2029, 5.375% Senior Notes due 2030 and 4.750% Senior Notes due 2032 (the Notes);
WHEREAS, the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall guarantee all of the Companys obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (but only with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Base Indenture, as supplemented from time to time, including without limitation pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, is referred to herein as the Indenture; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 10.01 and 10.06 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee, as applicable, mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes as follows:
1
ARTICLE ONE
RELATION TO INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Relation to Indenture.
With respect to the Notes, this Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture.
SECTION 1.02 Definitions.
For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Base Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented.
SECTION 1.03 General References.
Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references in this Supplemental Indenture to Articles and Sections refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the terms herein, hereof, hereunder and any other word of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture.
ARTICLE TWO
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
SECTION 2.01 Agreement To Guarantee.
The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby guarantees all of the Companys obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (but only with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, including without limitation in Article XI of the Indenture and Article VII of the First Supplemental Indenture and shall be deemed to be a Security Guarantor with respect to the Notes for all purposes under the Indenture.
ARTICLE THREE
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 3.01. Certain Trustee Matters.
The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.
The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or any Securities Guarantee or the proper authorization or the due execution hereof or thereof by the Company.
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Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall alter the duties, rights or obligations of the Trustee set forth in the Base Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented.
SECTION 3.02. Continued Effect.
Except as expressly supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof, and the Base Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Supplemental Indenture and all its provisions shall be deemed a part of the Indenture, in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
SECTION 3.03. Governing Law.
This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 3.04. Counterparts.
This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original; and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture. The words execution, signed, signature, delivery, and words of like import in or relating to this Supplemental Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.
SECTION 3.05 Effect of Headings.
The Article and Section headings in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
(Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.
Dated: January 4, 2022
A.W. REALTY COMPANY, LLC |
ANGELINA GATHERING COMPANY, L.L.C. |
GEP HAYNESVILLE, LLC |
SWN DRILLING COMPANY, LLC |
SWN E & P SERVICES, LLC |
SWN ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN INTERNATIONAL, LLC |
SWN MIDSTREAM SERVICES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN PRODUCER SERVICES, LLC |
SWN PRODUCTION COMPANY, LLC SWN PRODUCTION (LOUISIANA), LLC SWN PRODUCTION (OHIO), LLC |
SWN WATER RESOURCES COMPANY, LLC |
SWN WELL SERVICES, LLC |
By: |
/s/ Carl Giesler, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl Giesler, Jr. | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY | ||
By: |
/s/ Carl Giesler, Jr. |
|
Name: | Carl Giesler, Jr. | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
4
TRUSTEE | ||
REGIONS BANK, as Trustee | ||
By: |
/s/ Doug Milner |
|
Authorized Signatory |
5
Exhibit 99.1
|
|
NEWS RELEASE
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF GEP HAYNESVILLE
SPRING, Texas December 31, 2021 Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) (the Company) today announced that it has closed the acquisition of GEP Haynesville, LLC (GEP). The transaction builds further scale in the Haynesville, deepens the Companys inventory, improves key financial metrics, including margins, returns and per-share ratios, fortifies SWNs financial strength and enhances the Companys leading presence in the two premier natural gas basins in the US.
In December, the Company completed an offering of $1.15 billion of 4.75% senior notes due 2032 and a $550 million institutional term loan to fund the cash consideration for the acquisition and tender for $300 million of its 2025 senior notes. The Company expects to issue 2022 guidance inclusive of the acquired properties in conjunction with its fourth quarter earnings release.
About Southwestern Energy
Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) is a leading U.S. producer and marketer of natural gas and natural gas liquids focused on responsibly developing large-scale energy assets in the nations most prolific shale gas basins. SWNs returns-driven strategy strives to create sustainable value for its stakeholders by leveraging its scale, financial strength and operational execution. For additional information, please visit www.swn.com and www.swn.com/responsibility.
Investor Contacts
Brittany Raiford
Director, Investor Relations
(832) 796-7906
brittany_raiford@swn.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and information herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as amended. The words believe, expect, anticipate, plan, predict, intend, seek, foresee, should, would, could, attempt, appears, forecast, outlook, estimate, project, potential, may, will, likely, guidance, goal, model, target, budget and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. Statements may be forward looking even in the absence of these particular words. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding costs in connection with the acquisition of GEP Haynesville, LLC (the GEPH Acquisition), estimated financial metrics giving effect to the GEPH Acquisition, including the estimate of additional year-end 2021 reserves and related pricing assumptions, expected natural
gas production from properties in connection with the GEPH Acquisition, repayment of our debt, total amount of our debt, our financial position, business strategy, production, reserve growth and other plans and objectives for our future operations, and generation of free cash flow. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are largely based on our expectations for the future, which reflect certain estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions, operating trends, and other factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. As such, managements assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties involved, see Risk Factors in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings. We do not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, changes in circumstances, or otherwise. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf. Management cautions you that the forward-looking statements contained herein are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure you that such statements will be realized or that the events and circumstances they describe will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to: the timing and extent of changes in market conditions and prices for natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs), including regional basis differentials and the impact of reduced demand for our production and products in which our production is a component due to governmental and societal actions taken in response to COVID-19 or other public health crises and any related company or governmental policies and actions to protect the health and safety of individuals or governmental policies or actions to maintain the functioning of national or global economies and markets; our ability to accurately estimate the future amount of natural gas produced at the properties in connection with the GEPH Acquisition; our ability to fund our planned capital investments; a change in the amount of our debt; a change in our credit rating, an increase in interest rates and any adverse impacts from the discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate; the extent to which lower commodity prices impact our ability to service or refinance our existing debt; the impact of volatility in the financial markets or other global economic factors; difficulties in appropriately allocating capital and resources among our strategic opportunities; the timing and extent of our success in discovering, developing, producing and estimating reserves; our ability to maintain leases that may expire if production is not established or profitably maintained; our ability to realize the expected benefits from recent acquisitions or the GEPH Acquisition; costs in connection with the GEPH Acquisition; integration of operations and results subsequent to the GEPH Acquisition; our ability to transport our production to the most favorable markets or at all; the impact of government regulation, including changes in law, the ability to obtain and maintain permits, any increase in severance or similar taxes, and legislation or regulation relating to hydraulic fracturing, climate and over-the-counter derivatives; the impact of the adverse outcome of any
2
material litigation against us or judicial decisions that affect us or our industry generally; the effects of weather; increased competition; the financial impact of accounting regulations and critical accounting policies; the comparative cost of alternative fuels; credit risk relating to the risk of loss as a result of non-performance by our counterparties; and any other factors listed in the reports we have filed and may file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference herein. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Use of Non-GAAP Information
This news release contains non-GAAP financial measures, such as net cash flow, free cash flow, net debt and adjusted EBITDA, including certain key statistics and estimates. We report our financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). However, management believes certain non-GAAP performance measures may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and the results of our peers and of prior periods. Please see the Appendix for definitions of the non-GAAP financial measures that are based on reconcilable historical information.
Use of Projections
The financial, operational, industry and market projections, estimates and targets in this news release are forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond SWNs and GEPs control. The assumptions and estimates underlying the projected, expected or target results are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic, regulatory and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the financial, operational, industry and market projections, estimates and targets, including assumptions, risks and uncertainties described in Forward-looking Statements above.
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