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): August 29, 2018 (August 23, 2018)

 

Falcon Minerals Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware   001-38158   82-0820780
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

1845 Walnut Street, 10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(215) 832-4161
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

OSPREY ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Emerging growth company ☒

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introductory Note

 

On August 23, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), Falcon Minerals Corporation (formerly named Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp.) (the “Company”) completed the acquisition of the equity interests in certain of the subsidiaries (the “Royal Entities”) of Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., LP, (“NRAC”), Hooks Ranch Holdings LP (“Hooks Holdings”), DGK ORRI Holdings, LP (“DGK”), DGK ORRI GP LLC (“DGK GP”) and Hooks Holding Company GP, LLC (“Hooks GP”, and collectively with NRAC, Hooks Holdings, DGK, and DGK GP, the “Contributors”). The acquisition was made pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2018 (the “Contribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, Royal Resources L.P. (“Royal”), Royal Resources GP L.L.C. (“Royal GP”) and the Contributors. The acquisition of the Royal Entities pursuant to the Contribution Agreement is referred to in this Current Report on Form 8-K as the “Business Combination” and the Business Combination together with the other the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement are referred to herein as the “Transactions.”

 

Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Company contributed cash to Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Opco”), in exchange for (a) a number of common units representing limited partnership interests in Opco (the “Common Units”) equal to the number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), outstanding as of the Closing Date and (b) a number of Opco warrants exercisable for Common Units equal to the number of the Company’s warrants outstanding as of the Closing Date. The Company controls Opco through Falcon Minerals GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the sole general partner of Opco (“Opco GP”).

 

In connection with the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), the Company changed its name from “Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp.” to “Falcon Minerals Corporation”. The Company is now operated as an “Up-C,” meaning that substantially all the assets of the Company are held by Opco, and the Company’s only asset is its equity interest in Opco. Each Common Unit, together with one share of Class C Common Stock (as defined below), is exchangeable for one share of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder pursuant to the terms of the Company’s and Opco’s organizational documents, subject to certain restrictions.

 

The foregoing description of the Contribution Agreement is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Contribution Agreement, a copy of which was attached Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 4, 2018 and is incorporated herein by reference. A more detailed description of the Business Combination and the Transactions can be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s stockholders to approve the Transactions filed with the SEC on August 3, 2018 (the “Proxy Statement”).

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

Shareholders’ Agreement

 

Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Company entered into a shareholders’ agreement (the “Shareholders’ Agreement”) with the Contributors, Osprey Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Osprey Sponsor”), Royal, Royal GP and Blackstone Management Partners, L.L.C. (“Blackstone”). Under the Shareholders’ Agreement, the parties thereto agreed to use reasonable best efforts, and the Company agreed to take all permissible actions necessary, to carry out the restructuring of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) pursuant to the Contribution Agreement so that effective immediately following the Closing, the Board is comprised of eleven (11) directors, divided into three classes of directors, in accordance with the terms of the A&R Charter (as defined below), consisting of (a) six (6) directors to be designated by Blackstone prior to the closing, (b) two (2) directors to be designated by Osprey Sponsor prior to the closing, and (c) three (3) independent directors to be mutually selected by the parties to the Contribution Agreement prior to the closing.

 

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The Shareholders’ Agreement provides that directors designated by Osprey Sponsor will serve in the class of directors whose term expires at the third annual stockholders’ meeting following the Closing, and during such term, Osprey Sponsor or its successor is entitled to name a replacement director in the event either of its Board designees ceases to be on the Board. The Shareholders’ Agreement also provides that Blackstone is entitled to designate for nomination by the Company for election (i) six (6) directors to serve on the Board so long as Blackstone and its controlled affiliates hold more than 40% of the voting power of the Company, with three (3) independent directors also serving on the Board, (ii) four (4) directors so long as Blackstone and its controlled affiliates hold between 20% and 40% of the voting power of the Company, with five (5) independent directors also serving on the Board, (iii) two (2) directors so long as Blackstone and its controlled affiliates hold between 10% and 20% of the voting power of the Company, with five (5) independent directors also serving on the Board and (iv) one (1) director so long Blackstone and its controlled affiliates hold between 5% and 10% of the voting power of the Company, with five (5) independent directors also serving on the Board. Once Blackstone and its controlled affiliates beneficially own in the aggregate less than 5% voting power of the Company, it will no longer have any rights to designate any individuals for nomination to be elected to the Board under the Shareholders’ Agreement.

 

During the term of the Shareholders’ Agreement, the size of the Board will be fixed based on the number of individuals Blackstone is entitled to designate for nomination to be elected as directors and the number of independent directors then serving on the board, as described above, plus the two (2) directors designated by the Osprey Sponsor until the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company following the Closing.

 

The Shareholders’ Agreement will terminate upon the later of (x) such time Blackstone is no longer entitled to designate a director for nomination to the Board and (y) following the third annual meeting of stockholders of the Company following the Closing.

 

The foregoing description of the Shareholders’ Agreement is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Shareholders’ Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with Royal and the Contributors, pursuant to which the Company has certain obligations to register for resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), all or any portion of the Class A Common Stock that Royal and the Contributors hold as of the date of the Registration Rights Agreement and that they may acquire thereafter, including upon the exchange or redemption of any other security therefor. Royal and the Contributors are entitled to an unlimited number of underwritten offerings, provided that the gross proceeds of each underwritten offering is more than $30 million, and “piggyback” registration rights.

 

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

In connection with the Closing, the Board adopted the Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan and material terms thereunder (the “Incentive Plan”), subject to the consummation of the Business Combination. The Company’s stockholders approved the Incentive Plan at the Special Meeting (as defined below). The purpose of the Incentive Plan is to further align the interests of eligible participants with those of the Company’s stockholders post-Business Combination by providing long-term incentive compensation opportunities tied to the performance of the Company and its common stock. The Incentive Plan is intended to advance the interests of the Company and increase stockholder value by attracting, retaining and motivating key personnel through the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards and/or other stock-based awards consistent with the terms of the Incentive Plan. Pursuant to the Incentive Plan, an aggregate of 8,600,000 shares of Class A Common Stock immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination are reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan.

 

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The foregoing description of the Incentive Plan is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Falcon Credit Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, Opco entered into a credit facility with Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent for the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement initially provides for aggregate revolving borrowings of up to $500.0 million with an initial $115.0 million borrowing base. On the Closing Date, $38.0 million was drawn under the Credit Agreement to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Business Combination, to pay transaction expenses, to fund any original issue discount or upfront fees in connection with the “market flex” provisions previously agreed upon and to finance working capital needs and other general corporate purposes.

 

Principal amounts borrowed are payable on the maturity date. Opco has a choice of borrowing at the base rate or at London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), with such borrowings bearing interest, payable quarterly in arrears for base rate loans and one month, two-month, three month or six month periods for LIBOR loans. LIBOR loans bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate appearing on the Reuters Reference LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 page as the LIBOR, for deposits in dollars at 12:00 noon, London, England time, for one, two, three or six months plus an applicable margin ranging from 200 to 300 basis points. Base rate loans bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the agent bank’s reference rate, (ii) the federal funds effective rate plus 50 basis points and (iii) the rate for one month LIBOR loans plus 1%, plus an applicable margin ranging from 100 to 200 basis points. The next scheduled redetermination of Borrower’s borrowing base is on April 1, 2019.

 

Obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by each existing and future, direct and indirect domestic subsidiary of Opco (together with Opco, the “Credit Parties”), and are secured by all of the present and future assets of the Credit Parties, subject to customary carve-outs.

 

Under the Credit Agreement, the Credit Parties are subject to affirmative and negative covenants. The financial covenants include (i) a Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio (defined as total funded debt / EBITDAX), which may not exceed 4.00:1.00, and (ii) a Current Ratio (defined as consolidated current assets / consolidated current liabilities), which may not be less than 1:00 to 1:00. Each of the covenants referred to above will be calculated on a consolidated basis for each consecutive four fiscal quarter periods, commencing with the first full fiscal quarter ending on December 31, 2018.

 

In addition, the Credit Parties are subject to affirmative covenants requiring (i) delivery of financial statements, budgets and forecasts; (ii) delivery of certificates and other information; (iii) delivery of notices (of any default, material adverse condition, ERISA event, pari debt payment); (iv) payment of tax obligations; (v) preservation of existence; (vi) maintenance of properties; (vii) maintenance of insurance; (viii) compliance with laws; (ix) maintenance of books and records; (x) inspection rights; (xi) use of proceeds; (xii) transactions with affiliates; (xiii) covenants to guarantee obligations and give security; (xiv) compliance with environmental laws; (xv) further assurances; (xvi) change in business; (xvii) title information; (xviii) account control agreements; (xix) minimum hedge volumes and (xx) post-closing covenants as may be agreed upon.

 

The Credit Parties are subject to negative covenants including restrictions (subject to certain exceptions) on (i) liens; (ii) indebtedness (including guarantees and other contingent obligations) (provided that the loan documents permit, among other items, purchase money indebtedness, subject to pro forma compliance with the financial covenants); (iii) investments (including loans, advances and acquisitions); (iv) mergers and other fundamental changes; (v) sales and other dispositions of property or assets; (vi) payments of dividends and other distributions and share repurchases (provided, that the loan documents shall permit (x) distributions within 60 days after the declaration thereof, (y) tax distributions and (z) certain other distributions by Opco and any of its restricted subsidiaries); (vii) changes in accounting policies, reporting practices, fiscal year, legal name, state of formation or form of entity; (viii) sale and lease-back transactions; (ix) ownership of subsidiaries; (x) debt payments and amendments; (xi) hedge agreements and (xii) foreign operations.

 

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The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

On the Closing Date, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of Messrs. David I. Foley, Angelo G. Acconcia, Adam M. Jenkins and Jonathan R. Hamilton, each of whom was appointed a director of the Company as of immediately following the Closing pursuant to the Contribution Agreement. Each indemnity agreement provides that, subject to limited exceptions, and among other things, the Company will indemnify the director party thereto to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims arising in his or her capacity as a director of the Company.

 

The foregoing description of the indemnification agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of each Indemnification Agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated by reference.

 

Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Opco

 

In connection with the Closing, on the Closing Date, the Company entered into an amended and restated agreement of limited partnership of Opco (the “Opco LPA”) with the Contributors and Opco GP. The Company operates its business through the Opco, which holds substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

Under the Osprey Opco LPA, Osprey GP, a wholly owned subsidiary of Osprey, will be the sole general partner of Osprey Opco. As the sole general partner, Osprey GP will be able to control all of the day-to-day business affairs and decision-making of Osprey Opco without the approval of any other partner, subject to certain limited exceptions set forth in the Osprey Opco LPA.

 

The Opco LPA sets forth, among other things, the rights and obligations of the holders of Common Units. The Opco LPA provides that each limited partner of Opco (other than the Company) has a right to cause Opco to redeem from time to time, all or a portion of such partner’s Common Units (together with an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock) for newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain restrictions. Pursuant to the Opco LPA, the Company has the right to require each limited partner of Opco (other than Osprey) to effect a redemption of some or all of such limited partner’s Common Units and a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock in certain situations, including certain transactions resulting in a change of control of the Company.

 

The Opco LPA includes provisions intended to ensure that the Company at all times maintains a one-to-one ratio between (a) the number of outstanding shares of common stock (other than Class C Common Stock) and the number of Common Units owned by Osprey (subject to certain exceptions) and (b) the number of outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock and the number of Common Units owned by the other limited partners of Opco. This construct is intended to result in the Contributors having a voting interest in the Company that is identical to the Contributors’ economic interest in Opco.

 

The foregoing description of the Opco LPA does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Opco LPA, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4 and is incorporated by reference. For more information about the Opco LPA, see the section entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Related Agreements—Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Osprey Opco” beginning on page 96 of the Proxy Statement.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition of Assets

 

The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference. On August 20, 2018, the Business Combination was approved by the Company’s stockholders. The Business Combination was completed on August 23, 2018.

 

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The Business Combination was approved by the Company’s stockholders at a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders held on August 20, 2018 (the “Special Meeting”). At the Special Meeting, 24,404,853 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), were voted in favor of the proposal to approve the Business Combination, no shares of the Company’s common stock were voted against the proposal, and none of the Company’s stockholders abstained from voting on the proposal. None of the Company’s public stockholders exercised their right to redeem shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination pursuant to the terms of the Company’s first amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”). In addition, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and in accordance with the Charter, all of the 6,875,000 outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock were converted into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.

 

At the Closing, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the Contributors received (i) $400 million of cash and (ii) 40 million Common Units. The Company also issued to the Contributors 40 million shares of non-economic Class C common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class C Common Stock”), which entitles each holder to one vote per share.

 

In addition to the above, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, Royal is entitled to receive earn-out consideration to be paid in the form of Common Units (and a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock) if the 30-day volume-weighted average price (“30-Day VWAP”) of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds certain hurdles set forth in the Contribution Agreement. If the 30-Day VWAP of the Class A Common Stock is $12.50 or more per share at any time within the seven (7) years following the Closing Date, Royal will receive (i) an additional 10 million Common Units (and an equivalent number of shares of Class C Common Stock), plus (ii) an amount of Common Units (and an equivalent number of shares of Class C Common Stock) equal to (x) the amount by which annual cash dividends paid on each share of Class A Common Stock exceeds $0.50 in each year between the Closing Date and the date the first earn-out is achieved (with any dividends paid in the stub year in which the first earn-out is achieved annualized for purposes of determining what portion of such dividends would have, on an annual basis, exceeded $0.50), multiplied by 10 million, (y) divided by $12.50. If the 30-Day VWAP of the Class A Common Stock is $15.00 or more per share at any time within the seven (7) years following the Closing Date (which $15.00 threshold is reduced by the amount by which annual cash dividends paid on each share of Class A Common Stock exceeds $0.50 in each year between the Closing Date and the date the earn-out is achieved, but not below $12.50), Royal will receive an additional 10 million Common Units (and an equivalent number of Class C Common Stock).

 

Royal is also entitled to the earn-out consideration described above in connection with certain liquidity events of the Company, including a merger or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, if the consideration paid to holders of Class A Common Stock in connection with such liquidity event is greater than any of the above-specified 30-Day VWAP hurdles.

 

As of the Closing Date and following the completion of the Business Combination and the PIPE Investment (as defined below), the Company had the following outstanding securities:

 

45,855,000 shares of Class A Common Stock;

 

0 shares of Class B Common Stock;

 

40,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock; and

 

21,250,000 warrants, each exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share.

 

As of the Closing Date and following the completion of the Business Combination, the Contributors owned an aggregate of 40,000,000 Common Units redeemable on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A Common Stock. Upon the redemption by any Contributor of Common Units for shares of Class A Common Stock, a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock held by such Contributor will be cancelled.

 

At the Closing, following the conversion of each outstanding Class B Common Stock for one share of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the Charter, Osprey Sponsor owned an aggregate 6,875,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 7,500,000 private placement warrants.

 

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Prior to the Closing, the Company was a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) with no operations, formed as a vehicle to effect a business combination with one or more operating businesses. After the Closing, the Company became a holding company whose assets primarily consist of interests in its subsidiaries including Opco. The following information is provided about the business of the Company reflecting the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

The Company makes forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in or incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K, regarding the Company’s future financial performance, as well as the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this Current Report on Form 8-K, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company, incident to its business.

 

These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

 

As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the Company’s actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:

 

  the risk that the recently consummated Business Combination disrupts the Company’s current plans and operations;

 

the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the combined business to grow and manage growth profitably;

 

costs related to the Business Combination;

 

changes in applicable laws or regulations;

 

the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors;

 

the fact that reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of the Company’s reserves; and

 

  other risks and uncertainties set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 40 of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Business and Properties

 

A description of the business and properties of Royal prior to the Business Combination is set forth in Exhibit 99.1 hereto which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Risk Factors

 

The risks associated with the Company’s business are described in the Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 40 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Selected Historical Financial Information

 

The selected unaudited condensed consolidated historical financial information of Royal as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 is set forth in Exhibit 99.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The historical financial statements of Royal for the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is provided in the Proxy Statement in the section “Selected Historical Financial Information of Royal” beginning on page 39 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Combined Financial Information

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial information of Royal for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and for the year ended December 31, 2017 is set forth in Exhibit 99.6 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Royal is set forth in Exhibit 99.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Information About Market Risk

 

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk of Royal prior to the Business Combination is included in the Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Royal in Exhibit 99.3 beginning on page 13 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth information known to the Company regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s voting common stock of the Company as of August 23, 2018, after giving effect to the Closing, by:

 

  each person who is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of any class of the Company’s common stock;

 

  each current executive officer and director of the Company; and

 

all current executive officers and directors of the Company, as a group.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security or has the right to acquire such securities within 60 days, including options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.

 

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Pursuant to the A&R Charter (as defined below), each share of Class C Common Stock, representing a non-economic interest in the Company, entitles the holder to one vote per share. The table below represents beneficial ownership of voting common stock, composed of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock. The beneficial ownership of the Company’s voting common stock is based on 85,855,000 shares of common stock outstanding, of which 45,855,000 shares are Class A Common Stock and 40,000,000 shares are Class C Common Stock.

 

The beneficial ownership percentages set forth in the table below do not take into account (i) the issuance of any securities (or options to acquire securities) under the Incentive Plan and (ii) the issuance of any shares of Class A Common Stock upon the exercise of warrants to purchase up to 21,250,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock that remain outstanding.

 

5% or Greater Beneficial Owners (1)

 

Number of Shares of Voting Securities

   

Percentage

 
Osprey Sponsor, LLC     6,875,000       8.0 %
Royal Resources L.P. (2)     40,000,000       46.6 %
Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. (3)     2,585,931       3.0 %
JANA Partners LLC (4)     3,500,000       4.1 %
Samlyn Capital, LLC (5)     3,523,347       4.1 %
Corvex Management LP (6)     3,500,000       4.1 %
Angelo, Gordon & Co., L.P. (7)     2,000,000       2.3 %
Eric Mindich (8)     2,500,000       2.9 %

 

Executive Officers and Directors (1)   Number of Shares of Voting Securities     Percentage  
Edward E. Cohen     750,000       *  
Jonathan Z. Cohen (9)     7,625,000       8.9 %
Daniel C. Herz            
Brian L. Frank            
Jeffrey F. Brotman     25,000       *  
Steven R. Jones     30,000       * %
William B. Anderson            
David I. Foley            
Angelo G. Acconcia            
Adam M. Jenkins            
Jonathan R. Hamilton            
All current directors and executive officers as a group (11 individuals)     8,430,000       9.8 %

 

 

* less than 1%

 

(1) Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Falcon Minerals Corporation, 1845 Walnut Street, 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

 

(2) Royal Resources L.P. beneficially owns 40,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock, which represents 100% of the outstanding Class C Common Stock and 46.6% of all outstanding voting stock of the Company. The general partner of Royal Resources L.P. is Royal Resources GP L.L.C. The managing members of Royal Resources GP L.L.C. are Blackstone Management Associates VI L.L.C. and Blackstone Energy Management Associates L.L.C. The sole member of Blackstone Management Associates VI L.L.C. is BMA VI L.L.C. The sole member of Blackstone Energy Management Associates L.L.C. is Blackstone EMA L.L.C. Blackstone Holdings III L.P. is the managing member of each of BMA VI L.L.C. and Blackstone EMA L.L.C. The general partner of Blackstone Holdings III L.P. is Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P. The general partner of Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P. is Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C. The sole member of Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C. is The Blackstone Group L.P. The general partner of The Blackstone Group L.P. is Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. is wholly-owned by Blackstone’s senior managing directors and controlled by its founder, Stephen A. Schwarzman. Each of the Blackstone entities described in this footnote and Stephen A. Schwarzman may be deemed to beneficially own the shares directly or indirectly controlled by such Blackstone entities or him, but each (other than Royal Resources L.P.) disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. The address of each of the foregoing entities is c/o The Blackstone Group L.P., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.

 

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(3) Shares beneficially owned are based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2018 by Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. serves as the investment manager to Polar Multi Strategy Master Fund, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“PMSMF”) and certain managed accounts (together with PMSMF, the “Polar Vehicles”), with respect to the shares directly held by the Polar Vehicles. The address of Polar Asset Management Partners, Inc. is 401 Bay Street, Suite 1900, PO Box 19, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2Y4, Canada.

 

(4) Shares beneficially owned are based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2018 by JANA Partners LLC. JANA Partners LLC is a private money management firm which holds the shares in various accounts under its management and control. The address of JANA Partners LLC is 767 Fifth Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10153.

 

(5) Samlyn Capital, LLC, Samlyn, LP and Robert Pohly (collectively, the “Samlyn Parties”), beneficially owns 3,523,347 shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents 7.7% of outstanding Class A Common Stock and 4.1% of all outstanding voting stock of the Company. The address of each of the Samlyn Parties is c/o Samlyn Capital, LLC, 500 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022.

 

(6) Corvex Management LP (“Corvex”) beneficially owns 3,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents 7.6% of outstanding Class A Common Stock and 4.1% of all outstanding voting stock of the Company. Shares are held for the accounts of certain private investment funds for which Corvex acts as investment adviser, including Corvex Master Fund, LP and Corvex Select Equity Master Fund LP, the general partner of each of which is controlled by Mr. Keith Meister. The general partner of Corvex is controlled by Mr. Meister. The principal business address of each of Corvex and Mr. Meister is 667 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10065.

 

(7) Shares beneficially owned are based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2018 by Angelo, Gordon & Co., L.P. and Michael L. Gordon (collectively, the “Gordon Parties”). According to the Schedule 13G, each of Angelo, Gordon & Co., L.P. and Michael L. Gordon has sole voting and sole dispositive power over 2,000,000 shares. The address of each of the Gordon Parties is 245 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10167.

 

(8) Mr. Eric Mindich and Everblue Osprey 2018 LLC (“Everblue”) beneficially own 2,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock in the aggregate, which represent 5.5% of outstanding Class A Common Stock and 2.9% of all outstanding voting stock of the Company. Mr. Mindich may be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by Everblue. The principal business address of each of Everblue and Mr. Mindich is 717 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Mr. Mindich disclaims beneficial ownership over any securities owned by Everblue in which he does not have any pecuniary interest.

 

(9) Jonathan Z. Cohen may be deemed to be a beneficial owner 7,625,000 shares of Class A Common Stock in the aggregate, which represent 16.6% of outstanding Class A Common Stock and 8.9% of all outstanding voting stock of the Company. Jonathan Z. Cohen is the manager of Osprey Sponsor and has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by it. Jonathan Z. Cohen disclaims beneficial ownership over any securities owned by Osprey Sponsor in which he does not have any pecuniary interest.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

Information with respect to the Company’s directors and executive officers immediately following the Closing is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Officers and Directors of Osprey” beginning on page 139 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Directors

 

Effective as of immediately following the Closing, each of David I. Foley, Angelo G. Acconcia, Adam M. Jenkins and Jonathan R. Hamilton were appointed to serve as directors of the Company and Jonathan Z. Cohen, Edward E. Cohen, William D. Anderson, Brian L. Frank and Steven R. Jones are continuing to serve as directors of the Company. Messrs. Jones and Foley were appointed to serve as Class I directors, with terms expiring at the Company’s first annual meeting of stockholders following the Closing; Messrs. Anderson, Hamilton and Jenkins were appointed to serve as Class II directors, with a term expiring at the Company’s second annual meeting of stockholders following the Closing ; and Messrs. J. Cohen, E. Cohen, Acconcia and Frank were appointed to serve as Class III directors, with a term expiring at the Company’s third annual meeting of stockholders following the Closing. Biographical information for these individuals is set out in the Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Officers and Directors of Osprey” beginning on page 139 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Director Independence

 

The NASDAQ Capital Market (“NASDAQ”) listing standards require that a majority of our Board be independent.

 

The Board has determined that Messrs. Anderson, Foley, Acconcia, Jenkins, Hamilton, Frank and Jones are independent within the meaning of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(a)(2).

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Following the Closing, the standing committees of the Company’s Board consist of an audit committee (the “Audit Committee”), a compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”) and a nominating and corporate governance committee (the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”). Each of the committees reports to the Board. The composition, duties and responsibilities of these committees are set forth below.

 

Audit Committee . The principal functions of the Company’s Audit Committee are detailed in the Company’s Audit Committee charter, which is available on the Company’s website, and include:

 

audits of the Company’s financial statements;

 

the integrity of the Company’s financial statements;

 

the Company’s process relating to risk management and the conduct and systems of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures;

 

the qualifications, engagement, compensation, independence and performance of the Company’s independent auditor; and

 

the performance of the Company’s internal audit function.

 

Under NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules, the Company is required to have at least three members on the Audit Committee, all of whom must be independent. The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Frank, Jones and Anderson, with Mr. Frank serving as the Chair. The Company believes that Messrs. Frank, Jones and Anderson qualify as independent directors according to the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect to audit committee membership. The Company also believes that each of Messrs. Frank and Anderson qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K.

 

Compensation Committee . The principal functions of the Company’s Compensation Committee are detailed in the Company’s Compensation Committee charter, which is available on the Company’s website, and include:

 

determining and approving the compensation of executive officers; and

 

reviewing and approving incentive compensation and equity compensation policies and programs.

 

Under NASDAQ listing standards, the Company is required to have a Compensation Committee, all of whom must be independent. The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Acconcia, Jenkins and Frank, with Mr. Acconcia serving as the Chair. The Company believes that Messrs. Acconcia, Jenkins and Frank qualify as independent directors according to the rules and regulations of NASDAQ with respect to compensation committee membership.

 

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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee . The principal functions of the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are detailed in the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter, which is available on the Company’s website, and include:

 

identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors and recommending to the Board candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill vacancies on the Board;

 

developing, recommending to the Board and overseeing implementation of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines;

 

coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the Board, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the company; and

 

reviewing on a regular basis the Company’s overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also develops and recommends to the Board corporate governance principles and practices and assists in implementing them, including conducting a regular review of our corporate governance principles and practices. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees the annual performance evaluation of the Board and the committees of the Board and makes a report to the Board on succession planning. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Messrs. Hamilton, Foley and Jones, with Mr. Foley serving as the Chair.

 

Executive Officers

 

Prior to the Closing, the Company’s executive officers consisted of Edward E. Cohen, as Executive Chairman, Jonathan Z. Cohen, as Chief Executive Officer, Daniel C. Herz, as President and Jeffrey F. Brotman, as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary.

 

Following the Closing, the Company’s executive officers consist of Mr. Herz, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer and President and Mr. Brotman who remains our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary.

 

Information with respect to Messrs. Herz and Brotman is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Officers And Directors of Osprey” beginning on page 139 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Each of Messrs. E. Cohen and J. Cohen resigned as executive officers of the Company effective as of immediately following the Closing.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Information about the indemnification of the Company’s directors and officers is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination” beginning on page 108 of the Proxy Statement and in Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-219025) filed with the SEC on July 14, 2017, in the section entitled “Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors” beginning on page 94, which are incorporated herein by reference. The description of the Indemnification Agreements under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Director and Executive Officer Compensation

 

The compensation of the Company’s named executive officers and directors before the consummation of the Business Combination is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section titled “Executive Compensation” beginning on page 143, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Incentive Plan

 

As described in Item 1.01 of this Current Report under the section entitled “2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan,” in connection with the Closing, the Board adopted, and the stockholders of the Company approved, the Incentive Plan, effective upon the Closing. The description of the Incentive Plan is included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report and is further described in the Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Proposal No. 4—The LTIP Proposal” beginning on page 128 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the full text of the Incentive Plan is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Director Compensation

 

Effective as of the Closing, the Company adopted a director compensation program under which each director who is not an employee of the Company or a subsidiary and is not affiliated with Blackstone will receive the following amounts for their services on our Board:

 

Annual Chairman and Vice Chairman fee of $250,000, payable in cash; and

 

An annual director fee of $100,000, payable in cash, and an equity grant in respect of Class A Common Stock having a grant date fair market value equal to $50,000;

 

Executive Compensation

 

Effective as of the Closing, the Board approved annual base salaries of $500,000 for Mr. Herz and $350,000 for Mr. Brotman.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

The information set forth under “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement—Shareholders’ Agreement” and “—Registration Rights Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Founder Shares

 

The information set forth under “—Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities—Founder Shares” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Promissory Note

 

Prior to the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, Osprey Sponsor loaned the Company a total of $168,843 under a promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) to be used for the payment of costs related to the initial public offering. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and due on the earlier of December 31, 2017 or the closing of the initial public offering. The Promissory Note was repaid upon the consummation of the initial public offering.

 

Atlas Energy Group, LLC

 

Atlas Energy Group, LLC, of which Messrs. E. Cohen, J. Cohen and Herz are also directors and its affiliates, provide the Company with advisory services in connection with potential business opportunities and prospective targets. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company paid $17,395 and $0, respectively, in expenses in connection with such services.

 

Private Placement Warrants

 

The information set forth under “—Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities—Private Placement Warrants” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

PIPE Investment

 

The information set forth under “—Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities—PIPE Investment” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Registration Rights

 

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on July 20, 2017, the holders of the Founder Shares (as defined herein), the private placement warrants (and their underlying securities) and any warrants that may be issued upon the conversion of the working capital loans (and their underlying securities) are entitled to registration rights. The holders will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However, the registration rights agreement provides that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

 

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Legal Proceedings

 

Information about legal proceedings is set forth in the Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Business of Royal—Legal Proceedings” beginning on page 171 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

 

The Company

 

The Company’s units (consisting of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-half of one warrant), Class A Common Stock and warrants were historically quoted on NASDAQ under the symbols “OSPRU,” “OSPR” and “OSPRW,” respectively. The Company’s units commenced public trading on July 21, 2017, the shares of Class A Common Stock and warrants commenced public trading on August 15, 2017.

 

The following table sets forth, for the calendar quarter indicated, the high and low sales prices per unit and share of Class A Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ for the periods presented. Since warrants are not currently eligible to be exercised, there is no information presented for the warrants in the table below.

 

    Units
(OSPRU)
    Class A Common Stock
(OSPR)
 
    High     Low     High     Low  
Fiscal 2017                        
Third Quarter (1)   $ 10.09     $ 9.94     $ 9.69     $ 9.69  
Fourth Quarter   $ 10.01     $ 9.92     $ 16.92     $ 9.58  
Fiscal 2018                                
First Quarter   $ 10.10     $ 9.92     $ 9.80     $ 9.60  
Second Quarter   $ 11.10     $ 9.92     $ 10.19     $ 9.62  

 

 

 

(1) With respect to the units and Class A Common Stock, beginning on July 21, 2017 and August 9, 2017, respectively.

 

On June 1, 2018, the trading date before the public announcement of the Business Combination, the Company’s units and Class A Common Stock closed at $9.70 and $10.15, respectively.

 

The Company has not paid any cash dividends on the Class A Common Stock to date. Following the completion of the Business Combination, the Company initially intends to pay out substantially all of the free cash flow of the combined company in the form of a regular quarterly dividend.

 

In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, the Company’s Class A Common Stock and warrants will continue to be listed on NASDAQ under the new trading symbols of “FLMN” and “FLMNW,” respectively.

 

On August 23, 2018, in connection and concurrently with the Closing, all of the units of the Company separated into their component parts of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-half of one warrant to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock of the Company, and the units ceased trading on NASDAQ. The Company intends to apply to list our Class A Common Stock and warrants on the New York Stock Exchange following the Closing.

 

Royal Resources

 

Historical market price information regarding Royal Resources is not provided because there is no public market for Royal’s equity securities. Royal has historically paid out substantially all of its free cash flow to its equityholders in the form of cash dividends.

 

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Description of the Company’s Securities

 

The Company has authorized (a) 361,000,000 shares of common stock including (i) 240,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, (ii) no shares of Class B Common Stock and (iii) 120,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of the Closing Date, there were: (a) 28 holders of record of Class A Common Stock and 45,855,000 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding; (b) three holders of record of Class C Common Stock and 40,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock outstanding; and (c) no shares of preferred stock outstanding. All of the Company’s shares of Class B Common Stock were converted into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis at the Closing in accordance with the terms of the Charter.

 

Class A Common Stock

 

Holders of the Company’s Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by the Company’s stockholders. Holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Class C Common Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders, except as required by law or the A&R Charter (as defined herein). Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or the A&R Charter (including any preferred stock designation), holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the A&R Charter (including any amendment to any preferred stock designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock or other series of common stock if the holders of such affected series of preferred stock or common stock, as applicable, are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the A&R Charter (including any preferred stock designation) or as required by applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or applicable stock exchange rules.

 

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Class A Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of stock, if any, having preference over the Class A Common Stock.

 

Class C Common Stock

 

In connection with the Business Combination, the Company issued 40,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock to the Contributors. A holder of Class C Common Stock may transfer shares of Class C Common Stock to any transferee only if, and only to the extent permitted by the Opco LPA, such holder also simultaneously transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units to such transferee in compliance with the Opco LPA. Holders of our Class C Common Stock will vote together as a single class with holders of our Class A Common Stock on all matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders. In addition, holders of Class C Common Stock, voting as a separate class, are entitled to approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the A&R Charter (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change, in a manner adverse to the holders of the Class C Common Stock, the powers, preferences or rights of the Class C Common Stock, relative to the powers, preferences or rights of any other class of common stock, as such relative powers, preferences or rights exist as of the date of the A&R Charter.

 

Under the A&R Charter, no dividends may be declared or paid on shares of Class C Common Stock and holders of Class C Common Stock do not receive any assets of the Company in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. In addition, the Company may not enter into any agreement providing for (i) a merger, consolidation or other business combination requiring the approval of the Company’s stockholders, (ii) any acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or (iii) any tender or exchange offer by the Company or any third party to acquire stock of the Company (collectively, a “sale transaction”) in which it is proposed that (1) the shares of Class C Common Stock are converted into the right to receive, directly or indirectly, in connection with such sale transaction, any consideration or (2) each share of Class C Common Stock, together with each Common Unit, are converted into the right to receive, in connection with a sale transaction, a different amount of consideration on a per share basis as that received by each share of Class A Common Stock.

 

Holders of Common Units will generally have the right to cause Opco to redeem all or a portion of their Common Units in exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock; provided that the Company may, at its option, effect a direct exchange of such shares of Class A Common Stock for such Common Units in lieu of such a redemption by Opco. Upon the future redemption or exchange of Common Units held by a Contributor, a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock will be cancelled. For more information on the redemption and exchange rights related to the Class C Common Stock and Common Units, see the section of the Proxy Statement entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 82 which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Warrants

 

Public Stockholders’ Warrants . The company’s warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agreement, dated July 20, 2017, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “warrant agreement”). Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of the Company’s initial public offering (the “initial public offering”) or 30 days after the Closing Date. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrantholder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock. This means that only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time by a warrantholder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The warrants will expire five years after the Closing Date, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

 

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The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying obligations described below with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a warrant unless Class A Common Stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Class A Common Stock underlying such unit.

 

The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days, after the closing of the Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. Notwithstanding the above, if the Class A Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, it will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but the Company will be required to use its best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

 

Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may call the warrants for redemption:

 

in whole and not in part;

 

at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

 

upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and

 

if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

 

If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

 

The Company has established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and the Company issues a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Class A Common Stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price as well as the $11.50 (for whole shares) warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.

 

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If the Company calls the warrants for redemption as described above, the Company’s management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise its warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” the Company’s management will consider, among other factors, the Company’s cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on its stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the its warrants. If the Company’s management takes advantage of this option, all holders of warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. If the Company’s management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. The Company believes this feature is an attractive option to the Company if it does not need the cash from the exercise of the warrants after the Business Combination. If the Company calls its warrants for redemption and the Company’s management does not take advantage of this option, its sponsor and its permitted transferees would still be entitled to exercise their private placement warrants for cash or on a cashless basis using the same formula described above that other warrant holders would have been required to use had all warrant holders been required to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, as described in more detail below.

 

A holder of a warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

 

If the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Class A Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of Class A Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Class A Common Stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Class A Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.

 

In addition, if the Company, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A Common Stock on account of such shares of Class A Common Stock (or other shares of the Company’s capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends, or (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A Common Stock in respect of such event.

 

  16  

 

 

If the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

Whenever the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

 

In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of its outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which it is dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A Common Stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of Class A Common Stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant.

 

The warrants have been issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and the Company. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants.

 

The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to the Company, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A Common Stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of Class A Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder is entitled to one (1) vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.

 

Warrants may be exercised only for a whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the warrant holder. As a result, warrant holders not purchasing an even number of warrants must sell any odd number of warrants in order to obtain full value from the fractional interest that will not be issued.

 

  17  

 

 

A copy of the warrant agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 26, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the warrants is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

 

Private Placement Warrants . The private placement warrants (including the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) are not transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination (except, among other limited exceptions to the Company’s officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with the Company’s sponsor) and they are not redeemable by the Company so long as they are held by its sponsor or its permitted transferees. Otherwise, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in the Initial Public Offering. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than the Company’s sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private placement warrants are redeemable by the Company and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in the Initial Public Offering.

 

If holders of the private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering his, her or its warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the warrant agent. The reason that the Company has agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Company’s sponsor and permitted transferees is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with the Company following the Business Combination. If they remain affiliated with the Company, their ability to sell the Company’s securities in the open market will be significantly limited. The Company expects to have policies in place that prohibit insiders from selling the Company’s securities except during specific periods of time. Even during such periods of time when insiders will be permitted to sell the Company’s securities, an insider cannot trade in its securities if he or she is in possession of material non-public information. Accordingly, unlike public stockholders who could exercise their warrants and sell the shares of Class A Common Stock received upon such exercise freely in the open market in order to recoup the cost of such exercise, the insiders could be significantly restricted from selling such securities. As a result, the Company believes that allowing the holders to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis is appropriate.

 

The private placement warrants were sold in a private placement pursuant to a written agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and the Company. Copies of the warrant purchase agreement and the warrant agreement, which were filed as Exhibit 10.4 and Exhibit 4.1, respectively, to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 26, 2017, are incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the private placement warrants is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

The information set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of the Registrant

 

The information regarding our Credit Agreement under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

Founder Shares

 

In June 2016, the Company issued an aggregate of 125,000 shares of Class B Common Stock to Osprey Sponsor (“Founder Shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. The Company received payment for the Founder Shares in March 2017. In March 2017, the Company effectuated a 57.5-for-1 stock split resulting in an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares outstanding and held by Osprey Sponsor. All share and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the 57.5-for-1 stock split. The Founder Shares were automatically converted into Class A Common Stock upon the consummation of the Business Combination on a one-for-one basis.

 

The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 937,500 shares of Class B Common Stock subject to forfeiture by Osprey Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part, so that Osprey Sponsor would own, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after its initial public offering. As a result of the underwriters’ election to partially exercise their over-allotment option on August 9, 2017, 625,000 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture. The underwriters elected not to exercise the remaining portion of the over-allotment option, therefore 312,500 Founder Shares were forfeited resulting in an aggregate of 6,875,000 Founder Shares outstanding and held by the Sponsor immediately prior to the Closing.

 

Osprey Sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until the earlier of (i) one year after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or (ii) the date on which the last sales price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing 150 days after the consummation of a Business Combination, or earlier, in each case, if subsequent to a Business Combination, the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their common stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

Private Placement Warrants

 

Simultaneously with the Company’s initial public offering, Osprey Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 7,000,000 private placement warrants at $1.00 per private placement warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $7,000,000. On August 9, 2017, the Company consummated the sale of an additional 500,000 private placement warrants at a price of $1.00 per private placement warrant, which were purchased by Osprey Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of $500,000. Each private placement warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share.

 

PIPE Investment

 

In connection with its entry into the Contribution Agreement, the Company entered into Subscription Agreements, each dated as of June 3, 2018 (the “Subscription Agreements”), with certain qualified institutional buyers and accredited investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company agreed to issue and sell in a private placement an aggregate of 11,480,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to the Investors for a purchase price of $10.00 per share, and aggregate consideration of $114,800,000 (the “Private Placement”). The Private Placement was consummated concurrently with the Closing and the proceeds of the Private Placement were used to fund a portion of the cash consideration paid to the Contributors. Messrs. E. Cohen, J. Cohen, Brotman and Jones participated in the Private Placement and executed Subscription Agreements to purchase, in the aggregate, 1,555,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at $10.00 per share on the terms set forth in the Subscription Agreements.

 

The shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreements were not registered under the Securities Act, and were issued in reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

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Issuances Related to the Business Combination

 

In connection and concurrently with the Closing, the Company issued 40,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock to the Contributors and 6,875,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to Osprey Sponsor upon conversion of the shares of Class B Common Stock held by Osprey Sponsor in accordance with the terms of the Charter. These issuances were made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Descriptions of the rights, preferences and privileges of the Class C Common Stock are set forth under “—Description of the Company’s Securities—Class C Common Stock” below.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders

 

Second Amended and Restated Charter

 

On August 23, 2018, the Company filed its second amended and restated certificated of incorporation (the “A&R Charter”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The material terms of the A&R Charter and the general effect upon the rights of holders of the Company’s capital stock are included in the Proxy Statement under the sections entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 82 of the Proxy Statement and “Proposal No. 2—The Charter Proposal” beginning on page 119 of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated by reference herein.

 

The foregoing description of the A&R Charter does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the A&R Charter, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Opco

 

The disclosure set forth in the section entitled “Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Opco” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated in this Item 3.03 by reference.

 

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

Change of the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  

On August 27, 2018, the Audit Committee of the Board approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements following the completion of the Business Combination.  Deloitte served as the independent registered public accounting firm of Royal prior to the Business Combination.  Accordingly, Marcum LLP (“Marcum”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Business Combination, was informed that it would be replaced by Deloitte as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Marcum’s report on the Company’s financial statements as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017 and for the period from June 13, 2016 (inception) through December 31, 2016 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

 

During the period from June 13, 2016 (inception) to December 31, 2017, and the subsequent period through August 27, 2018, there were no: (i) disagreements with Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report or (ii) reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017 and the period from inception, June 13, 2016 to December 31, 2016, and the interim period through August 27, 2018, the Company did not consult Deloitte with respect to either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided to the Company by Deloitte that Deloitte concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement, as that term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, or a reportable event, as that term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.

 

A letter from Marcum is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

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Item 5.01 Changes in Control of the Registrant

 

To the extent required, the information set forth under “Introductory Note”, “Shareholders’ Agreement” in Item 1.01 and “Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

The information set forth in the sections entitled “Directors and Executive Officers” in Item 2.01 of this Current Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Director and Executive Officer Compensation

 

The disclosure set forth in the sections entitled “2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan” and “Director and Executive Officer Compensation” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

The disclosure set forth in the section entitled “Indemnification Agreements” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

 

The disclosure set forth in the section entitled “Second Amended and Restated Charter” in Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated in this Item 5.03 by reference.

 

Effective August 23, 2018, the Company amended and restated its bylaws to reflect the Company's corporate name change from Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. to Falcon Minerals Corporation. A copy of the amended and restated bylaws of the Company is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.06 Change in Shell Company Status

 

As a result of the Business Combination, which fulfilled the definition of an initial business combination as required by the Charter, the Company ceased to be a shell company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, as of the Closing Date. The material terms of the Business Combination are described in the Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 82 of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Royal and its subsidiaries as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and for the six month period ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 filed as Exhibit 99.4 hereto are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The historical financial statements of Royal and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 filed as Exhibit 99.5 hereto are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial information for the year ended December 31, 2017 and as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 filed as Exhibit 99.6 hereto are incorporated herein by reference.

 

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(d) Exhibits :

 

Exhibit

 

Description

2.1   Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2018, among Royal Resources L.P., Royal Resources GP L.L.C., Nobel Royalties Acquisition Co. LP, Hooks Ranch Holdings LP, DGK ORRI Holdings, LP, DGK ORRI GP LLC, Hooks Holding Company GP, LLC and Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file No. 001-38158) filed June 4, 2018).
3.1*   Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Falcon Minerals Corporation, dated as of August 23, 2018.
3.2*   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Falcon Minerals Corporation.
4.1*   Shareholders’ Agreement dated as of August 23, 2018 by and among Falcon Minerals Corporation, Osprey Sponsor, LLC, Edward Cohen, Jonathan Z. Cohen, Daniel C. Herz, Jeffrey F. Brotman, Royal Resources L.P., Royal Resources GP L.L.C., Noble Royalties Acquisition Co. L.P., Hooks Ranch Holdings LP, DGK ORRI Holdings, LP and Blackstone Management Partners, L.L.C.
4.2*   Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 23, 2018 by and among Falcon Minerals Corporation, Royal Resources L.P., Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., L.P., Hooks Ranch Holdings LP, DGK ORRI Holdings, LP, DGK ORRI GP LLC and Hooks Holdings Company GP, LLC.
10.1*†   Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10.2*   Credit Agreement, dated as of August 23, 2018 among Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP, as the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent for the lenders from time to time party thereto and each other issuing bank from time to time party thereto.
10.3*†   Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.4*   Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP, dated as of August 23, 2018.
10.5   Form of Subscription Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2018, by and between Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. and the subscriber named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file No. 001-38158) filed June 4, 2018).
10.6   Form of Lockup Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2018, by and between Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. and the holder named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file No. 001-38158) filed June 4, 2018).
10.7   Voting Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2018, among Royal Resources L.P., Osprey Sponsor, LLC and certain other persons party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file No. 001-38158) filed June 4, 2018).
16.1   Letter from Marcum LLP to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission dated August 29, 2018.
99.1*   Description of the Company’s Business.
99.2*   Selected historical financial information of Royal Resources L.P.
99.3*   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
99.4*   Unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Royal Resources L.P. as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and for the six month period ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.
99.5   Financial statements of Royal Resources L.P. as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 for the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on August 3, 2018).
99.6*   Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial information of Falcon Minerals Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2017 and as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2018.

  

 

* Filed herewith.

 

† Compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Dated: August 29, 2018

 

  Falcon Minerals Corporation
   
  By: /s/ Jeffrey F. Brotman
    Name: Jeffrey F. Brotman
    Title: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal
    Officer and Secretary

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE
OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE ON August 23, 2018

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
OSPREY ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.

 

August 23, 2018

 

OSPREY ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 13, 2016, as amended and thereafter filed on March 22, 2017 and further amended and filed on April 11, 2017 (the “ Original Certificate as Amended ”). The name under which the Original Certificate as Amended was filed is “SPAC CORP.”

 

2. An amended and restated certificate of incorporation which both restated and amended the provisions of the Original Certificate as Amended, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “ DGCL ”), and a certificate of amendment thereto was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 21, 2017 (as so amended, the “ Amended and Restated Certificate ”). The name under which the Amended and Restated Certificate was filed is “Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp.”

 

3. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Second Amended and Restated Certificate ”), which both restates and further amends the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL and by the Corporation’s stockholders in accordance with Section 212 of the DGCL.

 

4. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

 

 

 

5. The text of the Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:

  

Article I
NAME

 

The name of the corporation is Falcon Minerals Corporation (the “ Corporation ”).

 

Article II
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Corporation and one or more businesses (a “ Business Combination ”). The Corporation’s initial Business Combination (the “ Initial Business Combination ”) has been consummated substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate.

 

Article III
REGISTERED AGENT

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1000 North King Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19801, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Guarantee and Trust Company.

 

Article IV
CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock . Upon the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, the total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 361,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 360,000,000 shares of common stock (the “ Common Stock ”), including (i) 240,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “ Class A Common Stock ”), (ii) no shares of Class B Common Stock (the “ Class B Common Stock ”) and (iii) 120,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock (the “ Class C Common Stock ”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”).

 

Section 4.2 Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred Stock and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, or such series, including, without limitation, that any such series may be (i) subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices, (ii) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of capital stock, (iii) entitled to such rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation or (iv) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of capital stock, or of any other series of the same class of capital stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates and with such adjustments, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.

 

  - 2 -  

 

 

Section 4.3 Common Stock .

 

(a) Voting Generally .

 

(i) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.

 

(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote.

 

(iii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Class C Common Stock voting together as a single class, shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other series of Common Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.

 

(b) Class A Common Stock .

 

(i) Certain Amendments. Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), for so long as any shares of Class A Common Stock shall remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the prior vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of A Common Stock then outstanding, voting separately as a single class, amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change, in a manner adverse to the holders of the Class A Common Stock, the powers, preferences or rights of the Class A Common Stock, relative to the powers, preferences or rights of any other class of Common Stock, as such relative powers, preferences or rights exist as of the date of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate.

 

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(ii) Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions; provided that , in the event of any dividend or other distribution received by the Corporation from the Partnership in respect of the Common Units or other equity interests of the Partnership held by the Corporation, including upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership (any such dividend or distribution, a “Partnership Distribution ”), the Board shall declare in connection with such Partnership Distribution a dividend or other distribution on the shares of Class A Common Stock in an amount equal to 100% of such Partnership Distribution, net of reserves for taxes payable by the Corporation as reasonably determined by the Board (a “ Pass-Through Distribution ”), and the holders of Class A Common Stock shall share equally on a per share basis in such Pass-Through Distribution. The Board shall fix the record date for any Pass-Through Distribution to be the same date as the record date for the corresponding Partnership Distribution fixed by the general partner of the Partnership or, if necessary to comply with applicable law, such later date that is as soon as practicable after the record date for the Partnership Distribution fixed by the general partner of the Partnership. To the extent that a Partnership Distribution is paid in a form other than cash, the Corporation shall sell a portion of such Partnership Distribution sufficient to reserve for taxes payable by the Corporation as reasonably determined by the Board, and the balance of such Partnership Distribution shall be a Pass-Through Distribution.

 

(iii) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation . Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them.

 

(c) Class B Common Stock .

 

(i) In connection with the Initial Business Combination, each share of Class B Common Stock was automatically converted (the “ Class B Conversion ”) into one share of Class A Common Stock. The Class B Conversion is intended to be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

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(ii) Upon the consummation of the Initial Business Combination and the Class B Conversion, the number of authorized shares of Class B Common Stock has been reduced to zero.

 

(d) Class C Common Stock.

 

(i) Certain Amendments . Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), for so long as any shares of Class C Common Stock shall remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the prior vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class C Common Stock then outstanding, voting separately as a single class, amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change, in a manner adverse to the holders of the Class C Common Stock, the powers, preferences or rights of the Class C Common Stock, relative to the powers, preferences or rights of any other class of Common Stock, as such relative powers, preferences or rights exist as of the date of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate.

 

(ii) Dividends . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class C Common Stock.

 

(iii) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation . The holders of Class C Common Stock shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

 

(iv) Sale Transaction Consideration; Redemption Consideration. In no event shall the Corporation enter into, or enter into any agreement to enter into, (i) a merger, consolidation or other Business Combination requiring the approval of the holders of the Corporation’s stock entitled to vote thereon (whether or not the Corporation is the surviving entity), (ii) an acquisition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets or (iii) any tender or exchange offer by the Corporation or any third party to acquire any shares of stock of the Corporation (any such transaction described in (i), (ii) or (iii), in each case whether by way of a single transaction or a series of related transactions, a “ Sale Transaction ”), in which it is proposed that (1) each share of Class C Common Stock shall be converted into the right to receive, directly or indirectly in connection with such Sale Transaction, any consideration for such share of Class C Common Stock or (2) each share of Class C Common Stock, together with one Common Unit, shall be converted into the right to receive, directly or indirectly in connection with such Sale Transaction, a different amount of consideration on a per share basis as that received by each share of Class A Common Stock in connection with such Sale Transaction. In no event shall the Corporation repurchase, redeem or repurchase, or offer to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of Class C Common stock for any consideration.

 

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(v) Transfer of Class C Common Stock.

 

(1) A holder of Class C Common Stock may surrender shares of Class C Common Stock to the Corporation for no consideration at any time. Following the surrender of any shares of Class C Common Stock to the Corporation, the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation.

 

(2) A holder of Class C Common Stock may transfer shares of Class C Common Stock to any transferee (other than the Corporation) only if, and only to the extent permitted by the Partnership Agreement, such holder also simultaneously transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units to such transferee. The transfer restrictions described in this Section 4.3(d)(v)(2) are referred to as the “ Restrictions ”.

 

(3) Any purported transfer of shares of Class C Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions shall be null and void. If, notwithstanding the Restrictions, a person shall, voluntarily or involuntarily, purportedly become or attempt to become, the purported owner (“ Purported Owner ”) of shares of Class C Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions, then the Purported Owner shall not obtain any rights in and to such shares of Class C Common Stock (the “ Restricted Shares ”), and the purported transfer of the Restricted Shares to the Purported Owner shall not be recognized by the Corporation’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”).

 

(4) Upon a determination by the disinterested directors (acting by a majority vote of the disinterested directors serving on the Board at such time, or by a committee composed of two or more disinterested directors) that a person has attempted or may attempt to transfer or to acquire Restricted Shares in violation of the Restrictions, such committee may, on behalf of the Board, take such action and direct the Corporation to take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to such transfer or acquisition on the books and records of the Corporation, including without limitation, to cause the Transfer Agent to record the Purported Owner’s transferor as the record owner of the Restricted Shares and to institute proceedings to enjoin or rescind any such transfer or acquisition.

 

(5) The disinterested directors (acting by a majority vote of the disinterested directors serving on the Board at such time, or by a committee composed of two or more disinterested directors) may, to the extent permitted by law, on behalf of the Board, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind, by bylaw or otherwise, regulations and procedures that are consistent with the provisions of this Section 4.3(d)(v) for determining whether any transfer or acquisition of shares of Class C Common Stock would violate the Restrictions and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Section 4.3(d) . Any such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation and with the Transfer Agent and shall be made available for inspection by any prospective transferee and, upon written request, shall be mailed to holders of shares of Class C Common Stock.

 

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(6) The disinterested directors (acting by a majority vote of the disinterested directors serving on the Board at such time, or by a committee composed of two or more disinterested directors), shall have, on behalf of the Board all powers necessary to implement the Restrictions, including without limitation, the power to prohibit the transfer of any shares of Class C Common Stock in violation thereof.

 

(vi) Issuance of Class A Common Stock Upon Redemption; Cancellation of Class C Common Stock .

 

(1) To the extent that any holder of Class C Common Stock exercises its right pursuant to the Partnership Agreement to have its Common Units redeemed by the Partnership in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, then simultaneous with the payment of the consideration due under the Partnership Agreement to such holder of Class C Common Stock, the Corporation shall cancel for no consideration a number of shares of Class C Common Stock registered in the name of the redeeming or exchanging holder of Class C Common Stock equal to the number of Common Units held by such holder of Class C Common Stock that are redeemed or exchanged in such redemption or exchange transaction. The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon redemption of the Common Units for Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issuable upon any such redemption pursuant to the Partnership Agreement. All shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issued upon any such redemption will, upon issuance in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

(2) Notwithstanding the Restrictions, (A) in the event that an outstanding share of Class C Common Stock shall cease to be held by a registered holder of Common Units, such share of Class C Common Stock shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class C Common Stock be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such share and such share shall not be re-issued by the Corporation and (B) in the event that one or more of the Common Units held by a registered holder of Class C Common Stock ceases to be held by such holder (other than as a result of a transfer of one or more Common Units together with an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock as permitted by the Partnership Agreement), a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock registered in the name of such holder shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or such holder be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation.

 

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(vii) Restrictive Legend . All certificates or book entries representing shares of Class C Common Stock, as the case may be, shall bear a legend substantially in the following form (or in such other form as the Board may determine):

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS BOOK ENTRY ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS (INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER) SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AND SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A REQUEST THEREFOR).

 

(e) Conversion Rights . Except as set forth in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the Common Stock shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same class of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

(f) Preemptive Rights . No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate.

 

(g) Stock Split or Reverse Stock Split . In no event shall the shares of either Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock be split, divided, or combined (including by way of stock dividend) unless the outstanding shares of the other class shall be proportionately split, divided or combined.

 

(h) Authorization and Issuance of Additional Shares; Repurchases or Redemptions.

 

(i) If at any time the Corporation issues a share of Class A Common Stock or any other Equity Security of the Corporation (other than Class C Common Stock), (1) the Corporation shall cause the Partnership shall issue to the Corporation one Common Unit (if the Corporation issues a share of Class A Common Stock), or such other Equity Security of the Partnership (if the Corporation issues Equity Securities other than Class A Common Stock) corresponding to such Equity Securities issued by the Corporation, and with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Corporation and (2) the net proceeds received by the Corporation with respect to issuance of the corresponding share of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Security, if any, shall be concurrently contributed by the Corporation to the Partnership as a capital contribution; provided , however , that if the Corporation issues any shares of Class A Common Stock in exchange for a number of Common Units redeemed by a limited partner of the Partnership (other than the Corporation), and a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock, pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement, then the Partnership shall not issue any new Common Units in connection therewith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.3(h)(i) shall not apply to (A) (x) the issuance and distribution to holders of shares of Class A Common Stock of rights to purchase Equity Securities of the Corporation under a “poison pill” or similar shareholders rights plan or (y) the issuance under the Corporation’s equity plans or stock option plans of any warrants, options, other rights to acquire Equity Securities of the Corporation or rights or property that may be converted into or settled in Equity Securities of the Corporation, but shall in each of the foregoing cases apply to the issuance of Equity Securities of the Corporation in connection with the exercise or settlement of such rights, warrants, options or other rights or property or (B) the issuance of Equity Securities pursuant to any equity plan of the Corporation (other than a stock option plan) that are restricted, subject to forfeiture or otherwise unvested upon issuance, but shall apply on the applicable vesting date with respect to such Equity Securities.

 

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(ii) The Corporation shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding Common Stock unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding Common Units, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities. The Corporation shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of any outstanding Equity Securities of the Corporation (other than the Common Stock) unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the corresponding Equity Securities of the Partnership, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities.

 

(iii) The Corporation or any of its subsidiaries may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (1) any shares of Class A Common Stock unless substantially simultaneously the Partnership redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from the Corporation an equal number of Common Units for the same form and amount of consideration per security or (2) any other Equity Securities of the Corporation (other than Class C Common Stock) unless substantially simultaneously the Partnership redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from the Corporation an equal number of Equity Securities of the Partnership of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Corporation for the same form and amount of consideration per security. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any consideration payable by the Corporation in connection with the redemption or repurchase of any shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries consists (in whole or in part) of shares of Class A Common Stock or such other Equity Securities (including in connection with the cashless exercise of an option or warrant), then the redemption or repurchase of the corresponding Common Units or other Equity Securities of the Partnership shall be effectuated in an equivalent manner.

 

(i) Certain Terms . As used in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, (i) “ Partnership ” shall mean Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, or any successor entity thereto, (ii) “ Partnership Agreement ” shall mean the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of August 23, 2018, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, (iii) “ Common Unit ” shall a common unit representing limited partnership interests in the Partnership authorized and issued under the Partnership Agreement and constituting a “Common Unit” as defined in the Partnership Agreement as in effect as of effective time of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, and (iv) “ Equity Securities ” shall mean (1) with respect to the Corporation, any and all shares, interests, participation or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, including all Common Stock and Preferred Stock, or warrants, options or other rights to acquire any of the foregoing, including any debt instrument convertible or exchangeable into any of the foregoing and (2) with respect to the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries, (A) Common Units or other equity interests in the Partnership or any subsidiary of the Partnership, (B) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into Common Units or other equity interests in the Partnership or any subsidiary of the Partnership, and (C) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire Common Units or other equity interests in the Partnership or any subsidiary of the Partnership.

 

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Section 4.4 Rights and Options . The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options provided , however , that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.

 

Article V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 5.1 Board Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation (“ Bylaws ”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders; provided , however , that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.

 

Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term .

 

(a) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

 

(b) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, and designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the consummation of the Initial Business Combination; the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the consummation of the Initial Business Combination; and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the consummation of the Initial Business Combination. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at an annual meeting of stockholders by holders of the Common Stock.

 

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(c) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

(d) Advance notice of nominations for the election of directors, other than by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, and information concerning nominees, shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

 

(e) Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.

 

Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies . Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

Section 5.4 Removal . Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

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Section 5.5 Preferred Stock - Directors . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V , and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms.

 

Section 5.6 No Cumulative Voting . Except as may otherwise be set forth in the resolution or resolutions of the Board providing the issue of one or more series of Preferred Stock, and then only with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, cumulative voting in the election of directors is specifically denied.

 

Article VI
BYLAWS

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided , however , that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided further , however , that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.

 

Article VII
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT

 

Section 7.1 Annual Meetings . Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined exclusively by resolution of the Board in its sole and absolute discretion. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and other business to be brought by stockholders at any meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

 

Section 7.2 Special Meetings . Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders may not be called by another person or persons.

 

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Section 7.3 Advance Notice . Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

 

Section 7.4 Action by Written Consent . Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, subsequent to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders.

 

Article VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 8.1 Limitation of Director Liability . A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless they violated their duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from their actions as directors. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .

 

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “ indemnitee ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided , however , that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a) , except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

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(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2 , shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

(d) This Section 8.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.

 

Article IX
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

 

Section 9.1 Scope . The provisions of this Article IX are set forth to define, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the duties of Exempted Persons (as defined below) to the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities. “ Exempted Persons ” means (i) The Blackstone Group, L.P. and their affiliates, successors, partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers and employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) and (ii) Osprey Sponsor, LLC and their affiliates, successors, partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers and employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries).

 

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Section 9.2 Competition and Allocation of Corporate Opportunities . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Exempted Persons shall not have any fiduciary duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to the Exempted Persons, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and each such Exempted Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Exempted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

 

Section 9.3 Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities . In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX , a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that the Corporation is not financially or legally able or contractually permitted to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

Section 9.4 Limitation of Director Liability . To the fullest extent permitted by law, no amendment or repeal of this Article IX in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.1 shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Exempted Person for or with respect to any activities or opportunities of which such Exempted Person becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal. This Article IX shall not limit or eliminate any protections or defenses otherwise available to, or any rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, any agreement between the Corporation and such officer or director, or any applicable law.

 

Section 9.5 Deemed Notice . Any person or entity purchasing, holding or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX .

 

  - 15 -  

 

 

Article X

EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, or (v) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein; provided however , that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction over the matter. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this  Article X . If any provision or provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Article XI
AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII , all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the rights reserved in this Article XI. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage or vote may be permitted from time to time by applicable law, no provision of Article V , Article VI , Article VII , Article VIII , Article IX , Article X , this Article XI and Article XII may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or of the Bylaws inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or otherwise required by law, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Article XII
DGCL Section 203

 

The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

  - 16 -  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

  OSPREY ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
       
  By: /s/ Jeffrey F. Brotman
    Name: Jeffrey Brotman
    Title: Chief Financial Officer,
Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

[ Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

 

ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

1.1 Meetings .

 

1.1.1 Place . Meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place as may be designated by the board of directors.

 

1.1.2 Annual Meeting . An annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and for other business shall be held on such date and at such time as may be fixed by the board of directors.

 

1.1.3 Special Meetings . Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the president, or the board of directors, or the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

1.1.4 Quorum . The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote on a particular matter shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of considering such matter.

 

1.1.5 Voting Rights . Except as otherwise provided herein, in the certificate of incorporation or by law, every stockholder shall have the right at every meeting of stockholders to one vote for every share standing in the name of such stockholder on the books of the Company which is entitled to vote at such meeting. Every stockholder may vote either in person or by proxy.

 

ARTICLE II

DIRECTORS

 

2.1 Number and Term . The board of directors shall have authority to (i) determine the number of directors to constitute the board and (ii) fix the terms of office of the directors.

 

2.2 Meetings .

 

2.2.1 Place . Meetings of the board of directors shall be held at such place as may be designated by the board or in the notice of the meeting.

 

2.2.2 Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the board of directors shall be held at such times as the board may designate. Notice of regular meetings need not be given.

 

2.2.3 Special Meetings . Special meetings of the board may be called by direction of the president or any two members of the board on three days' notice to each director, either personally or by mail, telegram or facsimile transmission.

 

2.2.4 Quorum . A majority of all the directors in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting.

 

2.2.5 Voting . Except as otherwise provided herein, in the certificate of incorporation or by law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the act of the board of directors.

 

2.2.6 Committees . The board of directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more directors and such alternate members (also directors) as may be designated by the board. Unless otherwise provided herein, in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Except as otherwise provided herein, in the certificate of incorporation or by law, any such committee shall have and may exercise the powers of the full board of directors to the extent provided in the resolution of the board directing the committee.

 

2.2.7 Consent In Lieu of Meeting . Unless otherwise restricted by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board of directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions (or paper reproductions thereof) are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board of directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

 

3.1 Election . At its first meeting after each annual meeting of the stockholders, the board of directors shall elect a president, treasurer, secretary and such other officers as it deems advisable.

 

3.2 Authority, Duties and Compensation . The officers shall have such authority, perform such duties and serve for such compensation as may be determined by resolution of the board of directors. Except as otherwise provided by board resolution, (i) the president shall be the chief executive officer of the Company, shall have general supervision over the business and operations of the Company, may perform any act and execute any instrument for the conduct of such business and operations and shall preside at all meetings of the board and stockholders, (ii) the other officers shall have the duties customarily related to their respective offices, and (iii) any vice president, or vice presidents in the order determined by the board, shall in the absence of the president have the authority and perform the duties of the president.

 

ARTICLE IV

INDEMNIFICATION

 

4.1 Right to Indemnification . The Company shall indemnify any person who was or is party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company or a constituent corporation absorbed in a consolidation or merger, or is or was serving at the request of the Company or a constituent corporation absorbed in a consolidation or merger, as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or is or was a director or officer of the Company serving at its request as an administrator, trustee or other fiduciary of one or more of the employee benefit plans of the Company or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), liability and loss actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with such proceeding, whether or not the indemnified liability arises or arose from any threatened, pending or completed proceeding by or in the right of the Company, except to the extent that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable law.

 

4.2 Advance of Expenses . Expenses incurred by a director or officer of the Company in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding subject to the provisions of any applicable statute.

 

4.3 Procedure for Determining Permissibility . To determine whether any indemnification or advance of expenses under this Article IV is permissible, the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not parties to such proceeding may, and on request of any person seeking indemnification or advance of expenses shall be required to, determine in each case whether the applicable standards in any applicable statute have been met, or such determination shall be made by independent legal counsel if such quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, provided that, if there has been a change in control of the Company between the time of the action or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification or advance of expenses and the time such claim is made, at the option of the person seeking indemnification or advance of expenses, the permissibility of indemnification or advance of expenses shall be determined by independent legal counsel. The reasonable expenses of any director or officer in prosecuting a successful claim for indemnification, and the fees and expenses of any special legal counsel engaged to determine permissibility of indemnification or advance of expenses, shall be borne by the Company.

 

4.4 Contractual Obligation . The obligations of the Company to indemnify a director or officer under this Article IV, including the duty to advance expenses, shall be considered a contract between the Company and such director or officer, and no modification or repeal of any provision of this Article IV shall affect, to the detriment of the director or officer, such obligations of the Company in connection with a claim based on any act or failure to act occurring before such modification or repeal.

 

4.5 Indemnification Not Exclusive; Inuring of Benefit . The indemnification and advance of expenses provided by this Article IV shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right to which one indemnified may be entitled under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of any such person.

 

4.6 Insurance and Other Indemnification . The board of directors shall have the power to (i) authorize the Company to purchase and maintain, at the Company's expense, insurance on behalf of the Company and on behalf of others to the extent that power to do so has not been prohibited by statute, (ii) create any fund of any nature, whether or not under the control of a trustee, or otherwise secure any of its indemnification obligations, and (iii) give other indemnification to the extent permitted by statute.

 

ARTICLE V

TRANSFER OF SHARE CERTIFICATES

 

Transfers of share certificates and the shares represented thereby shall be made on the books of the Company only by the registered holder or by duly authorized attorney. Transfers shall be made only on surrender of the share certificate or certificates.

 

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENTS

 

These bylaws may be amended or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the board of directors by vote of a majority of all directors in office or at any annual or special meeting of stockholders by vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote. Notice of any such annual or special meeting of stockholders shall set forth the proposed change or a summary thereof.

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

DATED AS OF AUGUST 23, 2018

 

AMONG

 

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

 

AND

 

THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
Article I INTRODUCTORY MATTERS 1
1.1 Defined Terms 1
1.2 Construction 5
Article II CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS 6
2.1 Board 6
2.2 Board Designees 7
2.3 Certain Transactions 9
2.4 Corporate Opportunity 9
2.5 Holdback Agreement 10
Article III GENERAL PROVISIONS 10
3.1 Termination 10
3.2 Notices 10
3.3 Amendment; Waiver 11
3.4 Further Assurances 12
3.5 Assignment 12
3.6 Third Parties 12
3.7 Governing Law 12
3.8 Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial 12
3.9 Specific Performance 13
3.10 Entire Agreement 13
3.11 Severability 13
3.12 Table of Contents, Headings and Captions 13
3.13 Grant of Consent 13
3.14 Counterparts 13
3.15 Effectiveness 13
3.16 No Recourse 13

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

This Shareholders’ Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of August 23, 2018 by and among Falcon Minerals Corporation, a Delaware corporation formerly named Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. (the “ Company ”), Osprey Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Osprey Sponsor ”), Edward Cohen, Jonathan Z. Cohen, Daniel C. Herz, Jeffrey F. Brotman, Royal Resources L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Royal LP ”), Royal Resources GP L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“ Royal GP ” and collectively with Royal LP, “ Royal ”), Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ NRAC ”), Hooks Ranch Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Hooks Holdings ”), DGK ORRI Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ DGK Holdings ”, and collectively with NRAC and Hooks Holdings, the “ Contributors ” and each a “ Contributor ”), and Blackstone Management Partners, L.L.C. (“ Blackstone ”). Each of the parties to this Agreement is sometimes referred to individually in this Agreement as a “ Party ,” and all of the parties to this Agreement are sometimes collectively referred to in this Agreement as the “ Parties .”

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, on June 3, 2018, the Company, Royal and the Contributors entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “ Contribution Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Contributors agreed to contribute certain assets to a Subsidiary of the Company in exchange for, among other things, Class C Common Stock of the Company (the “ Transactions ”); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, the Parties wish to set forth certain understandings with respect to certain governance matters of the Company following the Closing.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

 

Article I
INTRODUCTORY MATTERS

 

1.1  Defined Terms . In addition to the terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used herein with initial capital letters:

 

Affiliate ” means any Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Person specified. For purposes of this Agreement, “control” of a Person (including its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether through ownership of voting securities or ownership interests, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning given to it in the Preamble.

 

Beneficially Own ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

  1  

 

 

Blackstone Conditions ” means collectively, the Blackstone Highest Condition, the Blackstone Higher Condition, the Blackstone Lower Condition and the Blackstone Minimum Condition.

 

Blackstone Designator ” means a Blackstone Party, or any group of Blackstone Parties collectively, then holding of record a majority of Outstanding Osprey Interests Beneficially Owned by all Blackstone Parties.

 

Blackstone Director ” means the Initial Blackstone Directors, any Blackstone Designee elected and serving on the Board, and any individual appointed to the Board pursuant to Section 2.2(c) to fill any vacancy created on the Board as a result of the death, disability, retirement, removal or resignation of any Blackstone Director.

 

Blackstone Designee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) hereof.

 

Blackstone Higher Condition ” means that the combined voting power of the Class C Common Stock and the Class A Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Royal Owners represents equal to or less than 40% and more than 20% of the voting power of all shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

Blackstone Highest Condition ” means that the combined voting power of the Class C Common Stock and the Class A Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Royal Owners represents more than 40% of the voting power of all shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

Blackstone Lower Condition ” means that the combined voting power of the Class C Common Stock and the Class A Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Royal Owners represents equal to or less than 20% and more than 10% of the voting power of all shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

Blackstone Minimum Condition ” means that the combined voting power of the Class C Common Stock and the Class A Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Royal Owners represents equal to or less than 10% and more than 5% of the voting power of all shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

Blackstone Parties ” means Royal, the Contributors, Blackstone and any other Person that is both a controlled Affiliate of Blackstone and holds Common Stock.

 

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

Business Day ” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banks located in Houston, Texas or New York, New York are authorized or obligated to close.

 

Business Opportunity ” means any interest, expectancy, co-participation rights or other rights in or to any business opportunity or transaction involving the direct or indirect acquisition of or investment in any oil and gas fee mineral interests or Royalties; provided, however , that “Business Opportunity” shall not include any direct or indirect acquisition of or investment in of (a) up to five percent (5%) as a passive investor in any class of securities of a business or entity if such securities are listed on, or otherwise convertible into securities listed on, a national securities exchange or (b) any securities of a business or entity, if less than 10% of the consolidated revenue of such business or entity for the most recent completed fiscal year prior to such acquisition is generated from oil and gas fee mineral interests and Royalties.

 

  2  

 

 

Certificate of Incorporation ” means the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as it may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Class C Common Stock ” means the shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Closing ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Contribution Agreement.

 

Common Stock ” means collectively the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock and/or the Class C Common Stock.

 

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Director ” means any director of the Company.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any court, tribunal, arbitrator, authority, agency, commission, regulatory body, official instrumentality of the United States or any other nation, or any tribal, state, county, city, local or other political subdivision or similar governing entity.

 

Independent Directors ” means the Directors who qualify as an independent director pursuant to applicable SEC Guidance and the rules of the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded.

 

Initial Blackstone Directors ” means the six individuals designated as such on Exhibit A .

 

Initial Independent Directors ” means the three individuals designated as such on Exhibit A .

 

Initial Sponsor Designees ” means the two individuals designated as such on Exhibit A .

 

  3  

 

 

Initial Term ” means the period beginning on the Closing and ending on the third annual meeting of stockholders of the Company following the Closing.

 

Law ” means any statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, injunction, order, decree, governmental approval, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority.

 

Necessary Action ” means, with respect to a specified result, all actions (to the extent such actions are permitted by applicable Law and, in the case of any action by the Company that requires a vote or other action on the part of the Board, to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties that the Company’s directors may have in such capacity) necessary to cause such result, including (i) calling special meetings of stockholders, (ii) voting or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to shares of Common Stock, (iii) causing the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the organizational documents of the Company, (iv) executing agreements and instruments and (v) making or causing to be made, with Governmental Authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

 

Non-Participating Demand Offering ” means any demand offering under the Sponsor Registration Rights Agreement in which none of the Blackstone Parties participates as a selling security holder.

 

Osprey Sponsor ” shall mean Osprey Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor thereto. In the event that the Osprey Sponsor, LLC is dissolved, liquidated or wound up for any reason, then thereafter the Sponsor Designator shall be the Osprey Sponsor for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Outstanding Osprey Interests ” means the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, proprietorship, other business organization, trust, union, association or Governmental Authority.

 

Royal ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Royal Owners ” means Royal, its limited partners and its Affiliates, including the Blackstone Parties.

 

Royal Registration Rights Agreement ” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement entered into on or about the date hereof by and among the Company, Royal LP, and the Contributors.

 

Royalties ” means lessor’s royalties, non-participating royalties, overriding royalties, production payments, net profits interests and similar burdens payable out of production.

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

  4  

 

 

SEC Guidance ” means (a) any publicly available written or oral interpretations, questions and answers, guidance and forms of the SEC, (b) any oral or written comments, requirements or requests of the SEC or its staff, (c) the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and (d) any other rules, bulletins, releases, manuals and regulations of the SEC.

 

Sponsor Designator ” means Osprey Sponsor or, in the event that Osprey Sponsor shall have been dissolved, liquidated or wound up for any reason, Jonathan Z. Cohen (or, upon the death or disability of Jonathan Z. Cohen, Daniel C. Herz (or, upon the death or disability of both Jonathan Z. Cohen and Daniel C. Herz, Jeffrey F. Brotman)).

 

Sponsor Designees ” means the Initial Sponsor Designees for so long as they continue to serve on the Board and, prior to the expiration of the Initial Term, any individual appointed to the Board pursuant to Section 2.2(c) to fill any vacancy created on the Board as a result of the death, disability, retirement, removal or resignation of any Initial Sponsor Designee.

 

Sponsor Registration Rights Agreement ” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated July 20, 2017 by and among the Company and Osprey Sponsor. 

 

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

 

Transfer ” (including its correlative meanings, “Transferor,” “Transferee” and “Transferred”) shall mean, with respect to any security, directly or indirectly, to sell, contract to sell, give, assign, hypothecate, pledge, encumber, grant a security interest in, offer, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any economic, voting or other rights in or to such security. When used as a noun, “Transfer” shall have such correlative meaning as the context may require.

 

Total Number of Directors ” means the total number of directors comprising the Board.

 

Transactions ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

1.2  Construction .

 

(a) All article, section, subsection, schedules and exhibit references used in this Agreement are to articles, sections, subsections, schedules and exhibits to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. The exhibits and schedules attached to this Agreement constitute a part of this Agreement and are incorporated herein for all purposes.

 

(b) If a term is defined as one part of speech (such as a noun), it shall have a corresponding meaning when used as another part of speech (such as a verb). Unless the context of this Agreement clearly requires otherwise, words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neutral genders and vice versa. The words “includes” or “including” shall mean “including without limitation,” the words “hereof,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar terms in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular section or article in which such words appear and any reference to a Law shall include any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any reference to any Law in this Agreement shall only be a reference to such Law as of the date of this Agreement. Currency amounts referenced herein are in U.S. Dollars. Terms defined in the singular have the corresponding meanings in the plural, and vice versa.

 

  5  

 

 

(c) Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified. Whenever any action must be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a Business Day.

 

(d) All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.

 

(e) Each Party acknowledges that it and its attorneys have been given an equal opportunity to negotiate the terms and conditions of this Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party or any similar rule operating against the drafter of an agreement shall not be applicable to the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Article II
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

 

2.1  Board .

 

(a)  Initial Board . The Parties acknowledge and agreed that, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, effective as of immediately following the Closing, the Board was reconstituted to be composed of eleven Directors, divided into three classes of Directors, in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation. Of such eleven Directors, (a) six shall be the Initial Blackstone Directors, (b) two shall be the Initial Sponsor Designees and (c) three shall be the Initial Independent Directors. Such directors shall be in the class of directors as set forth on Exhibit A . Without limiting the Contribution Agreement, the Parties shall take reasonable best efforts to carry out the foregoing, and the Company shall take all Necessary Action to accomplish the same.

 

(b)  Board Size and Structure . During the Initial Term, the Total Number of Directors shall be (a) eleven when the Blackstone Highest Condition is satisfied (consisting of six Blackstone Designees, two Sponsor Designees and three Independent Directors), (b) eleven when the Blackstone Higher Condition is satisfied (consisting of four Blackstone Designees, two Sponsor Designees and five Independent Directors), (c) nine Directors when the Blackstone Lower Condition is satisfied (consisting of two Blackstone Designees, two Sponsor Designees and five Independent Directors), (d) eight Directors when the Blackstone Minimum Condition is satisfied (consisting of one Blackstone Designee, two Sponsor Designees and five Independent Directors) and (e) seven Directors when none of the Blackstone Conditions is satisfied (consisting of two Sponsor Designees and five Independent Directors). After the Initial Term and during the term of this Agreement, the Total Number of Directors shall be (a) nine when the Blackstone Highest Condition is satisfied (consisting of six Blackstone Designees and three Independent Directors), (b) nine when the Blackstone Higher Condition is satisfied (consisting of four Blackstone Designees and five Independent Directors), (c) seven Directors when the Blackstone Lower Condition is satisfied (consisting of two Blackstone Designees and five Independent Directors), and (d) six Directors when the Blackstone Minimum Condition is satisfied (consisting of one Blackstone Designee and five Independent Directors). In addition to any vote or consent of the Board or the shareholders of the Company required by applicable Law or the Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Company, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any action by the Board to increase or decrease the Total Number of Directors (other than any decrease in the Total Number of Directors as contemplated by the first two sentences of this Section 2.1(b) ), shorten the term of any Director or amend the Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Company with the effect of de-staggering the Board or providing for the establishment of any classes of Directors inconsistent with Section 2.1(a) shall require, (i) for so long as the Blackstone Designator has the right to designate an individual for nomination to the Board pursuant to this Article II , the prior written consent of the Blackstone Designator, and (ii) during the Initial Term, the prior written consent of the Sponsor Designator.

 

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2.2  Board Designees .

 

(a)  Blackstone Designees. The Blackstone Designator shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate individuals for nomination by the Board to be elected as Directors by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Company as follows (each individual so designated, a “ Blackstone Designee ”):

 

(i)  During the period commencing on the first date on which the Blackstone Highest Condition is satisfied and ending on the first date on which the Blackstone Highest Condition ceases to be satisfied, the Blackstone Designator shall have the right to designate for nomination for election to the Board a number of individuals that, when added with all other Blackstone Designees (including the Initial Blackstone Directors) whose term is not expiring at such meeting, equals six individuals in the aggregate (and there shall be three Independent Directors, selected in accordance with Section 2.2(b) ).

 

(ii)  During the period commencing on the first date on which the Blackstone Higher Condition is satisfied and ending on the first date on which the Blackstone Higher Condition ceases to be satisfied, the Blackstone Designator shall have the right to designate a number of individuals that, when added with all other Blackstone Designees (including the Initial Blackstone Directors) whose term is not expiring at such meeting, equals four individuals in the aggregate (and there shall be five Independent Directors, selected in accordance with Section 2.2(b) ).

 

(iii)  During the period commencing on the first date on which the Blackstone Lower Condition is satisfied and ending on the first date on which the Blackstone Lower Condition ceases to be satisfied, the Blackstone Designator shall have the right to designate for nomination for election to the Board a number of individuals that, when added with all other Blackstone Designees (including the Initial Blackstone Directors) whose term is not expiring at such meeting, equals two individuals in the aggregate (and there shall be five Independent Directors, selected in accordance with Section 2.2(b) ).

 

  7  

 

 

(iv)  During the period commencing on the first date on which the Blackstone Minimum Condition is satisfied and ending on the first date on which the Blackstone Minimum Condition ceases to be satisfied, the Blackstone Designator shall have the right to designate a number of individuals that, when added with all other Blackstone Designees (including the Initial Blackstone Directors) whose term is not expiring at such meeting, equals one (1) individual in the aggregate (and there shall be five Independent Directors, selected in accordance with Section 2.2(b) ).

 

(v)  Commencing on the first date on which none of the Blackstone Conditions is satisfied, the Blackstone Designator will no longer have any rights to designate any Directors for nomination for election to the Board by the Company or the Board.

 

(b)  Independent Director Designees . During the Initial Term, the Sponsor Designator and, so long as any Blackstone Condition is satisfied, the Blackstone Designator shall mutually designate for nomination for election to the Board any individuals to be nominated as an Independent Director for election to the Board by the Company or the Board.

 

(c)  Removal; Replacement; Vacancies . The Blackstone Designator shall be entitled to remove any Blackstone Director from the Board, and, during the Initial Term, the Sponsor Designator shall be entitled to remove any Sponsor Designee from the Board. In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board at any time as a result of the death, disability, retirement, removal or resignation of any Blackstone Director, the Blackstone Designator may designate a new individual to fill such vacancy, and the Board shall cause such designated individual to be appointed to the Board to fill such vacancy as promptly as practicable and to serve in the class of Directors of the Board in which such vacancy was created for the remainder of the term of such class. In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board at any time as a result of the death, disability, retirement, removal or resignation of any Sponsor Designees during the Initial Term, the Sponsor Designator may designate a new individual to fill such vacancy, and the Board shall cause such designated individual to be appointed to the Board to fill such vacancy as promptly as practicable and to serve in the class of Directors of the Board in which such vacancy was created for the remainder of the term of such class upon receipt from the Sponsor Designee of a written acknowledgement that he/she is bound by the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4 of this Agreement. In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board at any time as a result of the death, disability, retirement, removal or resignation of any Independent Director during the Initial Term, the Sponsor Designator and, so long as any Blackstone Condition is satisfied, the Blackstone Designator shall mutually agree on a new individual to fill such vacancy, and the Board shall cause such designated individual to be appointed to the Board to fill such vacancy as promptly as practicable and to serve in the class of Directors of the Board in which such vacancy was created for the remainder of the term of such class. Nothing in this Agreement shall require any Blackstone Director to resign, or for the Blackstone Designator to remove any Blackstone Director from office or replace any Blackstone Director prior to the expiration of such director’s term, regardless of the continued satisfaction of any of the Blackstone Conditions. Nothing in this Agreement shall require any Sponsor Designee to resign, or for the Sponsor Designator to remove from office or replace any Sponsor Designee during the Initial Term.

 

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(d)  Company Necessary Action . The Company shall take all Necessary Action to cause the election of each designees to the Board as contemplated by this Section 2.2 . The Company agrees that taking all Necessary Action to effectuate the foregoing shall include (i) including such designees in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board at any meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing directors, (ii) nominating and recommending each such individual to be elected as a Director as provided herein and (iii) soliciting proxies or consents in favor thereof.

 

(e)  Further Assurance . The Parties shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and the designees to the Board not to, directly or indirectly, (i) vote any shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by them or their Affiliates for the removal, or otherwise seek or contribute to the removal of, any Director (other than a Director designated by such Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement), (ii) request, call or seek to call a meeting of the stockholders of the Company or, except as expressly provided herein, nominate any individual for election to the Board at any meeting of stockholders of the Company, submit any stockholder proposal (pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act, the Company’s bylaws or otherwise) to seek representation on the Board or any other proposal to be considered by the stockholders of the Company, or recommend that any other stockholders vote in favor of, or otherwise publicly comment favorably or unfavorably about, or solicit votes or proxies for, any such nomination or proposal submitted by another stockholder of the Company, or otherwise publicly seek to control or influence the Board, management or policies of the Company, in each case, in a manner that is inconsistent with the composition of the Board as contemplated by this Section 2.2 ; provided that in no way shall the foregoing prohibit or limit any action by a Director taken in his or her capacity as a Director in accordance with such Director’s fiduciary duties.

 

2.3  Certain Transactions . The Company agrees that it shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, enter into or effect any agreement or transaction with any Blackstone Party or any Affiliate of a Blackstone Party without the consent or approval of a majority of the Independent Directors then serving on the Board (or a properly empowered committee of the Board composed solely of Independent Directors).

 

2.4  Corporate Opportunity . Osprey Sponsor, Edward Cohen, Jonathan Cohen, Daniel Herz, Jeffrey Brotman, any Sponsor Designee and any controlled Affiliates (including any jointly controlled Affiliates of the foregoing) of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Restricted Persons ”) shall not, individually or through management of or investment or other participation in another entity, invest or participate, or seek to invest or participate, in any new Business Opportunity without first presenting such Business Opportunity to the Board for consideration. The Board will promptly, and in any event within thirty (30) days after first being presented with such Business Opportunity, review such Business Opportunity and determine in good faith whether the Company or its Subsidiaries should pursue such Business Opportunity. If the Company does not elect to pursue such Business Opportunity, such Business Opportunity may be pursued by one or more Restricted Persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Restricted Person shall cease to be a Restricted Person (and cease to be bound by the terms of this Section 2.4 ) on the earlier of (a) the date on which the Blackstone Lower Condition is not satisfied or (b) in the case of (i) Edward Cohen, Jonathan Cohen, Daniel Herz, Jeffrey Brotman, eighteen (18) months following the date on which such person ceases to be an officer or director of the Company, or (ii) any other natural person, one year following the date on which such natural person ceases to be an officer or director of the Company.

 

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2.5 Holdback Agreement . In connection with any underwritten offering pursuant to the Royal Registration Rights Agreement or the Sponsor Registration Rights Agreement, the Blackstone Parties (in the case of an underwritten offering pursuant to the Sponsor Registration Rights Agreement) and Osprey Sponsor and its affiliates (in the case of an underwritten offering pursuant to the Royal Registration Rights Agreement) shall agree not to effect any sale or distribution of securities of the Company of the same or similar class or classes of the securities included in the applicable registration statement or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, including a sale pursuant to Rule 144, and agree to such other restrictions on transfer, in each case during such periods as reasonably requested (but in no event for a period longer than 90 days (or 120 days if requested in writing by the managing underwriter) following the date of such offering;  provided  that such period shall not be longer than the equivalent lock-up period for any participant in such offering).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Blackstone Parties shall not be required to so agree not to effect sales or distributions of securities of the Company in more than one Non-Participating Demand Offering in any 365 day period or more than two Non-Participating Demand Offerings in the aggregate.

 

Article III
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

3.1  Termination . This Agreement shall terminate, and be of no further force and effect upon the later of (a) such time as the Blackstone Designator is no longer entitled to designate a Director for nomination to the Board pursuant to Section 2.2(a) hereof and (b) the expiration of the Initial Term.

 

3.2  Notices . Any notice, designation, request, request for consent or consent provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, or mailed first class mail (postage prepaid) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Company at the address set forth below and to any other recipient at the address indicated on the Company’s records, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notices and other such documents will be deemed to have been given or made hereunder when sent by facsimile (receipt confirmed) delivered personally, five (5) days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one (1) day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service.

 

(a) If to the Company, to:

 

Falcon Minerals Corporation
1845 Walnut Street, 10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attention: Jonathan Z. Cohen
Fax: (215) 640-6344

 

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with a copy (not constituting notice) to :

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
609 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Matthew R. Pacey
Fax: (713) 836-3601

 

(b) If to the Blackstone Parties or to the Blackstone Designator, to:

 

The Blackstone Group L.P.
345 Park Avenue, Suite 3300
New York, New York 10154
Attention: Angelo G. Acconcia
Facsimile: (212) 201-2874

 

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
609 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Matthew R. Pacey and Rhett A. Van Syoc
Fax: (713) 836-3601

 

(c) If to Edward Cohen, Jonathan Cohen, Daniel Herz, Jeffrey Brotman ,the Osprey Sponsor or the Sponsor Designator:

 

Osprey Sponsor, LLC
1845 Walnut Street, 10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attention: Jonathan Z. Cohen
Fax: (215) 640-6344

 

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz LLP
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: David K. Lam
Fax: (212) 403-2000

 

3.3  Amendment; Waiver . This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified only by a written instrument executed by the Company and the other parties hereto. Neither the failure nor delay on the part of any party hereto to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.

 

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3.4  Further Assurances . The parties hereto will sign such further documents, cause such meetings to be held, resolutions passed, exercise their votes and do and perform and cause to be done such further acts and things necessary, proper or advisable in order to give full effect to this Agreement and every provision hereof. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Company shall not directly or indirectly take any action that is intended to, or would reasonably be expected to result in, any of the Parties’ being deprived of the rights contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.5  Assignment . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding on the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned without the express prior written consent of the other parties hereto, and any attempted assignment, without such consents, will be null and void; provided, however, that, without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, a Blackstone Party may assign this Agreement in its entirety, together with all of its rights and obligations hereunder, to any of its Affiliates.

 

3.6  Third Parties . Except as provided for in Article II hereof with respect to any Blackstone Party, this Agreement does not create any rights, claims or benefits inuring to any person that is not a party hereto nor create or establish any third party beneficiary hereto; provided that the Osprey Sponsor is an express third party beneficiary of, and may enforce, any of the terms of this Agreement relating to, or for the benefit of, the Sponsor Designator and the Sponsor Designees.

 

3.7  Governing Law . 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 thereof.

 

3.8  Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . In any judicial proceeding involving any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties unconditionally accepts the jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Delaware or if jurisdiction over the matter is vested exclusively in federal courts, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and the appellate courts to which orders and judgments thereof may be appealed. In any such judicial proceeding, the parties agree that in addition to any method for the service of process permitted or required by such courts, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, service of process may be made by delivery provided pursuant to the directions in Section 3.2 hereof. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING ANY DISPUTE, CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

 

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3.9  Specific Performance . Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that in the event of any breach of this Agreement by any of them, the other parties hereto would be irreparably harmed and could not be made whole by monetary damages. Each party accordingly agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate and agrees that the parties, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at Law or in equity, shall be entitled to specific performance of this Agreement without the posting of bond.

 

3.10  Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no agreements, representations, warranties, covenants or understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof or thereof other than those expressly set forth herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

3.11  Severability . If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance or in any jurisdiction, shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (i) the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each other provision hereof shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law, (ii) as to such Person or circumstance or in such jurisdiction such provision shall be reformed to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law, and (iii) the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances or in other jurisdictions shall not be affected thereby.

 

3.12  Table of Contents, Headings and Captions . The table of contents, headings, subheadings and captions contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only, and in no way define, limit or describe the scope of this Agreement or the intent of any provision hereof.

 

3.13  Grant of Consent . Any vote, consent or approval of, or designation by, or other action of, the Blackstone Designator hereunder shall be effective if notice of such vote, consent, approval, designation or action is provided in accordance with Section 3.2 hereof by the Blackstone Party or Parties holding of record a majority of the Outstanding Osprey Interests then held of record by Blackstone Parties as of the latest date any such notice is so provided.

 

3.14  Counterparts . This Agreement and any amendment hereto may be signed in any number of separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one Agreement (or amendment, as applicable).

 

3.15  Effectiveness . This Agreement shall become effective as of the Closing.

 

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

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.

 

  COMPANY :
   
  FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Jonathan Z. Cohen
  Name:  Jonathan Z. Cohen
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer
     
  OSPREY SPONSOR :
   
  OSPREY SPONSOR, LLC
   
  By:  /s/ Jonathan Z. Cohen
  Name:  Jonathan Z. Cohen
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Shareholders’ Agreement

 

 

 

 

  ROYAL RESOURCES L.P.
     
  By: Royal Resources GP L.L.C., its general partner
     
  By: /s/ Angelo G. Acconica
    Name: Angelo G. Acconica
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
     
  ROYAL RESOURCES GP L.L.C.
     
  By: /s/ Angelo G. Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo G. Acconcia
    Title:  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
     
  NOBLE ROYALTIES ACQUISITION CO. L.P.
     
  By: Noble Royalties Acquisition Co. GP, LLC,
    its general partner
     
  By: /s/ Angelo G. Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo G. Acconcia
    Title:  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
     
  HOOKS RANCH HOLDINGS LP
     
  By: Hooks Holding Company GP, LLC,
    its general partner
     
  By: /s/ Angelo G. Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo G. Acconcia
    Title:  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
     
  DGK ORRI HOLDINGS, LP
     
  By: DGK ORRI GP LLC,
    its general partner
     
  By: /s/ Angelo G. Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo G. Acconcia
    Title:  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

  BLACKSTONE MANAGEMENT PARTNERS L.L.C.
     
  By: /s/ Angelo G. Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo G. Acconcia
    Title:  Senior Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Shareholders’ Agreement

 

 

 

 

  By:  /s/ Edward Cohen
  Name:  Edward Cohen
     
     
  By:  /s/ Jonathan Z. Cohen
  Name: Jonathan Z. Cohen
     
     
  By:  /s/ Daniel C. Herz
  Name:  Daniel C. Herz
     
     
  By:  /s/ Jeffrey F. Brotman
  Name: Jeffrey F. Brotman

 

Signature Page to Shareholders’ Agreement

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Initial Board

 

    Class I   Class II   Class III
Initial Blackstone Directors  

David I. Foley

[Blackstone Designee]

  Adam M. Jenkins
Jonathan R. Hamilton
 

Angelo G. Acconcia

[Blackstone Designee]

Initial Independent Directors   Steven R. Jones   William D. Anderson   Brian L. Frank
Initial Sponsor Designees           Jonathan Z. Cohen
Edward E. Cohen

 

 

Exhibit A

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

Execution Version

  

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of August 23, 2018 by and among Falcon Minerals Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company ), Royal Resources L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Royal LP ”), Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ NRAC ”), Hooks Ranch Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Hooks Holdings ”), DGK ORRI Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ DGK ”), DGK ORRI GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ DGK GP ”), Hooks Holdings Company GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Hooks GP ”, and together with NRAC ,Hooks Holdings, DGK and DGK GP the “ Contributors ” and each a “ Contributor ”). Royal LP, each of the Contributors and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.02 of this Agreement, is herein referred to as a “ Holder ” and collectively as the “ Holders ”.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , this Agreement is made and entered into in connection with the closing of the transactions (the “ Transactions ”) contemplated by that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2018, by and among the Company, Royal LP, Royal Resources GP L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and the Contributors (the “ Contribution Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS , the Contribution Agreement provides that the Company will contribute cash to Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership to the Company of Common Units (as defined below) and warrants in the Partnership;

 

WHEREAS , the Contribution Agreement further provides that the Contributors will contribute the Contributed Interests (as defined below) to the Partnership, in exchange for the issuance by the Company and the Partnership of Common Units, cash and shares of Class C common stock, of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Class C Common Stock ”);

 

WHEREAS , immediately prior to or simultaneous with the closing of the Transactions, the Company, the Partnership and the Contributors will enter into that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (such agreement, as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified form time to time, the “ LP Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS , in connection with the closing of the Transactions, the Partnership has provided the Contributors with a redemption right pursuant to which the Contributors may be able, at the Company’s option, to redeem or exchange their Common Units for shares of Class A Common Stock (as defined below) on the terms set forth in the LP Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

  

 

 

 

Article I.
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Adverse Disclosure ” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

 

Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Blackout Period ” shall have the meaning given in Section 3.04(b) .

 

Business Day ” shall mean any day of the year on which national banking institutions in New York are open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.

 

Class A Common Stock ” shall mean the Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.

 

Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Units ” shall mean common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.

 

Company ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Contributed Interests ” means, collectively, the VickiCristina Interests, the VickiCristina GP Interests, the DGK Interests, the DGK GP Interests, the DLG Interests, the DLG GP Interests, the EF Interests, the EF GP Interests, the Marcellus Interests and the Marcellus GP Interests.

 

Contribution Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Contribution Closing Date ” shall mean August 23, 2018, the date on which the Transactions closed.

  

  - 2 -  

 

 

Demanding Holder ” and “ Demanding Holders ” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.02(a) .

 

DGK Interests ” shall mean 100% of the limited partnership interests of DGK held by DGK.

 

DGK GP Interests ” shall mean 100% of the general partnership interests of DGK, held by DGK GP.

 

DLG ” shall mean Noble EF DLG LP, a Texas limited partnership.

 

DLG GP Interests ” shall mean 100% of the membership interests of Noble EF DLG GP LLC, a Texas limited liability company and sole general partner of DLG, held by NRAC.

 

DLG Interests ” shall mean 100% of the limited partnership interests of DLG held by NRAC.

 

EF shall mean Noble EF LP, a Texas limited partnership.

 

EF Interests shall mean 100% of the limited partnership interests of EF held by NRAC.

 

EF GP Interests shall mean 100% of the membership interests of Noble EF DLG GP LLC, a Texas limited liability company and sole general partner of EF.

 

Effectiveness Deadline ” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.01 .

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Form S-3 ” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.04 .

 

Founder Holders ” shall mean the “Holders” as defined in the Founder Registration Rights Agreement of Founder Registrable Securities.

 

Founder Registrable Securities ” shall mean the “Registrable Securities” as defined in the Founder Registration Rights Agreement

 

Founder Registration Rights Agreement ” shall mean the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of July 20, 2017, by and among the Company and the Sponsor.

 

Holders ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

LP Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Marcellus ” shall mean Noble Marcellus LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

Marcellus Interests ” shall mean 100% of the Class A limited partnership interests of Marcellus held by NRAC.

  

  - 3 -  

 

 

Marcellus GP Interests ” shall mean 100% of the membership interests of Noble Marcellus GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and sole general partner of Marcellus, held by NRAC.

 

Maximum Number of Securities ” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.02(b) .

 

Minimum Amount ” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.02(a) .

 

Misstatement ” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

 

Partnership ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Piggyback Registration ” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.03 .

 

Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Registrable Security ” shall mean (a) any shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company in a Share Settlement (as defined in the LP Agreement) in connection with (x) the redemption by the Partnership of Common Units owned by any Holder or (y) at the election of the Company, a direct exchange for Common Units owned by any Holder, in each case in accordance with the terms of the LP Agreement, and (b) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Class A Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided , however , that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

 

Registration ” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

  

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Registration Expenses ” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed;

 

(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration (including the expenses of any special audit and “comfort letters” required by or incident to such performance); and

 

(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the Demanding Holders in connection with an Underwritten Offering.

 

Registration Statement ” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

Sponsor ” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.06 .

 

Suspension Period ” shall have the meaning given in Section 3.04(a) .

 

Transactions ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Underwriter ” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Offering ” shall mean an offering in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

VickiCristina ” shall mean VickiCristina, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

VickiCristina GP Interests ” shall mean the 100% of the general partnership interests of VickiCristina, held by Hooks GP.

 

VickiCristina Interests shall mean 100% of the limited partnership interests of VickiCristina, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, held by Hooks Holdings.

  

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Article II.
REGISTRATIONS

 

Section 2.01 Registration Statement. The Company shall, as soon as practicable after the Contribution Closing Date, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the Contribution Closing Date, file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) on the terms and conditions specified in this Section 2.01 and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than the earlier of (i) sixty (60) days (or ninety (90) days if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) after the Contribution Closing Date and (ii) the tenth (10th) Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “ Effectiveness Deadline ”). The Registration Statement filed with the Commission pursuant to this Section 2.01 shall be 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, covering 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 provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement. A Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01 shall provide for the resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01 to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another registration statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities. As soon as practicable following the effective date of a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01 , but in any event within three (3) Business Days of such date, the Company shall notify the Holders of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. When effective, a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01 (including any documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which such statement is made).

  

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Section 2.02 Underwritten Offering.

 

(a) In the event that the Holders elect to dispose of Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering of all or part of such Registrable Securities that are registered by such Registration Statement and reasonably expect aggregate gross proceeds in excess of $30,000,000 (the “ Minimum Amount ”) from such Underwritten Offering, then the Company shall, upon the written demand of the Holders, as the case may be (any such Holder, a “ Demanding Holder ” and, collectively, the “ Demanding Holders ”), enter into an underwriting agreement in a form as is customary in Underwritten Offerings of equity securities with the managing Underwriter or Underwriters selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders in consultation with the Company, and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are requested by the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. In addition, the Company shall give prompt written notice to each other Holder regarding such proposed Underwritten Offering, and such notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include in the Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request. Each such Holder shall make such request in writing to the Company within five (5) business days after the receipt of any such notice from the Company, which request shall specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder. In connection with any Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Section 2.02 , the underwriting agreement into which each Demanding Holder and the Company shall enter shall contain such representations, covenants, indemnities (subject to Article IV ) and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwritten offerings of equity securities. No Demanding 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 Demanding Holder’s authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by law.

 

(b) If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering, in good faith, advises the Company and the Demanding Holders that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company or any other Holder desires to sell and the shares of Class A Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “ Maximum Number of Securities ”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows:

 

(i) first , the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

 

(ii) second , to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i) , shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and

  

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(iii) third , to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i)  and clause (ii) , shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of (x) other Holders who have elected to participate in the Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.02(a) or (y) persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons, pro rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

(c) A Demanding Holder shall have the right to withdraw all or any portion of its Registrable Securities included in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.02 for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters of its intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering and such withdrawn amount shall no longer be considered an Underwritten Offering; provided , however , that upon the withdrawal of an amount of Registrable Securities that results in the remaining amount of Registrable Securities included by the Holders, as the case may be, in such Underwritten Offering being less than the Minimum Amount, the Company shall cease all efforts to complete the Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with an Underwritten Offering prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.02(c) .

 

Section 2.03 Piggyback Registration.

 

(a) If at any time the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an Underwritten Offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof) on a form that would permit registration of Registrable Securities, other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan or (v) on Form S-4, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement , which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (in the case of an “overnight” or “bought” offering, such requests must be made by the Holders within one (1) Business Day after the delivery of any such notice by the Company) (such Registration a “ Piggyback Registration ”); provided , however , that if the Company has been advised by the managing Underwriter(s) that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Holders will have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Class A Common Stock in the Underwritten Offering, then (A) if no Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the managing Underwriter(s), the Company shall not be required to offer such opportunity to the Holders or (B) if any Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the managing Underwriter(s), then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.03(b) . Subject to Section 2.03(b) , the Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.03 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. If no written request for inclusion from a Holder is received within the specified time, each such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this Section 2.03 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

  

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(b) If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration that the dollar amount or number of shares of Class A Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Class A Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Sections 2.02 and 2.03 , and (iii) the shares of Class A Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

(i) If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A)  first , shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B)  second , to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), pro rata to (1) the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Sections 2.02 and 2.03 hereof, and (2) the Founder Registrable Securities of Founder Holders exercising their rights to register their Founder Registrable Securities pursuant to the Founder Registration Rights Agreement, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C)  third , to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), shares of Class A Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

  

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(ii) If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A)  first , shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B)  second , to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), pro rata to (1) the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Sections 2.02 and 2.03 hereof, and (2) the Founder Registrable Securities of Founder Holders exercising their rights to register their Founder Registrable Securities pursuant to the Founder Registration Rights Agreement, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C)  third , to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D)  fourth , to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

(c) Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.03 .

 

(d) For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration effected under Section 2.02 hereof.

  

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Section 2.04 Registrations on Form S-3 . The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time (“ Form S-3 ”); provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to effect such request through an Underwritten Offering. Within five (5) days of the Company’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration on Form S-3 shall so notify the Company, in writing, within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than twelve (12) days after the Company’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall register all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof if (i) a Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $30,000,000.

 

Article III.
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

Section 3.01 General Procedures. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as practicable:

 

(a) subject to Section 2.01 , prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective pursuant to the terms of this Agreement until all of such Registrable Shares have been disposed of (if earlier);

 

(b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all of such Registrable Shares have been disposed of (if earlier) in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

(c) prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and to one legal counsel selected by the Holders, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel selected by such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

  

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(d) prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

(e) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

(f) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

(g) advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

(h) at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;

 

(i) notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.04 hereof;

  

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(j) permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided , however , that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

(k) obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request;

 

(l) on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters;

 

(m) in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, on terms agreed to by the Company with the managing Underwriter of such offering;

 

(n) make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

 

(o) if any Underwritten Offering involves the disposition of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of the Minimum Amount, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in such Underwritten Offering; and

 

(p) otherwise, in good faith, take such customary actions necessary to effect the registration of such Registrable Shares contemplated hereby.

 

Section 3.02 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders and the Company that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

Section 3.03 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in the underwriting agreement for such Underwritten Offering and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement.

  

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Section 3.04 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure.

 

(a) Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed (any such period, a “ Suspension Period ”).

 

(b) If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration (including in connection with an Underwritten Offering) at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, then the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement (including in connection with an Underwritten Offering) for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose (any such period, a “ Blackout Period ”). In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.

 

(c) The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.04 . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.04 , in no event shall any Suspension Period or any Blackout Period continue for more than ninety (90) days in the aggregate during any 365-day period.

 

Section 3.05 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings (the delivery of which will be satisfied by the Company’s filing of such reports on the Commission’s EDGAR system). The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Class A Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

  

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Article IV.
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

Section 4.01 Indemnification.

 

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.

 

(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided , however , that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

  

  - 15 -  

 

 

(c) Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

(d) The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

(e) If the indemnification provided under this Section 4.01 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided , however , that the liability of any Holder under this Section 4.01(e) shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.01(a) , Section 4.01(b) and Section 4.01(c) above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.01(e) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 4.01(e) . No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 4.01(e) from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

  

  - 16 -  

 

 

Article V.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 5.01 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, or telegram. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third Business Day following the date on which it is mailed, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, telegram and hand delivery, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) and in the case of electronic mail and telecopy, when sent. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: Jeffrey Brotman, 1845 Walnut Street, 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address as set forth on the signature pages hereto. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective upon receipt of such notice as provided in this Section 5.01 .

 

Section 5.02 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

(a) This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.

 

(b) This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such Holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of Registrable Securities by any such Holder.

 

(c) This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders.

 

(d) This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and this Section 5.02 .

 

(e) No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.01 and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.02 shall be null and void.

 

Section 5.03 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including electronic PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.

  

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Section 5.04 Governing Law. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG DELAWARE RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

 

Section 5.05 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.

 

Section 5.06 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than (i) a Holder of Registrable Securities and (ii) Osprey Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Sponsor ”) which has registration rights pursuant to the Founders Registration Rights Agreement, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions among the parties and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

Section 5.07 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the date as of which no Holders (or permitted assignees under Section 5.02 ) hold any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Section 3.05 and Article IV shall survive any termination.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

  

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

 

  COMPANY:
   
  FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Jonathan Z. Cohen
    Name:  Jonathan Z. Cohen
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  HOLDERS:
   
  ROYAL RESOURCES L.P.
   
  By: Royal Resources GP L.L.C., its general partner
   
  By: /s/ Angelo Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo G. Acconcia
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

  Address: 345 Park Avenue
    New York, New York 10154
    Attn: Angelo Acconcia, Adam Jenkins

 

  NOBLE ROYALTIES ACQUISITION CO., L.P.
   
  By: Noble Royalties Acquisition Co. GP, LLC,
  its general partner
   
  By: /s/ Angelo Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo Acconcia
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
   

  Address: 345 Park Avenue
    New York, New York 10154
    Attn: Angelo Acconcia, Adam Jenkins

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  HOOKS RANCH HOLDINGS LP
   
  By: Hooks Holding Company GP, LLC,
  its general partner
   
  By: Royal Resources L.P.,
  its sole member
   
  By: Royal Resources GP L.L.C.,
  its general partner
   
  By: /s/ Angelo Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo Acconcia
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

  Address: 345 Park Avenue
    New York, New York 10154
    Attn: Angelo Acconcia, Adam Jenkins

 

  HOOKS HOLDING COMPANY GP, LLC
   
  By: Royal Resources L.P.,
  its sole member
   
  By: Royal Resources GP L.L.C.,
  its general partner
   
  By: /s/ Angelo Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo Acconcia
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
   

  Address: 345 Park Avenue
    New York, New York 10154
    Attn: Angelo Acconcia, Adam Jenkins

 

  DGK ORRI HOLDINGS, LP
   
  By: DGK ORRI GP LLC,
  its general partner
   
  By Royal Resources GP L.L.C.
  its sole member
   
  By: /s/ Angelo Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo Acconcia
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
   

  Address: 345 Park Avenue
    New York, New York 10154
    Attn: Angelo Acconcia, Adam Jenkins

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  DGK ORRI GP LLC
   
  By: Royal Resources GP L.L.C.,
  its sole member
   
  By: /s/ Angelo Acconcia
    Name:  Angelo Acconcia
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

  Address: 345 Park Avenue
    New York, New York 10154
    Attn: Angelo Acconcia, Adam Jenkins

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

 

 

 

2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

 

Article I
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan is to enhance the profitability and value of the Company for the benefit of its stockholders by enabling the Company to offer Participants cash and stock-based incentives in order to attract, retain and reward such individuals and strengthen the mutuality of interests between such individuals and the Company’s stockholders. The Plan is effective as of the date set forth in Article XVI .

 

Article II
DEFINITIONS

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

2.1 “ Affiliate means each of the following: (a) any Subsidiary; (b) any Parent; (c) any corporation, trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which is directly or indirectly controlled 50% or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) by the Company or one of its Affiliates; (d) any trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which directly or indirectly controls 50% or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) of the Company; and (e) any other entity in which the Company or any of its Affiliates has a material equity interest and which is designated as an “Affiliate” by resolution of the Committee; provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Common Stock subject to any Award constitutes “service recipient stock” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code or otherwise does not subject the Award to Section 409A of the Code.

 

2.2 “ Annual Incentive Award means a conditional right granted to a Participant under Section 11.5 hereof to receive a cash payment, Common Stock, or other Award.

 

2.3 “ Award means any award under the Plan of any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Bonus Stock, Dividend Equivalent, Performance Award, Other Stock-Based Award or Annual Incentive Award. All Awards shall be granted by, confirmed by, and subject to the terms of, a written agreement executed by the Company and the Participant.

 

2.4 “ Award Agreement means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award.

 

2.5 “ Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

 

 

 

2.6 “ Bonus Stock means Common Stock granted as a bonus pursuant to Section 11.4 hereof.

 

2.7 “ Cause means with respect to any Participant, in the absence of an employment or other service agreement between a Participant and the Company or its Affiliates (including Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP) otherwise defining Cause, (a) the continued failure to substantially perform such Participant’s Duties, which continues beyond ten (10) days after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to such Participant by the Company or its Affiliates; (b) any damage of a material nature to the business or property of any member of the Company or its Affiliates caused by such Participant’s willful or grossly negligent conduct; (c) deliberate misconduct that is reasonably likely to be materially damaging to the Company or its Affiliates; (d) the conviction of, or the plea of guilty or nolo contendere or the equivalent in respect to, any felony or a misdemeanor involving an act of dishonesty, moral turpitude, deceit or fraud by such Participant; or (e) a material breach of any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, non-disparagement or other restrictive covenant provisions relating to the Company or its Affiliates by which such Participant may be bound, including, without limitation, any such covenants contained in any Award Agreement, which breach is not cured (if capable of cure) within ten (10) days following notice of such breach provided by the Company to such Participant. In the event that there is an employment or other service agreement between such Participant and the Company or its Affiliates defining Cause, “Cause” shall have the meaning provided in such agreement, and a Termination by the Company or its Affiliates for Cause hereunder shall not be deemed to have occurred unless all applicable notice and cure periods in such agreement are complied with. With respect to a Participant’s Termination of Directorship, “cause” means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Delaware law.

 

2.8 “ Change in Control has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2 .

 

2.9 “ Change in Control Price has the meaning set forth in Section 12.1 .

 

2.10 “ Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to any section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.

 

2.11 “ Committee means any committee of the Board duly authorized by the Board to administer the Plan. If no committee is duly authorized by the Board to administer the Plan, the term “Committee” shall be deemed to refer to the Board for all purposes under the Plan.

 

2.12 “ Common Stock means the Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company.

 

2.13 “ Company means Falcon Minerals Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its successors by operation of law.

 

2.14 “ Consultant means any Person who is an advisor or consultant to the Company or its Affiliates.

 

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2.15 “ Disability means, with respect to any Participant, in the absence of an employment or other service agreement between a Participant and the Company or its Affiliates (including Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP) otherwise defining Disability or terms of similar import such as “permanent disability,” or as otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participant’s Termination, a permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. A Disability shall only be deemed to occur at the time of the determination by the Committee of the Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for Awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, Disability shall mean that a Participant is disabled under Section 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) or (ii) of the Code. In the event that there is an employment or other service agreement between such Participant and the Company or its Affiliates defining Disability or terms of similar import such as “permanent disability,” “Disability” shall have the meaning provided in such agreement.

 

2.16 “ Dividend Equivalent means a right, granted to a Participant under Section   11.4 hereof, to receive cash, Common Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Common Stock, or other periodic payments.

 

2.17 Duties ” means the duties, responsibilities and obligations of a Participant in connection with such Participant’s employment or service with the Company or its Affiliates.

 

2.18 “ Effective Date means the effective date of the Plan as defined in Article XVI .

 

2.19 “ Eligible Employees means each employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

 

2.20 “ Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Exchange Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

 

2.21 “ Fair Market Value means, for purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, as of any date and except as provided below, (a) the last sales price reported for the Common Stock on the applicable date as reported on the principal national securities exchange in the United States on which it is then traded or (b) if the Common Stock is not traded, listed or otherwise reported or quoted, the Committee shall determine in good faith the Fair Market Value in whatever manner it considers appropriate taking into account the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of the grant of any Award, the applicable date shall be the trading day immediately prior to the date on which the Award is granted. For purposes of the exercise of any Award, the applicable date shall be the date a notice of exercise is received by the Committee or, if not a day on which the applicable market is open, the next day that it is open.

 

2.22 “ Family Member means “family member” as defined in Section A.1(a)(5) of the general instructions of Form S-8.

 

2.23 “ Incentive Stock Option means any Stock Option awarded to an Eligible Employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Parents (if any) under the Plan intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

  3  

 

 

2.24 “Initial Investors” means Blackstone Management Partners, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and its Affiliates.

 

2.25 “ Lock-Up Period has the meaning set forth in Section 15.19 .

 

2.26 “ Non-Employee Director means a director or a member of the Board of the Company or any Affiliate who is not an active employee of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

2.27 “ Non-Qualified Stock Option means any Stock Option awarded under the Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.28 “ Other Stock-Based Award means an Award under Article XI of the Plan that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is payable in or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including, without limitation, an Award valued by reference to an Affiliate.

 

2.29 “ Parent means any parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

2.30 “ Participant means an Eligible Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant to whom an Award has been granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

2.31 “ Performance Award means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article X hereof contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals.

 

2.32 “ Performance Goals means goals established by the Committee as contingencies for Awards to vest and/or become exercisable or distributable.

 

2.33 “ Performance Period means the designated period during which the Performance Goals must be satisfied with respect to the Award to which the Performance Goals relate.

  

2.34 “ Person means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a government or any branch, department, agency, political subdivision or official thereof.

 

2.35 “ Plan means this Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

2.36 “ Proceeding has the meaning set forth in Section 15.8 .

 

2.37 “ Reorganization has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b)(ii) .

 

2.38 “ Restricted Stock means an Award of shares of Common Stock under the Plan that is subject to restrictions under Article VIII .

 

2.39 “ Restricted Stock Unit means a right, granted to a Participant under Article IX hereof, to receive Common Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified period (which may or may not be coterminous with the vesting schedule of the Award).

 

  4  

 

 

2.40 “ Restriction Period has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a) with respect to Restricted Stock.

 

2.41 “ Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act as then in effect or any successor provision.

 

2.42 “ Section 409A of the Code means Section 409A of the Code and any applicable treasury regulations and other official guidance thereunder.

 

2.43 “ Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Reference to a specific section of the Securities Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

 

2.44 “ Stock Appreciation Right means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Article VII to receive an amount in cash and/or stock equal to the difference between (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date such right is exercised, and (b) the per share exercise price of such right.

 

2.45 “ Stock Option or Option means any option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to Participants granted pursuant to Article VI.

 

2.46 “ Subsidiary means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

2.47 “ Substitute Award means an Award granted under the Plan in substitution for awards held by individuals who become eligible to receive an Award under the Plan as a result of a merger, consolidation, or acquisition of another entity (or the assets of another entity) by the Company or its Affiliates.

 

2.48 “ Ten Percent Stockholder means a Person owning stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Parent.

 

2.49 “ Termination means a Termination of Consultancy, Termination of Directorship or Termination of Employment, as applicable.

 

2.50 “ Termination of Consultancy means: (a) that the Consultant is no longer acting as a consultant to the Company or an Affiliate (including Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP); or (b) when an entity that is retaining a Participant as a Consultant ceases to be an Affiliate, unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, a Consultant to the Company or another Affiliate at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate. In the event that a Consultant becomes an Eligible Employee or a Non-Employee Director upon the termination of such Consultant’s consultancy, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, no Termination of Consultancy shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Consultant is no longer a Consultant, an Eligible Employee or a Non-Employee Director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may otherwise define Termination of Consultancy in the Award Agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are reduced, may otherwise define Termination of Consultancy thereafter; provided that any such change to the definition of the term “Termination of Consultancy” does not subject the applicable Award to Section 409A of the Code.

 

  5  

 

 

2.51 “ Termination of Directorship means that the Non-Employee Director has ceased to be a director of the Company or Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP, except that if a Non-Employee Director becomes an Eligible Employee or a Consultant upon the termination of such Non-Employee Director’s directorship, such Non-Employee Director’s ceasing to be a director of the Company shall not be treated as a Termination of Directorship unless and until the Participant has a Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, as the case may be.

 

2.52 “ Termination of Employment means: (a) a termination of employment (for reasons other than a military or personal leave of absence granted by the Company) of a Participant from the Company and its Affiliates (including Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP); or (b) when an entity that is employing a Participant ceases to be an Affiliate, unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, employed by the Company or another Affiliate at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate. In the event that an Eligible Employee becomes a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director upon the termination of such Eligible Employee’s employment, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, no Termination of Employment shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Eligible Employee is no longer an Eligible Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may otherwise define Termination of Employment in the Award Agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are reduced, may otherwise define Termination of Employment thereafter, provided that any such change to the definition of the term “Termination of Employment” does not subject the applicable Award to Section 409A of the Code.

 

2.53 “ Transfer means: (a) when used as a noun, any direct or indirect transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition (including the issuance of equity in any entity), whether for value or no value and whether voluntary or involuntary (including by operation of law), and (b) when used as a verb, to directly or indirectly transfer, sell, assign, pledge, encumber, charge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of (including the issuance of equity in any entity) whether for value or for no value and whether voluntarily or involuntarily (including by operation of law). “Transferred” and “Transferable” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

Article III
ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1 The Committee . The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee. To the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation, it is intended that each member of the Committee shall qualify as (a) a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3 and (b) an “independent director” under the rules of any national securities exchange or national securities association, as applicable. If it is later determined that one or more members of the Committee do not so qualify, actions taken by the Committee prior to such determination shall be valid despite such failure to qualify.

 

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3.2 Grants of Awards . The Committee shall have full authority to grant, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, to Participants: (i) Stock Options, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) Restricted Stock, (iv) Restricted Stock Units, (v) Substitute Awards, (vi) Bonus Stock, (vii) Performance Awards, (viii) Other Stock-Based Awards, (ix) Dividend Equivalents and (x) Annual Incentive Awards. In particular, the Committee shall have the authority:

 

(a) to select the eligible individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;

 

(b) to determine whether and to what extent Awards, or any combination thereof, are to be granted hereunder to one or more eligible individuals;

 

(c) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(d) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the exercise or purchase price (if any), any restriction or limitation, any vesting schedule or acceleration thereof or any forfeiture restrictions or waiver thereof, regarding any Award and the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion);

 

(e) to determine the amount of cash to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(f) to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants of Awards under the Plan are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in conjunction with or apart from other awards made by the Company outside of the Plan;

 

(g) to determine whether and under what circumstances a Stock Option may be settled in cash, Common Stock and/or Restricted Stock;

 

(h) to determine whether a Stock Option is an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option;

 

(i) to determine whether to require a Participant, as a condition of the granting of any Award, to not sell or otherwise dispose of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Award for a period of time as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, following the date of the acquisition of such Award;

 

(j) to modify, extend or renew an Award, subject to Article XIII and Section   6.4(l); provided , however , that such action does not subject the Award to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant; and

 

(k) solely to the extent permitted by applicable law, to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances to provide loans (which may be on a recourse basis and shall bear interest at the rate the Committee shall provide) to Participants in order to exercise Options under the Plan.

 

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3.3 Guidelines . Subject to Article XIII hereof, the Committee shall have the authority to (a) adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan or the exercise of rights granted under the Plan or an Award and (b) perform all acts, including the delegation of its responsibilities (to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable stock exchange rules), as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any agreements relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any agreement relating thereto in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to effectuate the purpose and intent of the Plan. The Committee may adopt special guidelines and provisions for Persons who are residing in or employed in, or subject to, the taxes of, any domestic or foreign jurisdictions to comply with applicable tax and securities laws of such domestic or foreign jurisdictions. To the extent applicable, the Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 and the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in a manner so as to comply therewith.

 

3.4 Decisions Final . Any decision, interpretation or other action made or taken in good faith by or at the direction of the Company, the Board or the Committee (or any of its members) arising out of or in connection with the Plan shall be within the absolute discretion of all and each of them, as the case may be, and shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and all employees and Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

3.5 Procedures . If the Committee is appointed, the Board shall designate one of the members of the Committee as chairman and the Committee shall hold meetings, subject to the By-Laws of the Company, at such times and places as it shall deem advisable, including, without limitation, by telephone conference or by written consent to the extent permitted by applicable law. A majority of the Committee members shall constitute a quorum. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the Committee members in accordance with the By-Laws of the Company, shall be fully effective as if it had been made by a vote at a meeting duly called and held. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.

 

3.6 Designation of Consultants/Liability .

 

(a) The Committee may designate employees of the Company and professional advisors to assist the Committee in the administration of the Plan and (to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable exchange rules) may grant authority to officers to grant Awards and/or execute agreements or other documents on behalf of the Committee. In the event of any designation of authority hereunder, subject to applicable law, applicable stock exchange rules and any limitations imposed by the Committee in connection with such designation, such designee or designees shall have the power and authority to take such actions, exercise such powers and make such determinations that are otherwise specifically designated to the Committee hereunder.

 

(b) The Committee may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such consultant or agent. Expenses incurred by the Committee or the Board in the engagement of any such counsel, consultant or agent shall be paid by the Company. The Committee, its members and any Person designated pursuant to Section 3.6(a) shall not be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, no officer of the Company or member or former member of the Committee or of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under it.

 

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3.7 Indemnification . To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company and to the extent not covered by insurance directly insuring such Person, each officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliate and member or former member of the Committee or the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or expense (including reasonable fees of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Committee) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee), and advanced amounts necessary to pay the foregoing at the earliest time and to the fullest extent permitted, arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the administration of the Plan, except to the extent arising out of such officer’s, employee’s, member’s or former member’s own fraud or bad faith. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any right of indemnification the employees, officers, directors or members or former officers, directors or members may have under applicable law or under the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or any Affiliate. Notwithstanding anything else herein, this indemnification will not apply to the actions or determinations made by an individual with regard to Awards granted to such individual under the Plan.

 

Article IV
SHARE LIMITATION

 

4.1 Shares . (a) The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed 8,600,000 shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2 ), which may be either authorized and unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company or both (the Share Reserve ). The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan shall be equal to the Share Reserve. With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights and Options settled in Common Stock, upon settlement, only the number of shares of Common Stock delivered to a Participant shall count against the Share Reserve. If any Award granted under the Plan expires, is forfeited, terminates or is canceled for any reason without having been exercised or settled in full, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the applicable portion of the Award shall again be available for the purpose of Awards under the Plan. If any shares of Common Stock are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations on an Award issued under the Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock withheld shall again be available for purposes of Awards under the Plan. Shares used to settle a Substitute Award shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available in the Share Reserve.

 

(b) Annual Non-Employee Director Award Limitation . The aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all Awards granted under the Plan to any individual Non-Employee Director in any fiscal year of the Company (excluding Awards made pursuant to deferred compensation arrangements in lieu of all or a portion of cash retainers and any stock dividends payable in respect of outstanding Awards) shall not exceed $300,000.

 

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4.2 Changes .

 

(a) The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board, the Committee or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) any issuance of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock, (iv) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (v) any sale or transfer of all or part of the assets or business of the Company or any Affiliate or (vi) any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 12.1 :

 

(i) If the Company at any time subdivides (by any split, recapitalization or otherwise) the outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, or combines (by reverse split, combination or otherwise) its outstanding Common Stock into a lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then the respective exercise prices for outstanding Awards that provide for a Participant elected exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Awards and the aggregate number or kind of securities that thereafter may be issued under the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.

 

(ii) Excepting transactions covered by Section 4.2(b)(i) , if the Company effects any merger, consolidation, statutory exchange, spin-off, reorganization, sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company’s assets or business, or other corporate transaction or event in such a manner that the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock are converted into the right to receive (or the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive in exchange therefor), either immediately or upon liquidation of the Company, securities or other property of the Company or other entity (each, a Reorganization ), then, subject to the provisions of Section 12.1 , (A) the aggregate number or kind of securities that thereafter may be issued under the Plan, (B) the number or kind of securities or other property (including cash) to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan (including as a result of the assumption of the Plan and the obligations hereunder by a successor entity, as applicable), and (C) the purchase price thereof, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.

 

(iii) If there shall occur any change in the capital structure of the Company other than those covered by Section 4.2(b)(i) or 4.2(b)(ii) , including by reason of any extraordinary dividend (whether cash or equity), any conversion, any adjustment, any issuance of any class of securities convertible or exercisable into, or exercisable for, any class of equity securities of the Company, then the Committee shall adjust any Award and make such other adjustments to the Plan to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.

 

(iv) Any such adjustment determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section 4.2(b) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and all Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns. Any adjustment to, or assumption or substitution of, an Award under this Section 4.2(b) shall be intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation § 1.424-1 (and any amendments thereto), to the extent applicable. Except as expressly provided in this Section 4.2 or in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall have no additional rights under the Plan by reason of any transaction or event described in this Section 4.2 .

 

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(v) Fractional shares of Common Stock resulting from any adjustment in Awards pursuant to Section 4.2(a) or this Section 4.2(b) shall be aggregated until, and eliminated at, the time of exercise or payment by rounding-down for fractions less than one-half and rounding-up for fractions equal to or greater than one-half. No cash settlements shall be required with respect to fractional shares eliminated by rounding. Notice of any adjustment shall be given by the Committee to each Participant whose Award has been adjusted and such adjustment (whether or not such notice is given) shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.

 

4.3 Minimum Purchase Price . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if authorized but previously unissued shares of Common Stock are issued under the Plan, such shares shall not be issued for a consideration that is less than as permitted under applicable law.

 

Article V
ELIGIBILITY

 

5.1 General Eligibility . All current and prospective Participants are eligible to be granted Awards. Eligibility for the grant of Awards and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

5.2 Incentive Stock Options . Notwithstanding the foregoing, only Eligible Employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Parent (if any) are eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Eligibility for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

5.3 General Requirement . The vesting and exercise of Awards granted to a prospective Participant are conditioned upon such individual actually becoming an Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director, respectively.

 

Article VI
STOCK OPTIONS

 

6.1 Options . Stock Options may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Each Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be of one of two types: (a) an Incentive Stock Option or (b) a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

6.2 Grants . The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any Eligible Employee one or more Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options. The Committee shall have the authority to grant any Consultant or Non-Employee Director one or more Non-Qualified Stock Options. To the extent that any Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (whether because of its provisions or the time or manner of its exercise or otherwise), such Stock Option or the portion thereof which does not so qualify shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

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6.3 Incentive Stock Options . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be so exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code.

 

6.4 Terms of Options . Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

 

(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant; provided that the per share exercise price of a Stock Option shall not be less than 100% (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, 110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the date of grant.

 

(b) Stock Option Term . The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee; provided that no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than 10 years after the date the Option is granted; and provided , further , that the term of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder shall not exceed five years.

 

(c) Exercisability . Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.4 , Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that such Stock Option is exercisable only in installments or within certain time periods), the Committee may waive such limitations on the exercisability at any time at or after the time of grant in whole or in part (including, without limitation, waiver of the installment exercise provisions or acceleration of the time at which such Stock Option may be exercised), based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.

 

(d) Method of Exercise . Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under Section 6.4(c) , to the extent vested, Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Option term, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price as follows: (i) in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company; (ii) solely to the extent permitted by applicable law, if the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange, and the Committee authorizes, through a procedure whereby the Participant delivers irrevocable instructions to a broker reasonably acceptable to the Committee to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the purchase price; (iii) having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Stock Option, or by payment in full or in part in the form of Common Stock owned by the Participant, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the payment date as determined by the Committee; or (iv) on such other terms and conditions as may be acceptable to the Committee. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued until payment therefor has been made or provided for in accordance with this Section 6.4(d) .

 

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(e) Non-Transferability of Options . No Stock Option shall be Transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant or thereafter that a Non-Qualified Stock Option that is otherwise not Transferable pursuant to this Section is Transferable to a Family Member in whole or in part and in such circumstances, and under such conditions, as specified by the Committee; provided that, the transferor remains liable for all obligations under the Plan related to such Transferred Stock Options and any Award Agreement in respect of such Transferred Stock Options; and provided , further , that the transferor retains rights of notice with respect to such Transferred Stock Option, as applicable. A Non-Qualified Stock Option that is Transferred to a Family Member pursuant to the preceding sentence (i) may not be subsequently Transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) remains subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Any shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option by a permissible transferee of a Non-Qualified Stock Option or a permissible transferee pursuant to a Transfer after the exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(f) Termination by Death or Disability . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination is by reason of death or Disability, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination may be exercised by the Participant (or in the case of the Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the Participant’s estate) at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options; provided , however , that, in the event of a Participant’s Termination by reason of Disability, if the Participant dies within such exercise period, all unexercised Stock Options held by such Participant shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which they were exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one (1) year from the date of such death, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

 

(g) Involuntary Termination Without Cause . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination is by involuntary termination by the Company without Cause, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

 

(h) Voluntary Resignation . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination is voluntary (other than a voluntary termination described in Section 6.4(i)(y) hereof), all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

 

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(i) Termination for Cause . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination (x) is for Cause or (y) is a voluntary Termination (as provided in Section 6.4(h)) after the occurrence of an event that would be grounds for a Termination for Cause, all Stock Options, whether vested or not vested, that are held by such Participant shall thereupon terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.

 

(j) Unvested Stock Options . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, Stock Options that are not vested as of the date of a Participant’s Termination for any reason shall terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.

 

(k) Incentive Stock Option Limitations . To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Eligible Employee during any calendar year under the Plan and/or any other stock option plan of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Parent exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. In addition, if an Eligible Employee does not remain employed by the Company, any Subsidiary or any Parent at all times from the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted until three months prior to the date of exercise thereof (or such other period as required by applicable law), such Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Should any provision of the Plan not be necessary in order for the Stock Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, or should any additional provisions be required, the Committee may amend the Plan accordingly, without the necessity of obtaining the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

 

(l) Form, Modification, Extension and Renewal of Stock Options . Subject to the terms and conditions and within the limitations of the Plan, Stock Options shall be evidenced by such form of agreement or grant as is approved by the Committee, and the Committee may (i) modify, extend or renew outstanding Stock Options granted under the Plan; provided that the rights of a Participant are not reduced without such Participant’s consent; and provided , further , that such action does not subject the Stock Options to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant; and (ii) accept the surrender of outstanding Stock Options (to the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Stock Options in substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an outstanding Option may not be modified to reduce the exercise price thereof nor may a new Option at a lower price be substituted for a surrendered Option (other than adjustments or substitutions in accordance with Section 4.2 ), unless such action is approved by the stockholders of the Company.

 

(m) Deferred Delivery of Common Stock . The Committee may in its discretion permit Participants to defer delivery of Common Stock acquired pursuant to a Participant’s exercise of an Option in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, which shall be intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

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(n) Early Exercise . The Committee may provide that a Stock Option include a provision whereby the Participant may elect at any time before the Participant’s Termination to exercise the Stock Option as to any part or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option prior to the full vesting of the Stock Option and such shares shall be subject to the provisions of Article VIII and be treated as Restricted Stock. Unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Committee determines to be appropriate.

 

(o) Other Terms and Conditions . The Committee may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Option if the Participant has failed to exercise the Non-Qualified Stock Option as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Non-Qualified Stock Option exceeds the exercise price of such Non-Qualified Stock Option on the date of expiration of such Option, subject to Section 15.4 . Stock Options may contain such other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

 

Article VII
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

7.1 Stock Appreciation Rights . Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan.

 

7.2 Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights . Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, and the following:

 

(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant; provided that the per share exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.

 

(b) Term . The term of each Stock Appreciation Right shall be fixed by the Committee, but shall not be greater than 10 years after the date the right is granted.

 

(c) Exercisability . Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.2 , Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that any such right is exercisable subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that it is exercisable only in installments or within certain time periods), the Committee may waive such limitations on the exercisability at any time at or after grant in whole or in part (including, without limitation, waiver of the installment exercise provisions or acceleration of the time at which such right may be exercised), based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.

 

(d) Method of Exercise . Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under Section 7.2(c) , Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised in whole or in part at any time in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of Stock Appreciation Rights to be exercised.

 

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(e) Payment . Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant shall be entitled to receive, for each right exercised, up to, but no more than, an amount in cash and/or Common Stock (as chosen by the Committee in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date that the right is exercised over the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date that the right was awarded to the Participant.

 

(f) Termination . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, subject to the provisions of the applicable Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason, Stock Appreciation Rights will remain exercisable following a Participant’s Termination on the same basis as Stock Options would be exercisable following a Participant’s Termination in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.4(f) through 6.4(j) .

 

(g) Non-Transferability . No Stock Appreciation Rights shall be Transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all such rights shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant.

 

7.3 Other Terms and Conditions . The Committee may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Stock Appreciation Right if the Participant has failed to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the exercise price of such Stock Appreciation Right on the date of expiration of such Stock Appreciation Right, subject to Section 15.4 . Stock Appreciation Rights may contain such other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

 

Article VIII
RESTRICTED STOCK

 

8.1 Awards of Restricted Stock . Shares of Restricted Stock may be issued either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the Participants, to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock shall be made, the number of shares to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid by the Participant (subject to Section 8.2 ), the time or times within which such Awards may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the Awards. The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of specified performance targets (including the Performance Goals) or such other factor as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.

 

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8.2 Awards and Certificates . Participants selected to receive Restricted Stock shall not have any right with respect to such Award, unless and until such Participant has delivered a fully executed copy of the agreement evidencing the Award to the Company, to the extent required by the Committee, and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award. Further, such Award shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(a) Purchase Price . The purchase price of Restricted Stock shall be fixed by the Committee. Subject to Section 4.3, the purchase price for shares of Restricted Stock may be zero to the extent permitted by applicable law, and, to the extent not so permitted, such purchase price may not be less than par value.

 

(b) Acceptance . Awards of Restricted Stock must be accepted within a period of 60 days (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify at grant) after the grant date, by executing a Restricted Stock Award Agreement and by paying whatever price (if any) the Committee has designated thereunder.

 

(c) Legend . Each Participant receiving Restricted Stock shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock, unless the Committee elects to use another system, such as book entries by the transfer agent, as evidencing ownership of shares of Restricted Stock. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant, and shall, in addition to such legends required by applicable securities laws, bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award, substantially in the following form:

 

“The anticipation, alienation, attachment, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge of the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the Falcon Minerals Corporation (the “Company”) 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and an Agreement entered into between the registered owner and the Company dated [___]. Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company.”

 

(d) Custody . If stock certificates are issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require that any stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any grant of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a duly signed stock power or other instruments of assignment (including a power of attorney), each endorsed in blank with a guarantee of signature if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company, which would permit transfer to the Company of all or a portion of the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award in the event that such Award is forfeited in whole or part.

 

8.3 Restrictions and Conditions . The shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions:

 

(a) Restriction Period . (i) The Participant shall not be permitted to Transfer shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan during the period or periods set by the Committee (the Restriction Period ) commencing on the date of such Award, as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement and such agreement shall set forth a vesting schedule and any event that would accelerate vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock. Within these limits, based on service, attainment of Performance Goals pursuant to Section 8.3(a)(ii) and/or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, the Committee may condition the grant or provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments in whole or in part, or may accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Restricted Stock Award and/or waive the deferral limitations for all or any part of any Restricted Stock Award.

 

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(ii) If the grant of shares of Restricted Stock or the lapse of restrictions is based on the attainment of Performance Goals, the Committee shall establish the objective Performance Goals and the applicable vesting percentage of the Restricted Stock applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable fiscal year or at such later date as otherwise determined by the Committee and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances.

 

(b) Rights as a Stockholder . Except as provided in Section 8.3(a) and this Section   8.3(b) or as otherwise determined by the Committee in an Award Agreement, the Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, the right to vote such shares and, subject to and conditioned upon the full vesting of shares of Restricted Stock, the right to tender such shares. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine at the time of grant that the payment of dividends shall be deferred until, and conditioned upon, the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period.

 

(c) Termination . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason during the relevant Restriction Period, all Restricted Stock still subject to restriction will be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant or thereafter.

 

(d) Lapse of Restrictions . If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock, the certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant. All legends shall be removed from said certificates at the time of delivery to the Participant, except as otherwise required by applicable law or other limitations imposed by the Committee.

 

Article IX
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

9.1 Restricted Stock Units . The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to Participants, subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Award and Restrictions . Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier specified times (including, without limitation, based on achievement of one or more Performance Goals and/or future service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine.

 

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(b) Dividend Equivalents . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at date of grant, Dividend Equivalents on the specified number of shares of Common Stock covered by an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be either (i) paid with respect to such Restricted Stock Units on the dividend payment date in cash or in shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (ii) deferred with respect to such Restricted Stock Units and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Stock Units.

 

(c) Settlement . Settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units shall occur upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Restricted Stock Units by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant). Settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall be made by delivery of (i) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units for which settlement is due, (ii) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Common Stock covered by such Restricted Stock Units, or (iii) a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.

 

Article X
PERFORMANCE AWARDS

 

10.1 Performance Awards . The Committee may grant a Performance Award to a Participant payable upon the attainment of specific Performance Goals. If the Performance Award is payable in shares of Common Stock, such shares shall be transferable to the Participant upon attainment of the relevant Performance Goal in accordance with Article VIII . If the Performance Award is payable in cash, it will be paid upon the attainment of the relevant Performance Goals in cash or, to the extent provided in an Award Agreement, in shares of Common Stock or Restricted Stock (based on the then current Fair Market Value of such shares). Each Performance Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in such form that is not inconsistent with the Plan and that the Committee may from time to time approve.

 

10.2 Terms and Conditions . Performance Awards awarded pursuant to this Article X shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Earning of Performance Award . At the expiration of the applicable Performance Period, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the Performance Goals are achieved and the percentage of each Performance Award that has been earned.

 

(b) Non-Transferability . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, Performance Awards may not be Transferred during the Performance Period.

 

(c) Dividends . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, amounts equal to dividends declared during the Performance Period with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock covered by a Performance Award will not be paid to the Participant.

 

(d) Payment . Following the Committee’s determination in accordance with Section 10.2(a) , the Company shall settle Performance Awards, in such form (including, without limitation, in shares of Common Stock or in cash) as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to such Participant’s earned Performance Awards.

 

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(e) Termination . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason during the Performance Period for a given Performance Award, the Performance Award in question will vest or be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant.

 

(f) Accelerated Vesting . Based on service, performance and/or such other factors or criteria, if any, as the Committee may determine, the Committee may, at or after grant, accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Performance Award.

 

Article XI
OTHER AWARDS

 

11.1 Other Stock-Based Awards . The Committee is authorized to grant to Participants Other Stock-Based Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of Common Stock, including, but not limited to, shares of Common Stock awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, shares of Common Stock in payment of the amounts due under an incentive or performance plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or an Affiliate, stock equivalent units and Awards valued by reference to book value of shares of Common Stock. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan.

 

11.2 Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to determine the Participants, to whom, and the time or times at which, such Awards shall be made, the number of shares of Common Stock to be awarded pursuant to such Awards and all other conditions of the Awards. The Committee may also provide for the grant of Common Stock under such Awards upon the completion of a specified Performance Period. The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Other Stock-Based Awards upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion. Such Performance Goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances.

 

11.3 Terms and Conditions . Other Stock-Based Awards made pursuant to this Article XI shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Non-Transferability . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, shares of Common Stock subject to Awards made under this Article XI may not be Transferred prior to the date on which the shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period lapses.

 

(b) Dividends . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of Award, subject to the provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, the recipient of an Award under this Article XI shall not be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, dividends or dividend equivalents in respect of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Award.

 

(c) Vesting . Any Award under this Article XI and any Common Stock covered by any such Award shall vest or be forfeited to the extent so provided in the Award Agreement, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

 

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(d) Price . Common Stock issued on a bonus basis under this Article XI may be issued for no cash consideration. Common Stock purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded under this Article XI shall be priced, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

11.4 Bonus Stock . The Committee is authorized to grant Common Stock as a bonus, or to grant Common Stock or other Awards in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements; provided that, in the case of Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Common Stock or other Awards are exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Common Stock or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee.

 

11.5 Dividend Equivalents . The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to a Participant, entitling the Participant to receive cash, Common Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Common Stock or other periodic payments. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award other than an Award of Restricted Stock). The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Common Stock, Awards or other investment vehicles, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify.

 

11.6 Annual Incentive Awards . The Committee is authorized to grant Annual Incentive Awards under the Plan.

 

(a) Potential Annual Incentive Awards . The Committee shall determine the Participants who will potentially receive Annual Incentive Awards, and the amounts potentially payable thereunder, for that fiscal year, either out of an Annual Incentive Award pool established by such date under Section 11.5(b) hereof or as individual Annual Incentive Awards. The amount potentially payable, with respect to Annual Incentive Awards, shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Article X hereof in the given performance year, as specified by the Committee, in accordance with Section 11.5(b) hereof.

 

(b) Annual Incentive Award Pool . The Committee may establish an Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring performance of the Company in connection with Annual Incentive Awards. The amount of such Annual Incentive Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a Performance Goal or Performance Goals during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Article X hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Annual Incentive Award pool as a percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business criteria.

 

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(c) Payout of Annual Incentive Awards . After the end of each applicable performance period, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of (i) the Annual Incentive Award pool, and the maximum amount of the potential Annual Incentive Award payable to each Participant in the Annual Incentive Award pool, or (ii) the amount of the Annual Incentive Award payable to each Participant. To the extent provided in an Award Agreement, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the amount payable to any Participant as a final Annual Incentive Award shall be reduced from the amount of his or her potential Annual Incentive Award, including a determination to make no final Award whatsoever. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which an Annual Incentive Award shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of employment by the Participant prior to the end of the applicable year or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award.

 

11.7 Substitute Awards; No Re-Pricing . Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution for similar awards held by individuals who become Participants as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of another entity or the assets of another entity by or with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company. Such Substitute Awards referred to in the immediately preceding sentence that are Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may have an exercise price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of the substitution. Except as provided in this Section 11.6 or in Article XII , the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price or grant price of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or to cancel outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price or grant price that is less than the exercise price or grant price of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

 

Article XII
CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS

 

12.1 Benefits . In the event of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below), and except as otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement, a Participant’s unvested Award shall not vest automatically and a Participant’s Award shall be treated in accordance with one or more of the following methods as determined by the Committee:

 

(a) Awards, whether or not then vested, shall be continued, assumed, or have new rights substituted therefor, as determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and restrictions to which shares of Restricted Stock or any other Award granted prior to the Change in Control are subject shall not lapse upon a Change in Control and the Restricted Stock or other Award shall, where appropriate in the sole discretion of the Committee, receive the same distribution as other Common Stock on such terms as determined by the Committee; provided that the Committee may decide to award additional Restricted Stock or other Awards in lieu of any cash distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, any assumed or substituted Stock Option shall comply with the requirements of Treasury Regulation § 1.424-1.

 

(b) The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the purchase of any Awards by the Company or an Affiliate for an amount of cash equal to the excess (if any) of the Change in Control Price (as defined below) of the shares of Common Stock covered by such Awards, over the aggregate exercise price of such Awards. For purposes hereof, Change in Control Price shall mean the highest price per share of Common Stock paid in any transaction related to a Change in Control of the Company.

 

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(c) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate all outstanding and unexercised Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or any Other Stock-Based Award that provides for a Participant elected exercise, effective as of the date of the Change in Control, by delivering notice of termination to each Participant at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of consummation of the Change in Control, in which case during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Change in Control, each such Participant shall have the right to exercise in full all of such Participant’s Awards that are then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Award Agreements), but any such exercise shall be contingent on the occurrence of the Change in Control; provided that, if the Change in Control does not take place within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the notice and exercise pursuant thereto shall be null and void.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting or lapse of restrictions, of an Award at any time.

 

12.2 Change in Control . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement with a Participant approved by the Committee, a Change in Control shall mean the first (and only the first) to occur of the following:

 

(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act of direct or indirect beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the Outstanding Company Voting Securities ); provided , however , that the following acquisitions (collectively, the Excluded Acquisitions ) shall not constitute a Change in Control (it being understood that shares acquired in an Excluded Acquisition may nevertheless be considered in determining whether any subsequent acquisition by such individual, entity or group (other than an Excluded Acquisition) constitutes a Change in Control): (i) any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) any acquisition by an underwriter temporarily holding Company securities pursuant to an offering of such securities; or (iv) any acquisition in connection with a Business Combination (as hereinafter defined) which, pursuant to subparagraph (c) below, does not constitute a Change in Control;

 

(b) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the Incumbent Board ) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however , that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, entity or group other than the Board;

 

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(c) consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other business combination (any of the foregoing, a Business Combination ) of the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company with any entity, in any case unless:

 

(i) the Outstanding Company Voting Securities outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination, immediately following such Business Combination, continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being converted into voting securities of the resulting or surviving entity or any ultimate parent thereof) two-thirds or more of the outstanding common stock and of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company (or its successor) or any ultimate parent thereof;

 

(ii) after such Business Combination, no Person has direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than 50% of either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the ultimate parent company of the company surviving such Business Combination or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the ultimate parent company of the company surviving such Business Combination; and

 

(iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company (or its successor) or any ultimate parent thereof in such Business Combination consists of individuals ( Continuing Directors ) who were members of the Incumbent Board immediately prior to consummation of such Business Combination (excluding from Continuing Directors for this purpose, however, any individual whose election or appointment to the Board was at the request, directly or indirectly, of the entity which entered into the definitive agreement with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company providing for such Business Combination);

 

(d) consummation of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or other disposition, at least two-thirds of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities; or

 

(e) shareholder approval of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

The term “the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company” shall mean a sale or other disposition transaction or series of related transactions involving assets of the Company or of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company (including the stock of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company) in which the value of the assets or stock being sold or otherwise disposed of (as measured by the purchase price being paid therefore or by such other method as the Board determines is appropriate in a case where there is no readily ascertainable purchase price) constitutes more than two-thirds of the fair market value of the Company (as hereinafter defined). The “fair market value of the Company” shall be the aggregate market value of the then Outstanding Company Voting Securities (on a fully diluted basis) plus the aggregate market value of the Company’s other outstanding equity securities. The aggregate market value of the shares of Outstanding Company Voting Securities shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Outstanding Company Voting Securities (on a fully diluted basis) outstanding on the date of the execution and delivery of a definitive agreement with respect to the transaction or series of related transactions (the Transaction Date ) by the average closing price of the shares of Outstanding Company Voting Securities for the ten trading days immediately preceding the Transaction Date. The aggregate market value of any other equity securities of the Company shall be determined in a manner similar to that prescribed in the immediately preceding sentence for determining the aggregate market value of the shares of Outstanding Company Voting Securities or by such other method as the Board shall determine is appropriate.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award that is characterized as “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under the Plan for purposes of payment of such Award unless such event is also a “change in ownership,” a “change in effective control” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

Article XIII
TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board may at any time, and from time to time, amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan (including any amendment deemed necessary to ensure that the Company may comply with any regulatory requirement referred to in Article XV or Section 409A of the Code), or suspend or terminate it entirely, retroactively or otherwise; provided , however , that, unless otherwise required by law or specifically provided herein, the rights of a Participant with respect to Awards granted prior to such amendment, suspension or termination, may not be impaired without the consent of such Participant; and provided , further , that without the approval of the holders of the Company’s Common Stock entitled to vote in accordance with applicable law, no amendment may be made that would (a) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of Section 4.2 ); (b) change the classification of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan; (c) decrease the minimum option price of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (d) extend the maximum option period under Section 6.4 ; (e) award any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right in replacement of a canceled Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right with a higher exercise price than the replacement award; or (f) require stockholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code to the extent applicable to Incentive Stock Options. In no event may the Plan be amended without the approval of the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Delaware to increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan, decrease the minimum exercise price of any Award, or to make any other amendment that would require stockholder approval under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and regulations or the rules of any exchange or system on which the Company’s securities are listed or traded at the request of the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or any Award Agreement at any time without a Participant’s consent to comply with applicable law including Section 409A of the Code. The Committee may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Article IV or as otherwise specifically provided herein, no such amendment or other action by the Committee shall impair the rights of any holder without the holder’s consent.

 

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Article XIV
UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN

 

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payment as to which a Participant has a fixed and vested interest but which are not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any right that is greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

Article XV
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

15.1 Legend . The Committee may require each Person receiving shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Option or other Award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Participant is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof. In addition to any legend required by the Plan, the certificates for such shares may include any legend that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on Transfer. All certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed or any national securities exchange system upon whose system the Common Stock is then quoted, any applicable federal or state securities law, and any applicable corporate law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

15.2 Other Plans . Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

15.3 No Right to Employment/Directorship/Consultancy . Neither the Plan nor the grant of any Option or other Award hereunder shall give any Participant or other employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director any right with respect to continuance of employment, consultancy or directorship by the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall there be a limitation in any way on the right of the Company or any Affiliate by which an employee is employed or a Consultant or Non-Employee Director is retained to terminate such employment, consultancy or directorship at any time.

 

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15.4 Withholding of Taxes . The Company, or an Affiliate, as applicable, shall have the right to deduct from any payment to be made pursuant to the Plan, or to otherwise require, prior to the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock or the payment of any cash hereunder, payment by the Participant of, any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld. Upon the vesting of Restricted Stock (or other Award that is taxable upon vesting), or upon making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, a Participant shall pay all required withholding to the Company. Any minimum statutorily required withholding obligation with regard to any Participant may be satisfied, subject to the consent of the Committee, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable or by delivering shares of Common Stock already owned. Furthermore, at the discretion of the Committee, any additional tax obligations of a Participant with respect to an Award may be satisfied by further reducing the number of shares of Common Stock, otherwise deliverable with respect to such Award, to the extent that such reductions do not result in any adverse accounting implications to the Company, as determined by the Committee. Any fraction of a share of Common Stock required to satisfy any such tax obligations shall be disregarded and the amount due shall be paid instead in cash by the Participant.

 

15.5 No Assignment of Benefits . No Award or other benefit payable under the Plan shall, except as otherwise specifically provided by law or permitted by the Committee, be Transferable in any manner, and any attempt to Transfer any such benefit shall be void, and any such benefit shall not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any Person who shall be entitled to such benefit, nor shall it be subject to attachment or legal process for or against such Person.

 

15.6 Listing and Other Conditions .

 

(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, as long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or system sponsored by a national securities association, the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be conditioned upon such shares being listed on such exchange or system. The Company shall have no obligation to issue such shares unless and until such shares are so listed, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award with respect to such shares shall be suspended until such listing has been effected.

 

(b) If at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the opinion that any sale or delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Option or other Award is or may in the circumstances be unlawful under the statutes, rules or regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act or otherwise, with respect to shares of Common Stock or Awards, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award shall be suspended until, in the opinion of said counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company.

 

(c) Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section 15.6 , any Award affected by such suspension that shall not then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all shares available before such suspension and as to shares which would otherwise have become available during the period of such suspension, but no such suspension shall extend the term of any Award.

 

15.7 Governing Law . The Plan and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable Delaware principles of conflict of laws).

 

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15.8 Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to the Plan or any Award Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in respect of any thereof, shall be resolved only in the courts of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts. In that context, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and each Participant shall irrevocably and unconditionally (a) submit in any proceeding relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement, or for the recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof (a “ Proceeding ”), to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware, the court of the United States of America for the District of Delaware, and appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals from any of the foregoing, and agree that all claims in respect of any such Proceeding shall be heard and determined in such Delaware State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court, (b) consent that any such Proceeding may and shall be brought in such courts and waives any objection that the Company and each Participant may now or thereafter have to the venue or jurisdiction of any such Proceeding in any such court or that such Proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agree not to plead or claim the same, (c) waive all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement, (d) agree that service of process in any such Proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy of such process by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party, in the case, of a Participant, at the Participant’s address shown in the books and records of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at the Company’s principal offices, attention General Counsel, and (e) agree that nothing in the Plan shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

15.9 Construction . Wherever any words are used in the Plan in the masculine gender they shall be construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever words are used herein in the singular form they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.

 

15.10 Other Benefits . No Award granted or paid out under the Plan shall be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its Affiliates nor affect any benefit under any other benefit plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation.

 

15.11 Costs . The Company shall bear all expenses associated with administering the Plan, including expenses of issuing Common Stock pursuant to Awards hereunder.

 

15.12 No Right to Same Benefits . The provisions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant, and such Awards to individual Participants need not be the same in subsequent years.

 

15.13 Death; Disability . The Committee may in its discretion require the transferee of a Participant to supply it with written notice of the Participant’s death or Disability and to supply it with a copy of the will (in the case of the Participant’s death) or such other evidence as the Committee deems necessary to establish the validity of the transfer of an Award. The Committee may also require that the agreement of the transferee to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

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15.14 Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act . All elections and transactions under the Plan by Persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act involving shares of Common Stock are intended to comply with any applicable exemptive condition under Rule 16b-3. The Committee may establish and adopt written administrative guidelines, designed to facilitate compliance with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as it may deem necessary or proper for the administration and operation of the Plan and the transaction of business thereunder.

 

15.15 Section 409A of the Code . The Plan is intended to be exempt from, or comply with, the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including proposed, temporary or final regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any provision in the Plan that is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to be amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and to the extent such provision cannot be amended to comply therewith, such provision shall be null and void. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee or the Company and, in the event that any amount or benefit under the Plan becomes subject to penalties under Section 409A of the Code, responsibility for payment of such penalties shall rest solely with the affected Participants and not with the Company. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) that are otherwise required to be made under the Plan to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) as a result of such employee’s separation from service (other than a payment that is not subject to Section 409A of the Code) shall be delayed for the first six (6) months following such separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee) and shall instead be paid (in a manner set forth in the Award Agreement) upon expiration of such delay period.

 

15.16 Successor and Assigns . The Plan shall be binding on all successors and permitted assigns of a Participant, including, without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate.

 

15.17 Severability of Provisions . If any provision of the Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

 

15.18 Payments to Minors, Etc . Any benefit payable to or for the benefit of a minor, an incompetent Person or other Person incapable of receipt thereof shall be deemed paid when paid to such Person’s guardian or to the party providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the care of such Person, and such payment shall fully discharge the Committee, the Board, the Company, its Affiliates and their employees, agents and representatives with respect thereto.

 

  29  

 

 

15.19 Lock-Up Agreement . As a condition to the grant of an Award, if requested by the Company , a Participant shall irrevocably agree not to sell, contract to sell, grant any option to purchase, transfer the economic risk of ownership in, make any short sale of, pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any interest in any Common Stock or any securities convertible into, derivative of, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any other rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock (except Common Stock included in a public offering or acquired on the public market after such offering) during such period of time that the the Company shall specify (the Lock-Up Period ); provided , however , that such Lock-Up Period shall not exceed or be greater than any Lock-Up Period imposed upon on Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP, any Initial Investor or any Affiliate of The Blackstone Group L.P. that holds Common Stock, with respect to such Common Stock or pursuant to any related arrangement. The Participant shall further agree to sign such documents as may be requested by the Company to effect the foregoing and agree that the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Award until the end of such Lock-Up Period. Notwithstanding Section 15.4 , during any Lock-Up Period with respect to a Participant, such Participant may elect to satisfy any tax withholding obligations that arise by requiring the Company to reduce the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable.

 

15.20 Headings and Captions . The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.

 

15.21 Company Recoupment of Awards . A Participant’s rights with respect to any Award hereunder shall in all events be subject to (a) any right that the Company may have under any Company recoupment policy or other agreement or arrangement with a Participant, or (b) any right or obligation that the Company may have regarding the clawback of “incentive-based compensation” under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Article XVI
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall become effective on August 23, 2018, which is the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to the approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Article XVII
TERM OF PLAN

 

No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the date that the Plan is adopted or the date of stockholder approval, but Awards granted prior to such tenth anniversary may extend beyond that date.

 

Article XVIII
NAME OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall be known as the “Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan.”

 

 

30

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

  

 

 

 

 

 



CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of August 23, 2018

 

among

 

FALCON MINERALS OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, LP
as the Borrower,

 

The Several Lenders
from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

 

and

 

Citibank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent,
Swingline Lender and an Issuing Bank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ,
as Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

  

 

 

 

Table of Contents

  

    Page
SECTION 1. Definitions. 1
1.1 Defined Terms. 1
1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions 58
1.3 Accounting Terms 59
1.4 Rounding 60
1.5 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc 60
1.6 Times of Day 60
1.7 Timing of Payment or Performance 60
1.8 Currency Equivalents Generally 60
1.9 Classification of Loans and Borrowings 61
1.10 Hedging Requirements Generally 61
1.11 Certain Determinations 61
1.12 Pro Forma and Other Calculations 61
SECTION 2. Amount and Terms of Credit 63
2.1 Commitments 63
2.2 Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings 64
2.3 Notice of Borrowing 65
2.4 Disbursement of Funds 66
2.5 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt 66
2.6 Conversions and Continuations 67
2.7 Pro Rata Borrowings 68
2.8 Interest 68
2.9 Interest Periods 69
2.10 Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc 70
2.11 Compensation 71
2.12 Change of Lending Office 72
2.13 Notice of Certain Costs 72
2.14 Borrowing Base 72

  

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
2.15 Defaulting Lenders 76
2.16 Increase of Total Commitment 78
2.17 Extension Offers 79
SECTION 3. Letters of Credit 80
3.1 Letters of Credit 80
3.2 Letter of Credit Applications 81
3.3 Letter of Credit Participations 82
3.4 Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings 84
3.5 New or Successor Issuing Bank 85
3.6 Role of Issuing Bank 86
3.7 Cash Collateral 86
3.8 Applicability of ISP and UCP 87
3.9 Conflict with Issuer Documents 87
3.10 Letters of Credit Issued for Restricted Subsidiaries 87
3.11 Increased Costs 87
3.12 Independence 88
SECTION 4. Fees; Commitments. 88
4.1 Fees 88
4.2 Voluntary Reduction of Commitments 89
4.3 Mandatory Termination of Commitments 90
SECTION 5. Payments. 90
5.1 Voluntary Prepayments 90
5.2 Mandatory Prepayments 91
5.3 Method and Place of Payment 93
5.4 Net Payments 93
5.5 Computations of Interest and Fees 97
5.6 Limit on Rate of Interest 97
SECTION 6. Conditions Precedent to Initial Borrowing. 97
SECTION 7. Conditions Precedent to All Subsequent Credit Events. 101
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements 102
8.1 Existence, Qualification and Power 102

  

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
8.2 Corporate Power and Authority; Enforceability; Binding Effect 102
8.3 No Violation 102
8.4 Litigation 102
8.5 Margin Regulations 103
8.6 Governmental Authorization 103
8.7 Investment Company Act 103
8.8 True and Complete Disclosure 103
8.9 Tax Matters 103
8.10 Compliance with ERISA 104
8.11 Subsidiaries 104
8.12 Intellectual Property 104
8.13 Environmental Laws 104
8.14 Properties 105
8.15 Solvency 105
8.16 Security Documents 105
8.17 Gas Imbalances, Prepayments 106
8.18 Marketing of Production 106
8.19 Financial Statements 106
8.20 OFAC; USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA 106
8.21 Hedge Agreements 107
8.22 [Reserved] 107
8.23 No Default 107
8.24 Insurance 107
SECTION 9. Affirmative Covenants 107
9.1 Information Covenants 107
9.2 Books, Records and Inspections 110
9.3 Maintenance of Insurance 111
9.4 Payment of Taxes 111
9.5 Preservation of Existence, Etc 112
9.6 Compliance with Requirements of Law 112
9.7 [Reserved] 112
9.8 Maintenance of Properties 112
9.9 Transactions with Affiliates 112

  

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
9.10 Compliance with Environmental Laws 116
9.11 Additional Guarantors, Grantors and Collateral 116
9.12 Use of Proceeds 117
9.13 Further Assurances 117
9.14 Reserve Reports 119
9.15 Change in Business 120
9.16 Title Information 120
9.17 Deposit Account, Securities Account and Commodity Account Control Agreements 121
9.18 Minimum Hedged Volumes 121
9.19 Post-Closing Covenants 122
SECTION 10. Negative Covenants. 122
10.1 Limitation on Indebtedness 122
10.2 Limitation on Liens 127
10.3 Limitation on Fundamental Changes 131
10.4 Limitation on Sale of Assets 133
10.5 Limitation on Investments 135
10.6 Limitation on Restricted Payments 139
10.7 Limitations on Debt Payments and Amendments 143
10.8 Negative Pledge Agreements 144
10.9 Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions 146
10.10 Hedge Agreements 148
10.11 Financial Covenants 149
10.12 Accounting Changes 149
10.13 Foreign Operations 149
SECTION 11. Events of Default 150
11.1 Payments 150
11.2 Representations, Etc 150
11.3 Covenants 150
11.4 Default Under Other Agreements 150
11.5 Bankruptcy, Etc 151
11.6 ERISA 151
11.7 Guarantee 151

  

 

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
11.8 Security Documents 151
11.9 Judgments 152
11.10 Change of Control 152
11.11 Intercreditor Agreements 152
11.12 Application of Proceeds 152
11.13 Equity Cure 154
SECTION 12. The Agents 155
12.1 Appointment 155
12.2 Delegation of Duties 156
12.3 Exculpatory Provisions 156
12.4 Reliance by Agents 157
12.5 Notice of Default 157
12.6 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Other Lenders 157
12.7 Indemnification 158
12.8 Agents in Its Individual Capacities 159
12.9 Successor Agents 159
12.10 Withholding Tax 160
12.11 Security Documents and Collateral Agent under Security Documents and Guarantee 160
12.12 Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee 161
12.13 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim 161
12.14 Certain ERISA Matters 162
SECTION 13. Miscellaneous. 163
13.1 Amendments, Waivers and Releases 163
13.2 Notices 165
13.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies 166
13.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties 166
13.5 Payment of Expenses; Indemnification 166
13.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments 168

  

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
13.7 Replacements of Lenders under Certain Circumstances 173
13.8 Adjustments; Set-off 174
13.9 Counterparts 175
13.10 Severability 175
13.11 Integration 175
13.12 GOVERNING LAW 176
13.13 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers 176
13.14 Acknowledgments 177
13.15 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL 177
13.16 Confidentiality 178
13.17 Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations 179
13.18 USA PATRIOT Act 180
13.19 Payments Set Aside 180
13.20 Reinstatement 181
13.21 Disposition of Proceeds 181
13.22 Collateral Matters; Hedge Agreements 181
13.23 Agency of the Borrower for the Other Credit Parties 181
13.24 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions 182

 

EXHIBITS  
   
Exhibit A Form of Reserve Report Certificate
Exhibit B Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit C Form of Guarantee
Exhibit D Form of Mortgage/Deed of Trust
Exhibit E Form of Collateral Agreement
Exhibit F Form of Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit G Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit H-1 Form of Promissory Note (Loan)
Exhibit H-2 Form of Promissory Note (Swingline Loan)
Exhibit I Form of First Lien Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit J Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit K Form of Non-Bank Tax Certificate
Exhibit L Form of Intercompany Note

  

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

SCHEDULES    
     
Schedule 1.1(a) Commitments  
Schedule 1.1(b) Excluded Equity Interests  
Schedule 1.1(e) Closing Date Subsidiary Guarantors  
Schedule 1.1(f) Unrestricted Subsidiaries  
Schedule 8.4 Litigation  
Schedule 8.10(a) Closing Date ERISA Matters  
Schedule 8.11 Subsidiaries  
Schedule 8.14 Properties  
Schedule 8.17 Closing Date Gas Imbalance  
Schedule 8.18 Closing Date Marketing Agreements  
Schedule 8.21 Closing Date Hedge Agreements  
Schedule 9.9 Closing Date Affiliate Transactions  
Schedule 9.19 Post-Closing Covenants  
Schedule 10.1 Closing Date Indebtedness  
Schedule 10.2(d) Closing Date Liens  
Schedule 10.5(d) Closing Date Investments  
Schedule 10.8 Closing Date Negative Pledge Agreements  
Schedule 13.2 Notice Addresses  

  

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 23, 2018, among Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the banks, financial institutions and other lending institutions from time to time parties as lenders hereto (each a “ Lender ” and, collectively, the “ Lenders ”), Citibank, N.A. (“ Citibank ”), as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Lenders, as the swing line lender and an issuer of Letters of Credit, and each other Issuing Bank from time to time party hereto.

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2018 (together with all exhibits and schedules thereto, and as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Contribution Agreement ”), among (i) Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ PubCo ”), (ii) Royal Resources L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and Royal Resources GP, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, “ Royal ”), and (iii) Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Hooks Ranch Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership and DGK ORRI Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (collectively with PubCo and Royal, the “ Contributors ”), PubCo will acquire (the “ Acquisition ”) from the Contributors, and PubCo will contribute to the Borrower, all of the Contributors’ right, title and interest in the equity interests of entities holding certain oil and gas properties, rights and related assets (collectively, the “ Acquired Assets ”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, (a) the Borrower has requested that (i) on the Closing Date, the Lenders provide Loans to the Borrower (the “ Closing Date Loans ”) in order to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition, pay Transaction Expenses, to fund any original issue discount or upfront fees in connection with the “market flex” provisions previously agreed with the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner and to finance working capital needs and other general corporate purposes and (ii) at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date and prior to the Maturity Date, the Lenders provide Loans to the Borrower subject to the Available Commitment, (b) the Borrower has requested that at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date and prior to the L/C Maturity Date, each Issuing Bank issue Letters of Credit (subject to the Available Commitment) and (c) the Borrower has requested that the Swingline Lender extend credit in the form of Swingline Loans (subject to the Available Commitment) at any time and from time to time prior to the Swingline Maturity Date, in each case subject to Section 9.12 ;

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks are willing to make available to the Borrower such revolving credit, swingline and letter of credit facilities upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and

 

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

 

SECTION 1. Definitions.

 

1.1 Defined Terms .

 

As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

 

ABR ” shall mean for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus ½ of 1.0%, (b) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (c) the LIBOR Rate for a one-month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.0%, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the LIBOR Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or such LIBOR Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or such LIBOR Rate, respectively; provided further that, that if ABR shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

  1  

 

 

ABR Loan ” shall mean each Loan bearing interest based on the ABR.

 

Acquired Assets ” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Acquired EBITDAX ” shall mean, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDAX of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDAX were references to such Acquired Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or to such Converted Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries), as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.

 

Acquired Entity or Business ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDAX”.

 

Acquisition ” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Additional Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.16(a) .

 

Adjusted Total Commitment ” shall mean, at any time, the Total Commitment less the aggregate amount of Commitments of all Defaulting Lenders.

 

Administrative Agent ” shall mean Citibank, as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, or any successor administrative agent appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.9 .

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” shall mean the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 13.2 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify in writing to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” shall mean, for each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in a form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

 

AFTAP ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.10(c) .

   

  2  

 

 

Agents ” shall mean the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

 

Agent-Related Party ” shall mean, with respect to any Agent, its Affiliates and the officers, directors, employees, agents, attorney-in-fact, partners, trustees and advisors of such Agent and of such Agent’s Affiliates.

 

Agreement ” shall mean this Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

All-In Yield ” shall mean, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, original issue discount, upfront fees, or any LIBOR Rate or ABR floor, in each case, incurred or payable by the Credit Parties generally to all the lenders of such Indebtedness; provided that (a) original issue discount and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a 4-year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of its incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness), and (b) “All-In Yield” shall not include amendment fees, arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees and similar fees (regardless of whether shared with, or paid to, in whole or in part, any or all lenders), success fees, consent fees paid to consenting lenders, ticking fees on undrawn commitments or any other fees not paid ratably to all lenders in the primary syndication of such Indebtedness.

 

Applicable Equity Amount ” shall mean, at any time (the “ Applicable Equity Amount Reference Time ”), an amount equal to, without duplication,

 

(a) the amount of any capital contributions made in cash to, or any cash proceeds of an equity issuance received by, the Borrower during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Applicable Equity Amount Reference Time, in each case including cash proceeds from the issuance of Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, but excluding all proceeds from the issuance of Disqualified Stock;

 

minus

 

(b) the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(i) the aggregate amount of any Investments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 10.5(g)(iii)(B) and Section 10.5(i)(B) after the Closing Date, and prior to the Applicable Equity Amount Reference Time;

 

(ii) the aggregate amount of any Restricted Payments made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.6(m) after the Closing Date, and prior to the Applicable Equity Amount Reference Time; and

 

(iii) the aggregate amount of prepayments, repurchases, redemptions and defeasances made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 10.7(a)(iv) after the Closing Date and prior to the Applicable Equity Amount Reference Time.

 

Applicable Equity Amount Reference Time ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Applicable Equity Amount.”

  

  3  

 

 

Applicable Margin ” shall mean, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or LIBOR Loan, as the case may be, the rate per annum set forth in the grid below based upon the Borrowing Base Utilization Percentage in effect on such day:

 

Borrowing Base Utilization Grid
Borrowing Base Utilization Percentage X < 25% 25% ≤ X<  50% 50% ≤ X <  75% 75% ≤ X<  90% X ≥ 90%
LIBOR Loans 2.00% 2.25% 2.50% 2.75% 3.00%
ABR Loans 1.00% 1.25% 1.50% 1.75% 2.00%
Commitment Fee Rate 0.375% 0.375% 0.50% 0.50% 0.50%

  

Each change in the Commitment Fee Rate or Applicable Margin shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

Approved Bank ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Permitted Investments”.

 

Approved Counterparty ” shall mean any Person (other than a Hedge Bank) whose long term senior unsecured debt rating is A-/A3 by S&P or Moody’s (or their equivalent) or higher at the time of entering into any Hedge Agreement; provided that such Person shall have entered into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (including by means of a customary joinder to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement); and provided further that the Hedging Obligations owed to all Persons constituting Approved Counterparties in respect of Secured Hedge Agreements shall not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

Approved Petroleum Engineers ” shall mean (a) Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., (b) Ryder Scott Company, L.P., (c) W. D. Von Gonten & Co. Petroleum Engineering, (d) DeGolyer and MacNaughton, (e) LaRoche Petroleum Consultants, Ltd., (f) Cawley Gillespie & Associates and (g) at the Borrower’s option, any other independent petroleum engineers selected by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Assignment and Assumption ” shall mean an assignment and acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit G or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Assignment Taxes ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Other Taxes”.

 

Attorney Costs ” shall mean all reasonable and documented fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel.

 

Authorized Officer ” shall mean as to any Person, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Controller, the Treasurer, the Assistant or Vice Treasurer, the Vice President-Finance, the General Counsel and any manager, managing member or general partner, in each case, of such Person, and any other senior officer designated as such in writing to the Administrative Agent by such Person. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by an Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower or any other Credit Party and such Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.

   

  4  

 

 

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(b) .

 

Available Commitment ” shall mean, at any time, (a) the Loan Limit at such time minus (b) the aggregate Total Exposures of all Lenders at such time.

 

Bail-In Action ” shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” shall mean, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Bank Price Deck ” shall mean the Administrative Agent’s most recent internal price deck on a forward curve basis for each of oil, natural gas and other Hydrocarbons, as applicable, furnished to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

Bankruptcy Code ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.5 .

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification ” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation ” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Benefited Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.8(a) .

 

Benefit Plan ” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

 

Board ” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America (or any successor).

 

Board of Directors ” shall mean, as to any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person, or if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors or other governing body of such entity.

 

Borrower ” shall have the meaning provided in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrowing ” shall mean the incurrence of one Type of Loan on a given date (or resulting from conversions on a given date) having, in the case of LIBOR Loans, the same Interest Period ( provided that ABR Loans incurred pursuant to Section 2.10(b) shall be considered part of any related Borrowing of LIBOR Loans).

  

  5  

 

 

Borrowing Base ” shall mean, at any time, an amount determined in accordance with Section 2.14 , as may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14(e) , (f) and (h) , as applicable. As of the Closing Date, the Borrowing Base shall be $115,000,000.

 

Borrowing Base Deficiency ” occurs if, at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate Total Exposure of all Lenders and (ii) the aggregate amount of Pari Debt outstanding at such time (without giving effect to any payments applied to reduce such Pari Debt unless the Administrative Agent is notified of such reduction in Pari Debt at the time of the next Scheduled Redetermination or Interim Redetermination) exceeds the Borrowing Base then in effect. The amount of the Borrowing Base Deficiency is the amount by which (x) the sum of (i) the aggregate Total Exposure of all Lenders and (ii) the aggregate amount of Pari Debt outstanding at such time (without giving effect to any payments applied to reduce such Pari Debt unless the Administrative Agent is notified of such reduction in Pari Debt at the time of the next Scheduled Redetermination or Interim Redetermination) exceeds (y) the Borrowing Base then in effect.

 

Borrowing Base Properties ” shall mean the Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties included in the Initial Reserve Report and thereafter in the Reserve Report most recently delivered pursuant to Section 2.14 or Section 9.14 .

 

Borrowing Base Reduction Debt ” shall mean (i) Permitted Additional Debt issued or incurred in accordance with Section 10.1(q), and (ii) any Indebtedness incurred under Section 10.1(k) in compliance with subclause (B)(I) of the proviso thereto.

 

Borrowing Base Utilization Percentage ” shall mean, as of any day, the fraction expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the sum of (i) the aggregate Total Exposures of all Lenders on such day and (ii) the aggregate amount of Pari Debt outstanding at such time (without giving effect to any payments applied to reduce such Pari Debt unless the Administrative Agent is notified of such reduction in Pari Debt at the time of the next Scheduled Redetermination or Interim Redetermination), and the denominator of which is the Borrowing Base in effect on such day.

 

Borrowing Base Value ” shall mean, with respect to any Oil and Gas Property of a Credit Party or any Hedge Agreement in respect of commodities, the PV-9 value in the case of any Oil and Gas Property or the Swap PV in the case of any Hedge Agreement the Administrative Agent attributed to such Oil and Gas Property or Hedge Agreement, as applicable.

 

Budget ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.1(g) .

 

Business Day ” shall mean any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any other day on which banking institutions in New York City or Houston, Texas are authorized by law or other governmental actions to close, and, if such day relates to (a) any interest rate settings as to a LIBOR Loan, (b) any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such LIBOR Loan, or (c) any other dealings pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such LIBOR Loan, such day shall be a day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

  

  6  

 

 

Capitalized Lease ” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is, or is required to be, accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP; provided , further , that for purposes of calculations made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, GAAP will be deemed to treat leases in a manner consistent with its current treatment under generally accepted accounting principles as of the Closing Date, notwithstanding any modifications or interpretative changes thereto that may occur. For the avoidance of doubt, any lease that would be characterized as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP on the Closing Date (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Capitalized Lease) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any change in GAAP following the Closing Date that would otherwise require such lease to be re-characterized (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) as a Capitalized Lease.

 

Capitalized Software Expenditures ” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of licensed or purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Captive Insurance Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).

 

Cash Collateralize ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.7(b) .

 

Cash Management Agreement ” shall mean any agreement entered into from time to time by the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with cash management services for collections, other Cash Management Services and for operating, payroll and trust accounts of such Person, including automatic clearing house services, controlled disbursement services, electronic funds transfer services, lockbox services, stop payment services and wire transfer services.

 

Cash Management Bank ” shall mean any Person that either (i) at the time it provides Cash Management Services, (ii) on the Closing Date or (iii) at any time after it has provided any Cash Management Services, is a Lender or an Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Agent.

 

Cash Management Obligations ” shall mean obligations owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Cash Management Bank in connection with, or in respect of, any Cash Management Services.

 

Cash Management Services ” shall mean (a) commercial credit cards, merchant card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card e-payables services, (b) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services) and (c) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships or other cash management services, including any Cash Management Agreement.

 

Casualty Event ” shall mean, with respect to any Collateral, (a) any damage to, destruction of, or other casualty or loss involving, any property or asset or (b) any seizure, condemnation, confiscation or taking under the power of eminent domain of, or any requisition of title or use of, or relating to, or any similar event in respect of, any property or asset.

 

CFC ” shall mean a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

  

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Change in Law ” shall mean (a) the adoption of any law, treaty, order, policy, rule or regulation after the Closing Date, (b) any change in any law, treaty, order, policy, rule or regulation or in the interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the Closing Date or (c) compliance by any Lender with any guideline, request, directive or order enacted or promulgated after the Closing Date by any central bank or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law); provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Basel Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (or any successor or similar authority) and all guidelines, requests, directives, orders, rules and regulations adopted, enacted or promulgated in connection therewith shall be deemed to have gone into effect after the Closing Date regardless of the date adopted, enacted or promulgated and shall be included as a Change in Law but solely for such costs that would have been included if they would have otherwise been imposed under clauses (a)(ii) and (c) of Section 2.10 or Section 3.11 and only to the extent a Lender is imposing applicable increased costs or costs in connection with capital adequacy requirements similar to those described in clauses (a)(ii) and (c) of Section 2.10 or Section 3.11 generally on other borrowers of comparable loans under United States reserve based credit facilities under credit agreements having similar reimbursement provisions.

 

Change of Control ” shall mean and be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(a) any person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the Closing Date), other than (i) any combination of the Investors and the Permitted Holders or (ii) any “group” including any Permitted Holders (provided that Permitted Holders beneficially own more than 50% of all voting interests beneficially owned by such “group”), shall have acquired beneficial ownership of more than 50%, on a fully diluted basis, of the voting interest in the Borrower’s Equity Interests; or

 

(b) a “ change of control ” (or similar event) shall occur under any Indebtedness for borrowed money permitted under ‎ Section 10.1 with an outstanding principal amount in excess of $30,000,000 or any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any of the foregoing with an outstanding principal amount in excess of $30,000,000.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding or any provision of Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, (i) a Person or group shall not be deemed to beneficially own Equity Interests subject to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of the Equity Interests in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement, (ii) if any group includes one or more Permitted Holders, the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower owned, directly or indirectly, by any Permitted Holders that are part of such group shall not be treated as being beneficially owned by such group or any other member of such group for purposes of determining whether a Change of Control has occurred and (iii) a Person or group will not be deemed to beneficially own the Equity Interests of another Person as a result of its ownership of the Equity Interests or other securities of such other Person’s parent entity (or related contractual rights) unless it owns 50% or more of the total voting power of the Equity Interests entitled to vote for the election of directors of such parent entity having a majority of the aggregate votes on the board of directors (or similar body) of such parent entity.

 

Citibank ” shall have the meaning provided in the introductory paragraph hereto.

   

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Class ” shall mean (i) with respect to Commitments or Loans, those of such Commitments or Loans that have the same terms and conditions (without regard to differences in the Type of Loan, Interest Period, original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees paid or payable in connection with such Commitments or Loans, or differences in tax treatment (e.g., “fungibility”)); provided that such Commitments or Loans may be designated in writing by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and Lenders holding such Commitments or Loans as a separate Class from other Commitments or Loans that have the same terms and conditions and (ii) with respect to Lenders, those of such Lenders that have Commitments or Loans of a particular Class.

 

Closing Date ” shall mean August 23, 2018.

 

Closing Date Financials ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 6(i) .

 

Closing Date Loans ” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

Collateral ” shall have the meaning provided for such term in each of the Security Documents and shall include any and all assets securing or intended to secure any or all of the Obligations; provided that with respect to any Mortgages, “Collateral,” as defined herein, shall include “Deed of Trust Property” as defined therein.

 

Collateral Agent ” shall mean Citibank, as collateral agent under the Security Documents, or any successor collateral agent appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.9 .

 

Collateral Agreement ” shall mean the Collateral Agreement of even date herewith by and among the Borrower, the other grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto.

 

Collateral Coverage Minimum ” shall mean that the Mortgaged Properties shall represent (a) from the date that is thirty (30) days following the Closing Date up to the date that is sixty (60) days following the Closing Date, at least 50% of the PV-9 of the Credit Parties’ total Proved Reserves and (b) from the date that is sixty (60) days following the Closing Date and thereafter, at least 85% of the PV-9 of the Credit Parties’ total Proved Reserves, in each case, included either in the Initial Reserve Report or in the most recent Reserve Report delivered to the Administrative Agent; provided that such timelines set forth in clauses (a) and/or (b) above may be extended with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

Commitment ” shall mean, (a) with respect to each Lender that is a Lender on the Closing Date, the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(a) as such Lender’s “Commitment” and (b) in the case of any Lender that becomes a Lender after the Closing Date, the amount specified as such Lender’s “Commitment” in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender assumed a portion of the Total Commitment, in each case as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Commitments as of the Closing Date is $500,000,000.

 

Commitment Fee ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(a) .

 

Commitment Fee Rate ” shall mean, for any day, with respect to the Available Commitment on such day, the applicable rate per annum set forth next to the row heading “Commitment Fee Rate” in the definition of “Applicable Margin” and based upon the Borrowing Base Utilization Percentage in effect on such day.

  

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Commitment Percentage ” shall mean, at any time, for each Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) such Lender’s Commitment at such time by (b) the amount of the Total Commitment at such time; provided that at any time when the Total Commitment shall have been terminated, each Lender’s Commitment Percentage shall be the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Total Exposure at such time by (ii) the aggregate Total Exposures of all Lenders at such time (with such Total Exposure, and the components thereof, calculated using (x) any applicable Lender’s outstanding principal amount of Loans plus (y) such Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure and such Lender’s Swingline Exposure based on the Commitment Percentage of such Lender immediately prior to the termination of the Total Commitment).

 

Commodity Account ” shall mean any commodity account maintained by the Credit Parties. All funds in such Commodity Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) shall be conclusively presumed to be Collateral and proceeds of Collateral and the Agents and the Lenders shall have no duty to inquire as to the source of the amounts on deposit in the Commodity Accounts.

 

Commodity Account Control Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.17 .

 

Commodity Exchange Act ” shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Confidential Information ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.16 .

 

Consolidated Current Assets ” shall mean, as at any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, plus the Available Commitment, but excluding any asset representing a valuation account arising from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 410 and Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815.

 

Consolidated Current Liabilities ” shall mean, as at any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, but excluding, without duplication, (a) any liabilities representing a valuation account arising from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 410 and Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, (b) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes or any amounts payable as tax distributions, (c) the current portion of any Loans and other long-term liabilities (including, without limitation, Hedging Obligations), (d) the current portion of interest, (e) liabilities in respect of unpaid earnouts and accrued litigation settlement costs, (f) current liabilities consisting of deferred revenue, (g) any non-cash liabilities recorded in connection with stock-based or similar incentive-based compensation awards or arrangements, and (h) any non-cash liabilities recorded in connection with the assumption of gathering or firm transportation contracts under Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 805.

  

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Consolidated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense ” shall mean, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, and commissions, fees and expenses and amortization of Capitalized Software Expenditures and amortization of unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses to pensions and other post-employment benefits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated EBITDAX ” shall mean, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period:

 

(a) increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case (other than in the case of clauses (a)(vii) and (a)(viii) ) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

(i) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital gains, including, without limitation, federal, state, franchise, excise, property and similar taxes (such as the Delaware franchise tax) and foreign withholding taxes (including (i) any future taxes or other levies which replace or are intended to be in lieu of such taxes and any penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations and (ii) the amount of distributions actually made to any Parent Entity in respect of such period in accordance with Sections 10.6(f)(i) and 10.6(f)(ii) ) and the net tax expense associated with any adjustments made pursuant to clauses (a) through (u) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income, plus

 

(ii) Fixed Charges for such period (in addition to, without duplication, (x) bank fees and other deferred financing fees and (y) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities), plus amounts excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense as set forth in clauses (i)(s) through (z) in the definition of Consolidated Interest Expense, plus

 

(iii) Consolidated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense for such period, plus

 

(iv) any other non-cash charges, including any write-offs or write-downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period ( provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (1) the Borrower may determine not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period and (2) to the extent the Borrower does decide to add back such non-cash charge in the current period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDAX to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period), plus

 

(v) the amount of any reductions in arriving at Net Income resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 810, Consolidation, plus

 

(vi) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, transaction, advisory and other fees (including termination fees) and indemnities and expenses paid or accrued in such period to the extent permitted under clause (g) or (j) of Section 9.9 , plus

  

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(vii) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and savings from synergies (x) related to the Transactions projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions that have been taken, or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower), within thirty-six (36) months after the Closing Date, (y) related to mergers and other business combinations, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, cost savings initiatives and other similar initiatives consummated after the Closing Date and projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions that have been taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken, or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) within thirty-six (36) months after consummation of such merger or other business combination, acquisition, divestiture, restructuring or cost savings initiative or other similar initiative that have been taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower), and projected by the Borrower in good faith to result within thirty-six (36) months after such actions are taken, in each case, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, and savings from synergies had been realized on the first day of such period, as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and savings from synergies were realized during the entirety of such period, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (A) such “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and savings from synergies are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable in the good faith judgment of the Borrower and (B) no cost savings, operating expense reductions and savings from synergies shall be added pursuant to this clause (vii) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDAX, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for such period, plus

 

(viii) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDAX or Consolidated Net Income in any period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDAX pursuant to paragraph (b) below for any previous period and not added back, plus

 

(ix) any costs or expenses incurred pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan, agreement or any stock subscription or stockholders agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of such Person or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of such Person (other than Disqualified Stock), plus

 

(x) any net loss from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations, plus

 

(xi) (A) costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions and (B) costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Investments, acquisitions (or purchases of assets) after the Closing Date, plus

  

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(xii) the amount of any restructuring charges or reserves, equity-based or non-cash compensation charges or expenses including any such charges or expenses arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights, retention charges (including charges or expenses in respect of incentive plans), severance costs, costs relating to initiatives aimed at profitability improvement, costs or reserves associated with improvements to IT and accounting functions and integration and facilities opening costs or any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions and investments; plus

 

(xiii) the amount of any non-cash interest expense of non-wholly owned Subsidiaries attributable to minority equity interests of third parties; plus

 

(xiv) the amount of net cost savings and net cash flow effect of revenue enhancements related to New Contracts projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken or to be taken prior to or during such period (which cost savings or revenue enhancements shall be subject to certification by management of the Borrower and shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings or revenue enhancements had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (A) such cost savings or revenue enhancements are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable, (B) such actions have been taken or are to be taken within 12 months after the date of determination to take such action and (C) no cost savings or revenue enhancements shall be added pursuant to this clause (xiv) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings or revenue enhancements that are included in clause (xii) above with respect to such period; plus

 

(xv) exploration expenses or costs (to the extent the Borrower adopts the successful efforts method of accounting); and

 

(b) decreased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

(i) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period, excluding any non-cash gains that represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for any anticipated cash charges in any prior period (other than any such accrual or reserve that has been added back to Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBITDAX in accordance with this definition), plus

 

(ii) any net income from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations, plus

 

(iii) any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period unless such cash did not increase Consolidated EBITDAX in such prior period.

  

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There shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDAX for any period, without duplication, (A) the Acquired EBITDAX of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDAX of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired), to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not subsequently so disposed of, an “ Acquired Entity or Business ”) and the Acquired EBITDAX of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “ Converted Restricted Subsidiary ”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDAX of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (B) for the purposes of the definition of the term “Permitted Acquisition”, compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 10.11 and the calculation of the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, but without limiting the adjustments included in the definition of Consolidated EBITDAX, an adjustment in respect of each Acquired Entity or Business equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) as specified in a certificate executed by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent. There shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDAX for any period the Disposed EBITDAX of any Person, property, business or asset (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of or, closed or classified as discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued due to the fact that they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “ Sold Entity or Business ”) and the Disposed EBITDAX of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each a “ Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary ”), based on the actual Disposed EBITDAX of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition).

 

Consolidated EBITDAX shall be calculated for each four-fiscal quarter period using the Consolidated EBITDAX for the four most recently ended fiscal quarters. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of determining Consolidated EBITDAX under this Agreement for any period that includes any of the fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2017, December 31, 2017, March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018, Consolidated EBITDAX for such fiscal quarters shall be $10,033,276, $13,295,345, $16,454,419 and $24,912,000, respectively, in each case, as may be subject to add-backs and adjustments (without duplication) pursuant to clause (a)(vii) above and Section 1.12(c) for the applicable Test Period.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated EBITDAX shall be calculated, including Pro Forma Adjustments, in accordance with Section 1.12 .

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” shall mean, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:

 

(i) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income ( including (a) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (b) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (c) non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of obligations under any Capitalized Lease, and (e) net payments, if any, made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Hedge Agreements with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (s) costs associated with obtaining Hedge Agreements and breakage costs in respect of Hedge Agreements related to interest rates, (t) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or any acquisition, (u) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (v)  any “additional interest” or “liquidated damages” with respect to other securities for failure to timely comply with registration rights obligations, (w) amortization or expensing of deferred financing fees, amendment and consent fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and discounted liabilities, (x) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and any other fees related to the Transactions or any acquisitions after the Closing Date, (y) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities and any prepayment premium or penalty (other than Indebtedness except to the extent arising from the application of purchase or recapitalization accounting) and (z) annual agency fees paid to the administrative agents and collateral agents under any credit facilities or other debt instruments or document); plus

  

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(ii) consolidated capitalized interest of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; less

 

(iii) interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

 

For purposes of this definition, interest on obligations in respect of Capitalized Leases shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such obligations in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” shall mean, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , however , that, without duplication:

 

(a) any net after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains, losses, charges or expenses or losses, charges or expenses relating to any strategic initiatives (including relating to any multi-year strategic initiatives), Transaction Expenses, restructuring costs and reserves, duplicative running costs, relocation costs, integration costs, expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets, Public Company Costs, facility consolidation and closing costs, severance costs and expenses, one-time compensation charges, costs relating to pre-opening, opening, closing and consolidation costs for facilities, signing, retention or completion bonuses, executive recruiting and retention costs, costs incurred in connection with any strategic initiatives, transition costs, costs incurred in connection with non-ordinary course product and intellectual property development, costs incurred in connection with acquisitions (or purchases of assets) prior to or after the Closing Date (including integration costs), other business optimization expenses (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs, tax savings and optimization initiatives, and new systems design, retention charges, system establishment costs (including information technology systems) and implementation costs and project start-up costs), operating expenses attributable to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives, consulting fees and curtailments and modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded;

 

(b) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period whether effected through a cumulative effect adjustment or a retroactive application, in each case in accordance with GAAP, shall be excluded;

  

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(c) any net after-tax effect of gains or losses on disposal, abandonment (including asset retirement costs) or discontinuance of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations, as applicable, shall be excluded provided that any exclusion for the discontinuance of discontinued operations held for sale shall be at the option of the Borrower pending the consummation of such sale;

 

(d) any net after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees, expenses and charges relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments or the sale or other disposition of any Equity Interests of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business, shall be excluded;

 

(e) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of any Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash or cash equivalents (or to the extent converted into cash or cash equivalents) to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

 

(f) [reserved];

 

(g) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in such Person’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP (including any impact of changes to inventory valuation policy method (including changes in capitalization of variances), property and equipment, software, goodwill, intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items thereof) resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition, joint venture or similar investment permitted under this Agreement consummated on, prior to or after the Closing Date or the amortization or write-off or write-down of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

 

(h) any net after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment or conversion of (a) Indebtedness, (b) Hedge Agreements or (c) other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

 

(i) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down in each case, pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP or SEC guidelines, and any impairment charges, asset write-offs or write-down, including ceiling test write-downs, on Oil and Gas Properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines shall be excluded;

 

(j) any non-cash equity or phantom equity based or non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from grants of stock appreciation rights, equity incentive programs or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, profits interests or other rights or equity or equity-based incentive programs (“equity incentives”), any cash charges associated with equity incentives or other long-term incentive compensation plans, roll-over, acceleration, or payout of Equity Interests by management, other employees or business partners of such Person or of a Restricted Subsidiary or any of its direct or indirect parent companies, shall be excluded;

  

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(k) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, recapitalization, Investment, Disposition or other transfer, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expenses or charges related to the syndication and incurrence of any securities or credit facilities), issuance of Equity Interests (including by any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower), recapitalization, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of any securities and any credit facilities) and including, in each case, any such transaction whether consummated on, after or prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful or consummated (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the effects of expensing all transaction related expenses in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 805, Business Combinations), shall be excluded;

 

(l) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with the entry into or termination of any Hedge Agreements shall be excluded;

 

(m) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted within twelve (12) months after the Closing Date that are so required to be established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions (or within twenty-four (24) months after the closing of any acquisition or Investment that are so required to be established as a result of such acquisition or Investment) in accordance with GAAP or changes as a result of modifications of accounting policies shall be excluded;

 

(n) any expenses, charges or losses to the extent covered by insurance or indemnity and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer or indemnifying party and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such determination (net of any amount so added back in any prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period), shall be excluded;

 

(o) the net income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its net income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders (other than restrictions in this Agreement), unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash equivalents (or to the extent converted into cash equivalents) to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

 

(p) any non-cash compensation expense resulting from the application of (i) Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, (ii) Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees or (iii) Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 710, Compensation - General, shall be excluded;

  

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(q) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by the applicable standard under GAAP and related interpretations shall be excluded;

 

(r) (i) the non-cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense shall be excluded and (ii) the cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense which exceeds the amount expensed in respect of such rent expense shall be included;

 

(s) without duplication, an amount equal to the amount of distributions actually made to any parent or equity holder of such Person in respect of income taxes for of such period in accordance with Section 10.6(f)(i) and Section 10.6(f)(ii) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person for such period;

 

(t) non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances shall be excluded (except to the extent reversing a previously recognized increase to net income); and

 

(u) the following items shall be excluded:

 

(i) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from Hedge Agreements and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging;

 

(ii) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency transaction or translation gains or losses including those related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from (A) Hedge Agreements for currency exchange risk and (B) resulting from intercompany indebtedness) and any other foreign currency transaction or translation gains and losses, to the extent such gains or losses are non-cash items;

 

(iii) effects of adjustments to accruals and reserves during a prior period relating to any change in methodology of calculating reserves, rebates or other chargebacks;

 

(iv) any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 460, Guarantees, or any comparable regulation; and

 

(v) earn-out and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments.

 

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any acquisition, Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement.

   

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Consolidated Total Assets ” shall mean the total assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(a) or  (b) (and, in the case of any determination relating to any incurrence of Indebtedness or any Investment or other acquisition, on a Pro Forma Basis including any property or assets being acquired in connection therewith).

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, (a) the sum of (without duplication) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, in an amount that would be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet (excluding the notes thereto) prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisition, Investment or any other acquisition permitted hereunder), consisting only of Indebtedness for borrowed money, purchase money indebtedness, Indebtedness in respect of any Capitalized Lease, and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes, bonds, debentures, loan agreements or similar instruments, minus (b) the aggregate amount of all Unrestricted Cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; provided that (x) clause (a) above shall not include Indebtedness (i) in respect of Hedging Obligations (but shall include net unpaid termination payments under Hedge Agreements), (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees and performance or similar bonds except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder and (iii) of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (y) at any time that there are any Loans outstanding, the amount of Unrestricted Cash and cash equivalents deducted pursuant to clause (b) above shall not exceed $62,500,000.

 

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of the last day of the most recent Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDAX for such Test Period.

 

Contractual Requirement ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.3 .

 

Contribution Agreement ” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Contributors ” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Controlled Account ” shall mean a Deposit Account, a Securities Account or a Commodity Account that is subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement, a Securities Account Control Agreement or a Commodity Account Control Agreement, as the case may be.

 

Controlled Investment Affiliate ” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person, other than any Sponsor, which directly or indirectly is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person controlling such Person) primarily for making direct or indirect equity or debt investments in the Borrower and/or other companies.

 

Converted Restricted Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDAX.”

 

Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDAX.”

  

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Credit Documents ” shall mean this Agreement, the Guarantee, the Security Documents, each Letter of Credit, any promissory notes issued by the Borrower under this Agreement, any Extension Amendment, any Incremental Agreement and any intercreditor agreement with respect to the Facility entered into on or after the Closing Date to which the Collateral Agent is party.

 

Credit Event ” shall mean and include the making (but not the conversion or continuation) of a Loan and the issuance of a Letter of Credit.

 

Credit Party ” shall mean each of the Borrower and the Guarantors.

 

Cure Amount ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.13(a) .

 

Cure Deadline ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.13(a) .

 

Cure Right ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.13(a) .

 

Current Ratio ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Current Assets to (b) Consolidated Current Liabilities.

 

Customary Intercreditor Agreement ” shall mean a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as the context requires.

 

Debt Fund Affiliate ” shall mean any Affiliate of the Sponsor that is a bona fide diversified debt fund and is not either (a) a natural person or (b) the Borrower, a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

Debtor Relief Laws ” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

Default ” shall mean any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Default Rate ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.8(c) .

 

Defaulting Lender ” shall mean any Lender whose acts or failures to act, whether directly or indirectly, cause it to meet any part of the definition of “Lender Default”.

 

Deposit Account ” shall mean any checking or other demand deposit account maintained by the Credit Parties, including any “deposit accounts” under Article 9 of the UCC. All funds in such Deposit Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) shall be conclusively presumed to be Collateral and proceeds of Collateral and the Administrative Agents and the Lenders shall have no duty to inquire as to the source of the amounts on deposit in the Deposit Accounts.

 

Deposit Account Control Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.17 .

 

DGK Credit Agreement ” shall mean that certain First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2012 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the Closing Date), among DGK ORRI Holdings, LP, as borrower, the lenders party thereto from time to time, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent.

  

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Dispose ” or “ Disposed of ” shall have a correlative meaning to the defined term of “Disposition”.

 

Disposed EBITDAX ” shall mean, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or any Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDAX of such Sold Entity or Business (determined as if references to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the definition of Consolidated EBITDAX (and in the component definitions used therein) were references to such Sold Entity or Business and its Subsidiaries or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries) or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Disposition ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.4 .

 

Disqualified Institution ” shall mean those Persons that have been specified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent prior to June 3, 2018 and any competitor of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and any Affiliates of such competitor that are operating companies (or Affiliates of operating companies) subsequently identified in writing by the Borrower, other than their respective financial investors that are not operating companies and other than any Debt Fund Affiliate. The list of Disqualified Institutions shall be specified on a schedule that is held with the Administrative Agent, which shall be made available to any Lender upon request to the Administrative Agent, subject to customary confidentiality requirements.

 

Disqualified Stock ” shall mean any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation, scheduled redemption or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than (i) contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted and (ii) Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements)) and the termination of the Commitments and (to the extent not cash collateralized or backstopped in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank) outstanding Letters of Credit, (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than (i) contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted and (ii) Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements) and the termination of the Commitments and (to the extent not cash collateralized or backstopped in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank) outstanding Letters of Credit), (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock, in the case of each of clauses (a) , (b) , (c) and (d) , prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests; provided , that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of future, current or former employees, directors, officers, members of management or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, directors, officers, members of management or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s or consultant’s termination, death or disability; provided , further , that any Equity Interests held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, member of management or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Borrower, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors (or the compensation committee thereof), in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or shareholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s or consultant’s termination, death or disability.

  

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Distressed Person ” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Lender-Related Distress Event”.

 

Dollars ” and “ $ ” shall mean dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

Domestic Subsidiary ” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower or Falcon GP that is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

 

Drawing ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4(b) .

 

Draw Limit ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(h) .

 

EEA Financial Institution ” shall mean (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” shall mean any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” shall mean any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

Engineering Reports ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(c)(i) .

   

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Environmental Claims ” shall mean any and all written actions, suits, orders, decrees, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of liability, noncompliance, violation or proceedings arising under or based upon any Environmental Law or any Environmental Permit (hereinafter, “ Claims ”), including, without limitation, (i) any and all Claims by any Governmental Authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law and (ii) any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief regarding the presence, release or threatened release of Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health or safety (to the extent relating to human exposure to Hazardous Materials), or the environment including, without limitation, air, surface water, groundwater, land surface and subsurface strata and natural resources such as wetlands.

 

Environmental Law ” shall mean any applicable federal, state, foreign or local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code and common law now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, and any binding judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any binding judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment relating to the pollution or protection of the environment, including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface and subsurface strata and natural resources such as wetlands, or human health or safety (to the extent relating to human exposure to hazardous materials or any Release or recycling of, or exposure to, any pollutants, contaminants or chemicals or any toxic or otherwise hazardous substances, materials or wastes).

 

Environmental Permit ” shall mean any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any applicable Environmental Law.

 

Equity Interests ” of any person shall mean any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity or ownership of such person, including any preferred stock, any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest, and any securities or other rights or interests convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing, excluding any debt security that is convertible or exchangeable into any Equity Interests ( provided that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable into Equity Interests, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Equity Interests, shall not be deemed to be Equity Interests unless and until such instrument is so converted or exchanged, except, solely for purposes of a pledge of Equity Interests in connection with this Agreement, to the extent such instrument could be treated as “stock” of a CFC for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.956-2(c)(2)).

 

ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate ” shall mean each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that together with any Credit Party would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

  

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ERISA Event ” shall mean (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) the failure of a Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate to make by its due date a required installment under Section 430(j) of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan; (d) a failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, or the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard, in each case with respect to a Pension Plan, whether or not waived, or a failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (e) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or is in endangered or critical status, within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA; (f) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, respectively, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan; (g) the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, including the imposition of a lien under Section 412 or 430(k) of the Code or Section 303 or 4068 of ERISA on any property (or rights to property, whether real or personal) of a Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate, but excluding PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon such Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate; (i) a determination that any Pension Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303(i)(4)(A) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4)(A) of the Code) or (j) the occurrence of a non-exempt prohibited transaction with respect to any Pension Plan maintained or contributed to by any Credit Party (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could reasonably be excepted to result in material liability to such Credit Party, except in each of the foregoing clauses (a) through (j) with respect to Foreign Plans.

 

Euro ” shall mean the lawful single currency unit of the Participating Member States.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” shall mean the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11 .

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Rate ” shall mean on any day with respect to any currency (other than Dollars), the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into any other currency (including Dollars), as set forth at approximately 12:00 noon (London time) on such day on the Reuters World Currency Page for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, or, in the absence of such agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the bank acting as Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about 12:00 noon, local time, on such date for the purchase of the relevant currency for delivery two (2) Business Days later.

 

Excluded Accounts ” shall mean (a) each account all or substantially all of the deposits in which consist of amounts utilized to fund payroll, employee benefit or tax obligations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) fiduciary accounts, (c) “zero balance” accounts, (d) trust and suspense accounts of the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary holding royalty obligations owed to a person other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, (e) accounts of the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary constituting cash collateral accounts permitted under Section 10.2 ( provided that any such account subject to control agreements in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or otherwise constituting cash collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties shall not be an Excluded Account) and (f) other accounts selected by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the average daily maximum balance in any such other account over a 30-day period does not at any time exceed $1,000,000; provided that the aggregate daily maximum balance for all such bank accounts excluded pursuant to this clause (f) on any day shall not exceed $7,500,000.

   

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Excluded Assets ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.

 

Excluded Equity Interests ” shall mean (a) any Equity Interests with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the cost or other consequences of pledging such Equity Interests in favor of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (b) solely in the case of any pledge of Equity Interests of any Subsidiary that is (x) a CFC or (y) a FSHCO, to secure the Obligations, any Equity Interest that is Voting Stock of such CFC or FSHCO in excess of 65% of the Voting Stock of such Subsidiary, (c) any Equity Interests to the extent the pledge thereof would be prohibited by any Requirement of Law, (d) in the case of (i) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary to the extent the pledge of such Equity Interests is prohibited by Contractual Requirements existing on the Closing Date or at the time such Subsidiary is acquired ( provided that such Contractual Requirements have not been entered into in contemplation of such Subsidiary being acquired), or (ii) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly owned Subsidiary at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, any Equity Interests of each such Subsidiary described in clause (i) or (ii)  to the extent (A) that a pledge thereof to secure the Obligations is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Requirement (other than customary non-assignment provisions which are ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Requirements of Law), (B) any Contractual Requirement prohibits such a pledge without the consent of any other party; provided that this clause (B)  shall not apply if (1) such other party is a Credit Party or a Wholly owned Subsidiary or (2) consent has been obtained to consummate such pledge (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to obligate the Borrower or any Subsidiary to obtain any such consent) and only for so long as such Contractual Requirement or replacement or renewal thereof is in effect, or (C) a pledge thereof to secure the Obligations would give any other party (other than a Credit Party or a Wholly owned Subsidiary) to any Contractual Requirement governing such Equity Interests the right to terminate its obligations thereunder (other than customary non-assignment provisions that are ineffective under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable Requirement of Law), (e) the Equity Interests of any Immaterial Subsidiary (unless a security interest in the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary may be perfected by filing an “all assets” UCC financing statement) and any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (f) the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of a CFC or FSHCO, (g) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of such Equity Interests would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Subsidiary as reasonably determined by the Borrower, (h) any Equity Interests set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) which have been identified on or prior to the Closing Date in writing to the Administrative Agent by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower and agreed to by the Administrative Agent and (i) Margin Stock.

  

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Excluded Subsidiary ” shall mean (a) each Immaterial Subsidiary, for so long as any such Subsidiary constitutes an Immaterial Subsidiary pursuant to the terms hereof, (b) each Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Wholly owned Subsidiary (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary), (c) each Domestic Subsidiary that is prohibited by any applicable Contractual Requirement not entered into in contemplation of such Subsidiary becoming a Subsidiary or a Restricted Subsidiary or Requirement of Law from guaranteeing or granting Liens to secure the Obligations on the Closing Date or at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, and for so long as such restriction or any replacement or renewal thereof is in effect not entered into in contemplation of such Subsidiary becoming a Subsidiary or a Restricted Subsidiary or that would require consent, approval, license or authorization of a Governmental Authority to guarantee or grant Liens to secure the Obligations on the Closing Date or at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (d) any Foreign Subsidiary, (e) any Domestic Subsidiary that is (i) a FSHCO or (ii) owned directly or indirectly by a CFC or a FSHCO, (f) any other Domestic Subsidiary with respect to which (x) in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the burden or cost or other consequences (including any material adverse tax consequences) of providing a Guarantee of or granting Liens to secure the Obligations shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom or (y) providing such a Guarantee or granting such Liens would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Borrower, (g) each Unrestricted Subsidiary, (h) each Captive Insurance Subsidiary and (i) each not-for-profit Subsidiary.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” shall mean with respect to any Guarantor, any Hedging Obligation if, and to the extent that, and only for so long as, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, as applicable, such Hedging Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal or unlawful under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) or any other applicable Requirement of Law.

 

Excluded Taxes ” shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Document, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income (however denominated, and including (for the avoidance of doubt) any backup withholding in respect thereof under Section 3406 of the Code or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), branch profits Taxes and franchise Taxes imposed on it, in each case by a jurisdiction (including any political subdivision thereof) as a result of such recipient being organized in, having its principal office in, or in the case of any Lender, having its applicable lending office in, such jurisdiction, or as a result of any other present or former connection with such jurisdiction (other than any such connection arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document), (ii) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on any payment by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Document that is required to be imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of a Lender (including any Issuing Bank and any Swingline Lender), other than to the extent such Lender is an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 13.7 , pursuant to laws in force at the time such Lender acquires an interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (or designates a new lending office), except in each case, to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to the designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts or indemnification payments from any Credit Party with respect to such withholding Taxes pursuant to Section 5.4 , (iii) any Taxes attributable to the Administrative Agent’s, any Lender’s or any other recipient’s failure to comply with Sections 5.4(d) , (e) , (f) , (h) or (i) , and (iv) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Existing Class ” shall mean a Class of Existing Commitments and related Existing Loans.

  

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Existing Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to a Class of Commitments, the Commitments of such Class at the time a Loan Extension Request is made.

 

Existing Loans ” shall mean, with respect to a Class of Loans, the Loans of such Class at the time a Loan Extension Request is made.

 

Expected Cure Amount ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.13(a)(iii).

 

Extended Class ” shall mean a Class of Extended Commitments and related Extended Loans.

 

Extended Commitments ” shall mean, with respect to a Class of Commitments, all or the portion of such Class extended pursuant to Section 2.17 , as applicable.

 

Extended Loans ” shall mean, with respect to a Class of Loans, all or the portion of such Class of Loans extended pursuant to Section 2.17 , as applicable.

 

Extending Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.17(b) .

 

Extension Amendment ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.17(c) .

 

Extension Election ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.17(b) .

 

Extension Minimum Condition ” shall mean a condition to consummating any extension that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Loan Extension Request, in the Borrower’s sole discretion) of any or all applicable Classes to be submitted for extension.

 

Extension Series ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.17(a) .

 

Facility ” shall mean this Agreement and the Commitments and the extensions of credit made hereunder.

 

Fair Market Value ” shall mean, with respect to any asset or group of assets on any date of determination, the value of the consideration obtainable in a Disposition of such asset at such date of determination assuming a Disposition by a willing seller to a willing purchaser dealing at arm’s length and arranged in an orderly manner over a reasonable period of time having regard to the nature and characteristics of such asset, as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

 

Falcon GP ” means Falcon Minerals GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Borrower.

 

Farm-In Agreement ” shall mean an agreement whereby a Person agrees, among other things, to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of one or more wells or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well or wells as all or a part of the consideration provided in exchange for an ownership interest in an Oil and Gas Property.

 

Farm-Out Agreement ” shall mean a Farm-In Agreement, viewed from the standpoint of the party that grants to another party the right to earn an ownership interest in an Oil and Gas Property.

  

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FATCA ” shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code), as of the Closing Date (and any amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury Regulations or other official administrative guidance promulgated thereunder, any intergovernmental agreements entered into in connection with the implementation of any of the foregoing, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any of the foregoing.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the per annum rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, if such rate is not so published for any date that is a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1.0%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Financial Officer ” of any Person shall mean the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, principal accounting officer, Controller, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of such Person.

 

Financial Performance Covenants ” shall mean the covenants of the Borrower set forth in Section 10.11 .

 

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” shall mean an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I (which agreement in such form or with immaterial changes thereto the Collateral Agent is authorized to enter into) among the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party thereto, Approved Counterparties from time to time party thereto, the Collateral Agent and one or more collateral agents or representatives for the holders of Indebtedness that is permitted under Section 10.1 to be, and intended to be, secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations.

 

Fixed Charges ” shall mean, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

 

(a) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

 

(b) cash dividends or other cash distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock during such period; and

 

(c) cash dividends or other cash distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock during such period.

 

Foreign Plan ” shall mean any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to employees employed outside the United States.

 

Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Fronting Fee ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(c) .

 

FSHCO ” shall mean any Domestic Subsidiary (including a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) substantially all of whose assets consist of (x) Equity Interests or (y) Equity Interests and Indebtedness, in each case of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs (held directly or through Subsidiaries).

  

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Fund ” shall mean any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

 

GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time; provided , however , that (i) if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith, (ii) GAAP shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at “fair value,” as defined therein, and Indebtedness shall be measured at the aggregate principal amount thereof, and (iii) the accounting for operating leases and capital leases under GAAP as in effect on the date hereof (including, without limitation, Accounting Standards Codification 840) shall apply for the purposes of determining compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, including the definition of Capitalized Leases and obligations in respect thereof.

 

Governmental Authority ” shall mean any nation, sovereign or government, any state, province, territory or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity or authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including a central bank or stock exchange.

 

Granting Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(g) .

 

Guarantee ” shall mean the Guarantee made by any Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

 

Guarantee Obligations ” shall mean, as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such Indebtedness or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain financial condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such Indebtedness of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such Indebtedness or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof; provided , however , that the term “Guarantee Obligations” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or Disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such Person in good faith.

   

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Guarantors ” shall mean each Domestic Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.1(e) that becomes a party to the Guarantee on the Closing Date (except to the extent released therefrom in accordance with the terms hereof) and each other Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary (except to the extent provided below)) that becomes a party to the Guarantee after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 9.11 or otherwise; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower in its sole discretion may cause any Restricted Subsidiary that is not required to be a Guarantor hereunder or pursuant to the Security Documents to provide a Guarantee by causing such Restricted Subsidiary to execute a Guarantee and such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor and Credit Party for all purposes hereunder except to the extent released from such Guarantee in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Hazardous Materials ” shall mean (a) any petroleum or petroleum products, natural gas or natural gas liquids, radioactive materials, friable asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas and (b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included in the definition of or otherwise classified or regulated as “hazardous substances”, “hazardous waste”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous waste”, “restricted hazardous waste”, “toxic substances”, “toxic pollutants”, “contaminants”, or “pollutants”, or words of similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law or that would otherwise reasonably be expected to result in liability under any Environmental Law.

 

Hedge Agreements ” shall mean (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, future contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, total return swap, credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reserve repurchase transaction, securities lending transaction, weather index transaction, spot contracts, fixed-price physical delivery contracts, whether or not exchange traded, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, agreements or obligations to physically sell any commodity at any index-based price shall not be considered Hedge Agreements.

 

Hedge Bank ” shall mean any Person (x) that either (i) at the time it entered into a Secured Hedge Agreement or a Cash Management Agreement, as applicable, in its capacity as a party thereto, (ii) on the Closing Date or (iii) at any time after it has entered into a Secured Hedge Agreement or a Cash Management Agreement, as applicable, in its capacity as a party thereto, is an Agent, Lender or any Affiliate of an Agent or Lender.

   

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Hedging Obligations ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under Hedge Agreements.

 

Highest Lawful Rate ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Loans under laws applicable to such Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws allow as of the date hereof.

 

Hydrocarbon Interests ” shall mean all rights, titles, interests and estates now or hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests and production payment interests, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

 

Hydrocarbons ” shall mean oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.

 

ICC ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.8 .

 

ICC Rule ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.8 .

 

Immaterial Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary.

 

Immediate Family Members ” shall mean with respect to any individual, such individual’s child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, qualified domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships) and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor-advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.

 

Impacted Interest Period ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBOR Rate.”

 

Increasing Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.16(a) .

 

Incremental Agreement ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.16(c) .

 

Incremental Increase ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.16(a) .

  

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Indebtedness ” of any Person shall mean the following, if and only to the extent (other than with respect to clause (g) below) the same would constitute indebtedness or a liability in accordance with GAAP, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (c) the deferred purchase price of assets or services that in accordance with GAAP would be required to be shown as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person (other than (i) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (ii) accruals for payroll and other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) obligations resulting under firm transportation contracts, or take or pay contracts or other similar agreements), (d) the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all outstanding letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person, (e) the principal component of all obligations in respect of Capitalized Leases of such Person, (f) net Hedging Obligations of such Person, (g) all indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) of any other Person secured by any Lien on any property owned by such Person, whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse, (h) the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase in respect of Disqualified Stock (excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock), (i) the undischarged balance of any Production Payment and Reserve Sale created by such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or indirectly received payment and (j) without duplication, all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of the items described in clauses (a) through (i) above; provided that Indebtedness shall (A) include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise expressly limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt and (B) not include (i) trade and other ordinary-course payables and accrued expenses, (ii) deferred or prepaid revenues, (iii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, (iv) in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (A) all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and (B) intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (v) obligations under the Contribution Agreement and any other agreements or instruments contemplated thereby, in each case, as amended, restated supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, (vi) [reserved], (vii) in-kind obligations relating to net oil, natural gas liquids or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business, (viii) any obligation in respect of a Farm-In Agreement or similar arrangement whereby such Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an oil or gas property, (ix) operating leases or sale and leaseback transactions (except any resulting obligations under any Capitalized Lease), (x) commitments or obligations of such Person to make capital contributions in another Person or fund construction costs of equipment, gathering, transportation, processing, handling, pipelines and other related systems and facilities which constitute Industry Investments and (xi) any Guarantee Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business to the extent not guaranteeing Indebtedness. The amount of any net Hedging Obligations on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (g) above shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith. Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose hereunder as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

 

Indemnified Liabilities ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5(b) .

   

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Indemnified Taxes ” shall mean all Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Document other than (a) Excluded Taxes and (b) Other Taxes.

 

Indemnities ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5(b) .

 

Industry Investment ” shall mean Investments and/or expenditures made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business as a means of actively engaging therein through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements that permit one to share risks or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including: (1) ownership interests (directly or through equity) in Oil and Gas Properties or gathering, transportation, processing, or related systems; and (2) Investments and/or expenditures in the form of or pursuant to operating agreements, processing agreements, Farm-In Agreements, Farm-Out Agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), and other similar agreements (including for limited liability companies) with third parties.

 

Information ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.8(a) .

 

Initial Loans ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(a)(i) .

 

Initial Maturity Date ” shall mean the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, or, if such anniversary is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately following such anniversary.

 

Initial Reserve Report ” shall mean the reserve engineers’ report of Ryder Scott Company, L.P. as of January 1, 2018 delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof.

 

Intercompany Note ” shall mean a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit L hereto.

 

Interest Period ” shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the interest period applicable thereto, as determined pursuant to Section 2.9 .

 

Interim Redetermination ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(b) .

 

Interpolated Rate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBOR Rate.”

 

Investment ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5 .

 

Investment Grade Rating ” shall mean a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other rating agency selected by the Borrower.

 

Investor Management Agreement ” shall mean an agreement among the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Borrower) and Affiliates of (or management entities associated with) one or more of the Sponsor, as in effect from time to time and as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in a manner not materially adverse to the Lenders.

  

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IRS ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.4(e) .

 

ISP ” shall mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

ISP 98 ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.8 .

 

Issuer Documents ” shall mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) or in favor of the applicable Issuing Bank and relating to such Letter of Credit.

 

Issuing Bank ” shall mean (a) Citibank and any of its Affiliates, (b) those Lenders identified as Issuing Banks on Schedule 1.1(a) hereto and (c) if requested by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, any other Person who is a Lender at the time of such request and who accepts such appointment (it being understood that, if any such Person ceases to be a Lender hereunder, such Person will remain an Issuing Bank with respect to any Letter of Credit issued by such Person that remained outstanding as of the date such Person ceased to be a Lender). References herein and in the other Credit Documents to an Issuing Bank shall be deemed to refer to the Issuing Bank in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all Issuing Banks, as the context requires. Any Lender may, from time to time, become an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with the protections and rights afforded to Issuing Banks hereunder by executing a joinder, in a form reasonably satisfactory to (and acknowledged and accepted by) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, indicating such Lender’s “Letter of Credit Commitment” and upon the execution and delivery of any such joinder, such Lender shall be an Issuing Bank for all purposes hereof.

 

Junior Debt ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.7(a) .

 

Junior Lien ” shall mean a Lien on the Collateral (other than Liens securing the Obligations) that is subordinated to the Liens granted under the Credit Documents pursuant to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (it being understood that Junior Liens are not required to be pari passu with other Junior Liens, and that Indebtedness secured by Junior Liens may have Liens that are senior in priority to, or pari passu with, or junior in priority to, other Liens constituting Junior Liens).

 

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” shall mean an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F among the Administrative Agent, the representative on behalf of any Junior Lien Debt holders, the Borrower, the Guarantors and the other parties party thereto from time to time.

 

Latest Maturity Date ” shall mean, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Class of Commitments or Loans that is outstanding hereunder on such date of determination.

 

L/C Borrowing ” shall mean an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

 

L/C Maturity Date ” shall mean the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

   

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L/C Obligations ” shall mean, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unpaid Drawings, including all L/C Borrowings. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

L/C Participant ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.3(a) .

 

L/C Participation ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.3(a) .

 

LCA Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.12(a) .

 

LCA Test Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.12(a) .

 

Lead Arranger and Bookrunner ” shall mean Citigroup Global Markets Inc., in its capacity as the arranger and bookrunner in respect of the Facility.

 

Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender. For avoidance of doubt, each Additional Lender shall be deemed a “Lender” for purposes of this Agreement and each other Credit Document.

 

Lender Default ” shall mean (i) the refusal (which may be given verbally or in writing and has not been retracted) or failure of any Lender to make available its portion of any incurrence of Loans or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or reimbursement obligations required to be made by it, which refusal or failure is not cured within one Business Day after the date of such refusal or failure; (ii) the failure of any Lender to pay over to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due; (iii) a Lender has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations, or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations under the Facility, (iv) a Lender has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with its funding obligations under the Facility or (v) a Distressed Person has admitted in writing that it is insolvent or such Distressed Person becomes subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event or a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender Default has occurred under any one or more of clauses (i) through (v) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and the applicable Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each Issuing Bank, each Swingline Lender and each Lender.

 

Lender-Related Distress Event ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, that such Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender (each, a “ Distressed Person ”), as the case may be, is or becomes subject to a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Person under any Debtor Relief Law, or a custodian, conservator, receiver or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or such Distressed Person or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation, or such Distressed Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Person or its assets to be, insolvent or bankrupt; provided that a Lender-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interests in any Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof, so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.

  

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Letter of Credit ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1 .

 

Letter of Credit Application ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(a) .

 

Letter of Credit Commitment ” shall mean the lesser of (x) $15,000,000 (or such greater amount as agreed to by the Issuing Banks), as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 3.1 and (y) the Loan Limit.

 

Letter of Credit Exposure ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, at any time, the sum of (a) the principal amount of any Unpaid Drawings in respect of which such Lender has made (or is required to have made) payments to the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.4(a) at such time and (b) such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Letters of Credit Outstanding at such time (excluding the portion thereof consisting of Unpaid Drawings in respect of which the Lenders have made (or are required to have made) payments to the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.4(a) ) minus the amount of cash or deposit account balances held by the Administrative Agent to Cash Collateralize outstanding Letters of Credit and Unpaid Drawings under Section 3.7 .

 

Letter of Credit Fee ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1(b) .

 

Letters of Credit Outstanding ” shall mean, at any time, the sum of, without duplication, (a) the aggregate Stated Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate principal amount of all Unpaid Drawings in respect of all Letters of Credit.

 

Leverage Ratio Covenant ” shall mean the covenant of the Borrower set forth in Section 10.11(a) .

 

LIBOR Loan ” shall mean any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate (other than an ABR Loan bearing interest by reference to the LIBOR Rate by virtue of clause (c)  of the definition of ABR).

 

LIBOR Rate ” shall mean, for any Interest Period with respect to any Borrowing of a LIBOR Loan, the London interbank offered rate as administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters Screen that displays such rate (or, in the event that such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; in each case, the “ Screen Rate ”) at approximately 12:00 noon London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “ Impacted Interest Period ”) with respect to Dollars, then the LIBOR Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate at such time; provided further that if the Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement. “ Interpolated Rate ” shall mean, at any time, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available in Dollars) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available in Dollars) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided that if the Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

  

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Lien ” shall mean, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, preferred mortgage, deed of trust, lien, notice of claim of lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, security interest or similar encumbrance in or on such asset securing an obligation or (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to be a Lien.

 

Limited Condition Transaction ” shall mean any acquisition or Investment by one or more of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of or in any assets, business or Person permitted by this Agreement the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

 

Liquidity ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) the Available Commitment on such date and (b) the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date.

 

Loan ” shall mean any Initial Loan, Extended Loan or Swingline Loan made by any Lender hereunder.

 

Loan Extension Request ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.17(a) .

 

Loan Limit ” shall mean, at any time, the least of (a) the Total Commitment at such time, (b) the Borrowing Base at such time in accordance with Section 2.14 , as may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14(e) , (f) and (h) , as applicable, minus the aggregate amount of Pari Debt then outstanding (without giving effect to any payments applied to reduce such Pari Debt unless the Administrative Agent is notified of such reduction in Pari Debt at the time of the next Scheduled Redetermination or Interim Redetermination) and (c) the Draw Limit.

 

Majority Lenders ” shall mean, at any date, (a) Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding a majority of the Adjusted Total Commitment at such date, or (b) if the Total Commitment has been terminated or for the purposes of acceleration pursuant to Section 11 , Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans, the Swingline Exposure and Letter of Credit Exposure (excluding the Loans, Swingline Exposure and Letter of Credit Exposure of Defaulting Lenders) in the aggregate at such date.

 

Mandatory Borrowing ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(c) .

 

Margin Stock ” shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in Regulation U.

 

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Master Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Hedge Agreements.”

 

Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean a circumstance or condition affecting the business, assets, operations, properties or financial condition of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that, individually or in the aggregate, would materially adversely affect (a) the ability of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the Credit Documents or (b) the rights and remedies of the Agents and the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

 

Material Indebtedness ” shall mean Indebtedness (other than Loans and Letters of Credit) of any one or more of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $30,000,000.

 

Material Subsidiary ” shall mean, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) whose total assets (when combined with the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) as of such date of determination were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose revenues (when combined with the revenues of such Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) during the most recent Test Period were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that if, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries have, in the aggregate, (i) total assets (when combined with the assets of such Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) as of such date of determination were equal to or greater than 10.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (ii) revenues (when combined with the revenues of such Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries, after eliminating intercompany obligations) during such Test Period equal to or greater than 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP, then the Borrower shall, on such date of determination, designate in writing to the Administrative Agent one or more of such Restricted Subsidiaries as “ Material Subsidiaries .”

 

Maturity Date ” shall mean, as to the applicable Loan, the Initial Maturity Date, any maturity date related to any Extension Series of Extended Commitments, or the Swingline Maturity Date, as applicable.

 

Minimum Borrowing Amount ” shall mean, with respect to any Borrowing of Loans, $500,000 (or, if less, the entire remaining Commitments at the time of such Borrowing).

 

Minority Investment ” shall mean any Person (other than a Subsidiary) in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owns Equity Interests.

 

Moody’s ” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

  

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Mortgage ” shall mean a mortgage or a deed of trust, deed to secure debt, trust deed, assignment of as-extracted collateral, fixture filing or other security document entered into by the owner of a Mortgaged Property and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in respect of that Mortgaged Property, substantially in the form of Exhibit D (with such changes thereto as may be necessary to account for local law matters) or otherwise in such form as agreed between the Borrower and the Collateral Agent.

 

Mortgaged Property ” shall mean, at any time, all Borrowing Base Properties with respect to which a Mortgage has been granted. However, notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, any Mortgage, or any other Security Document to the contrary, in no event shall any Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) be included in the definition of “Mortgaged Property” and no Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home shall be encumbered by any Mortgage. As used herein, “Flood Insurance Regulations” shall mean (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time, and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Multiemployer Plan ” shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Necessary Cure Amount ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.13(a)(iii) .

 

Net Income ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends.

 

New Borrowing Base Notice ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(d) .

 

New Contracts ” shall mean binding new agreements or amendments to existing agreements with customers and/or vendors.

 

Non-Consenting Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.7(b) .

 

Non-Defaulting Lender ” shall mean and include each Lender other than a Defaulting Lender.

 

Non-Extension Notice Date ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.2(b) .

 

Non-U.S. Lender ” shall mean any Lender (a) that is not disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that is not a “United States person” as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code or (b) that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes and whose regarded owner is not a “United States person” as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

Notice of Borrowing ” shall mean a request of the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3(a) and substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent (acting reasonably).

 

Notice of Conversion or Continuation ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.6(a) .

  

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Obligations ” shall mean all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Credit Party arising under any Credit Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit or under any Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Hedge Agreement, in each case, entered into with the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof in any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Credit Parties under the Credit Documents (and any of their Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Credit Documents) include the obligation (including Guarantee Obligations) to pay principal, interest, charges, expenses, fees, attorney costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Credit Party under any Credit Document. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) Excluded Swap Obligations shall not constitute Obligations, (b) the obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under any Secured Hedge Agreement and under any Secured Cash Management Agreement that has been secured at the option of the Borrower (such option being deemed exercised as reflected in the documents related to any such Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement among the Borrower and the applicable Hedge Bank, Approved Counterparty or Cash Management Bank) shall be secured and guaranteed pursuant to the Security Documents and the Guarantee only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured and guaranteed and (c) any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall not require the consent of the holders of Hedge Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements or of the holders of Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements.

 

OFAC ” shall mean the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

 

Oil and Gas Business ” shall mean:

 

(a) the business of acquiring, exploring, exploiting, developing, producing, operating and disposing of interests in oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas and other Hydrocarbons and mineral properties or products produced in association with any of the foregoing;

 

(b) the business of gathering, marketing, distributing, treating, processing, storing, refining, selling and transporting of any production from interests in oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas and other Hydrocarbons and mineral properties or products produced in association therewith; and the marketing of oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas and other Hydrocarbons and minerals obtained from unrelated Persons; and

 

(c) any business or activity relating to, arising from, or necessary, appropriate, incidental or ancillary to the activities described in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) of this definition.

  

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Oil and Gas Properties ” shall mean (a) Hydrocarbon Interests, (b) the properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests, (c) all presently existing or future unitization agreements, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled or unitized units and the units created thereby (including all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority) which may affect all or any portion of any Hydrocarbon Interests, (d) all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements, including production sharing contracts and agreements, which relate to any Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests, (e) all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to Hydrocarbon Interests, (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to Hydrocarbon Interests and (g) all properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all property, real or personal, now owned or hereafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any Hydrocarbon Interests or property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment, rental equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, gas processing plants and pipeline systems and any related infrastructure to any thereof, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

 

Ongoing Hedges ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.10(a) .

 

Organization Documents ” shall mean (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future stamp, registration, documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes (including related reasonable out-of-pocket expenses with regard thereto) arising from any payment made hereunder or made under any other Credit Document or from the execution or delivery of, registration or enforcement of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, consummation or administration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document; provided that such term shall not include any of the foregoing Taxes (i) that result from an assignment, grant of a participation pursuant to Section 13.6(c) or transfer or assignment to or designation of a new lending office or other office for receiving payments under any Credit Document (“ Assignment Taxes ”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes are imposed as a result of a present or former connection between the assignor/participating Lender and/or the assignee/Participant and the taxing jurisdiction (other than a connection arising from such assignee/Participant having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document) , unless any action described in this proviso is requested or required by the Borrower, or (ii) Excluded Taxes.

  

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Overnight Rate ” shall mean, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and (b) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

Parent Entity ” shall mean any Person that is a direct or indirect parent company (which may be organized as a partnership) of the Borrower.

 

Pari Debt ” shall mean any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) that is secured by a Lien that is pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations.

 

Participant ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(c)(i) .

 

Participant Register ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(c)(ii) .

 

Participating Member States ” shall mean, together, each member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to the Economic and Monetary Union (as amended or re-enacted from time to time).

 

Patriot Act ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.18 .

 

Payment in Full ” shall mean the day the Total Commitment and each Letter of Credit have terminated (unless such Letters of Credit have been collateralized on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to each applicable Issuing Bank following the termination of the Total Commitment) and the Loans, the Swingline Loans and Unpaid Drawings, together with interest, fees and all other Obligations incurred hereunder (other than Hedging Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements, Cash Management Obligations under Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations not then due and payable), are paid in full.

 

PBGC ” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Section 4002 of ERISA, or any successor thereto.

 

Pension Plan ” shall mean any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six (6) years.

 

Permitted Acquisition ” shall mean the acquisition, by merger or otherwise, by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of assets (including any assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division) or Equity Interests, so long as (a) if such acquisition involves the acquisition of Equity Interests of a Person that upon such acquisition would become a Subsidiary, such acquisition shall result in the issuer of such Equity Interests becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and, to the extent required by Section 9.11 , a Guarantor; (b) such acquisition shall result in the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, being granted a security interest in any Equity Interests or any assets so acquired to the extent required by Section 9.11 ; (c) immediately after giving effect to such acquisition, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (d) immediately after giving effect to such acquisition, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with Section 9.15 .

  

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Permitted Additional Debt ” shall mean any unsecured senior, senior subordinated, Junior Lien or subordinated loans or notes issued by the Borrower or a Guarantor after the Closing Date (a) the terms of which do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation prior to the 91st day after the Latest Maturity Date as in effect on the date of determination (other than (i) customary offers to purchase upon a change of control, AHYDO payments, asset sale or casualty or condemnation event prepayments and customary acceleration rights after an event of default and (ii) unsecured Indebtedness incurred pursuant to a customary bridge facility if the Indebtedness pursuant to such customary bridge facility converts at maturity to Indebtedness which does not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation (except to the extent permitted pursuant to clause (i) ) prior to the 91st day after the Latest Maturity Date as in effect on the date of determination) and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facility, if applicable, (b) if such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, the terms of such Indebtedness provide for customary subordination of such Indebtedness to the Obligations, (c) no Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a Guarantor) is a borrower or guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness and (d) if such Indebtedness constitutes Junior Lien Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is not secured by any assets other than the Collateral.

 

Permitted Holders ” shall mean any of (i) the Sponsor and (ii) officers, directors, employees and other members of management of the Borrower (or any of its Parent Entities) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries who are or become holders of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any Parent Entity) (and their Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members); provided that for purposes of the definition of “Change of Control” the Persons described in clause (ii) above shall not constitute Permitted Holders at any time they hold voting power equal to or more than 50% of all Equity Interests collectively and beneficially held by the Persons described in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Permitted Intercompany Activities ” shall mean any transactions between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (for the avoidance of doubt, including Unrestricted Subsidiaries) that are entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, are necessary or advisable in connection with the ownership or operation of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including (i) payroll, cash management, purchasing, insurance and hedging arrangements (other than the hedging arrangements of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries) and (ii) management, technology and licensing arrangements.

 

Permitted Investments ” shall mean:

 

(1) United States dollars;

 

(2) (a) Euros, Yen, Canadian Dollars, Pound Sterling or any national currency of any Participating Member State of the EMU; or

 

(b) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary or any jurisdiction in which the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries conducts business, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business and not for speculation;

 

(3) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of twenty-four (24) months or less from the date of acquisition;

   

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(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of twenty-four (24) months or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding three (3) years and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the United States dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks (any such bank in the forgoing an “ Approved Bank ”);

 

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (4) above or clauses (7) and (8) below entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

 

(6) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by an Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable or fixed rate note issued by, or guaranteed by, a corporation by, a corporation (other than structured investment vehicles and other than corporations used in structured financing transactions) rated at least A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) by S&P or at least P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower) and in each case maturing within thirty-six (36) months after the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(7) marketable short-term money market and similar liquid funds having a rating of at least P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower);

 

(8) readily marketable direct obligations issued or fully guaranteed by (i) any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or (ii) any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof; provided , that each such readily marketable direct obligation shall have an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P or Moody’s (or the equivalent thereof) (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P or Moody’s (or the equivalent thereof) shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower) with maturities of thirty-six (36) months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

(9) Investments with average maturities of thirty-six (36) months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower);

 

(10) investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types de-scribed in clauses (1) through (9) above; and

 

(11) solely with respect to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, any Investment in connection with its provision of insurance, which Investment is permitted to be made in accordance with applicable law, rule, regulation or order or that is required or approved by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Captive Insurance Subsidiary or its business, as applicable.

  

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In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States of America, Permitted Investments shall also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (7) and clauses (8)(i) and (9) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (ii) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments in clauses (1) through (11) and in this paragraph.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Permitted Investments shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clause (1) or (2) above as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

 

Permitted Liens ” shall mean:

 

(a) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims not yet overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established to the extent required by and in accordance with GAAP (or in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, the comparable accounting principles in the relevant jurisdiction), or for property taxes on property that the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment, charge or claim is to such property if such abandonment is otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

 

(b) Liens in respect of property or assets of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries imposed by law, such as landlords’, sublandlords’, vendors’, suppliers’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, construction contractors’, workers’ and mechanics’ Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation or maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties, in each case so long as such Liens arise in the ordinary course of business and do not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c) Liens arising from judgments or decrees in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 11.9 ;

 

(d) Liens incurred or pledges or deposits made in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, old age pension, public liability obligations or similar legislation, and deposits securing liabilities to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations, or to secure (or secure the Liens securing) liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

   

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(e) deposits and other Liens securing (or securing the bonds or similar instruments securing) the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, plugging and abandonment or decommissioning obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (including letters of credit issued in lieu of such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business or in a manner consistent with past practice or industry practice including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business, or otherwise constituting Investments permitted by Section 10.5 ;

 

(f) ground leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;

 

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictive covenants, licenses, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), title defects, exceptions, deficiencies or irregularities in title, encroachments, protrusions, servitudes, permits, conditions and covenants and other similar charges or encumbrances (including in any rights-of-way or other property of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries for the purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission lines, transportation lines, distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil or other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for joint or common use of real estate, rights of way, facilities and equipment) not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(h) (i) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under any lease, liens reserved in oil, gas or other Hydrocarbons, minerals, leases for bonus, royalty or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such lease and (ii) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessor’s, sublessor’s, licensor’s or sublicensor’s interest under any lease, sublease, license or sublicense entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or otherwise permitted by this Agreement and not securing Indebtedness;

 

(i) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(j) Liens on goods or inventory the purchase, shipment or storage price of which is financed by a documentary letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance issued for the account of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Lien secures only the obligations of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance to the extent permitted under Section 10.1 ;

 

(k) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others not (i) interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) securing any indebtedness;

 

(l) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or similar filings;

 

(m) Liens created in the ordinary course of business in favor of banks and other financial institutions over credit balances of any bank accounts, commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries held at such banks or financial institutions, as the case may be, in the ordinary course of business;

  

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(n) Liens which arise in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, Farm-Out Agreements, Farm-In Agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, gathering, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, marketing agreements, processing agreements, net profits agreements, development agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or other geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements that are usual or customary in the Oil and Gas Business and are for claims which are not delinquent or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established to the extent required by and in accordance with GAAP; provided that any such Lien referred to in this clause does not materially impair the use of the property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such property is held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(o) Liens on pipelines, pipeline facilities and other midstream assets or facilities that arise by operation of law or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business and incidental to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties;

 

(p) (i) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use regulations by Governmental Authorities with which the normal operation of the business complies and (ii) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(q) Liens on equipment of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

 

(r) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business;

 

(s) [reserved];

 

(t) Liens on Permitted Investments that are earmarked to be used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that (x) such Permitted Investments are deposited into an account from which payment is to be made, directly or indirectly, to the Person or Persons holding the Indebtedness that is to be satisfied or discharged, (y) such Liens extend solely to the account in which such Permitted Investments are deposited and are solely in favor of the Person or Persons holding the Indebtedness (or any agent or trustee for such Person or Persons) that is to be satisfied or discharged and (z) the satisfaction or discharge of such Indebtedness is expressly permitted hereunder; and

  

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(u) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to secure the performance of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises.

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” shall mean, with respect to any Indebtedness (the “ Refinanced Indebtedness ”), any Indebtedness issued or incurred in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to modify, extend, refinance, renew, replace or refund (collectively to “ Refinance ” or a “ Refinancing ” or “ Refinanced ”), such Refinanced Indebtedness (or previous refinancing thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided that (A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Refinanced Indebtedness outstanding immediately prior to such Refinancing except by an amount equal to the unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and other amounts paid in connection with the defeasance or discharge of such Indebtedness plus other amounts paid consisting of fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Refinancing plus an amount equal to any existing commitment unutilized and letters of credit undrawn thereunder, (B) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Sections 10.1(a) , (c) , (i) , (k) , (l) or (q) , the direct and contingent obligors with respect to such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness immediately prior to such Refinancing are not changed as a result of such Refinancing (except that a Credit Party may be added as an additional obligor), (C) other than with respect to a Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(h) , such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Refinanced Indebtedness, (D) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Sections 10.1(a) , (c) , (i) , (k) , (l) or (q) , the terms and conditions of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Refinanced Indebtedness being Refinanced (including, if applicable, as to collateral priority and subordination, but excluding as to interest rates, fees, floors, funding discounts and redemption or prepayment premiums) or are customary for similar Indebtedness in light of current market conditions; provided that a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least three (3) Business Days prior to the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, (E) if the Refinanced Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment or security to the Obligations, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Obligations on terms no less favorable to the Secured Parties than such Refinanced Indebtedness and (F) if the Refinanced Indebtedness constitutes Junior Lien Indebtedness, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is not secured by any assets other than the Collateral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Additional Debt must constitute Permitted Additional Debt.

 

Person ” shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other enterprise or any Governmental Authority.

 

Petroleum Industry Standards ” shall mean the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor) as in effect at the time in question.

  

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Post-Acquisition Period ” shall mean, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the first anniversary of the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated

 

Preceding Test Period ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.18 .

 

Preferred Stock ” shall mean any Equity Interest with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

 

Prime Rate ” shall mean the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the bank acting as Administrative Agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City (the Prime Rate not being intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged by such bank in connection with extensions of credit to debtors).

 

Proceeding ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.5(b) .

 

Production Payments and Reserve Sales ” shall mean the grant or transfer by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any Person of the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties where the holder of such interest has recourse solely to such production or proceeds of production.

 

Pro Forma Adjustment ” shall mean, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period, with respect to the Acquired EBITDAX of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDAX of the Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDAX or such Consolidated EBITDAX, as the case may be, projected by the Borrower in good faith as a result of (a) actions taken during such Post-Acquisition Period for the purposes of realizing reasonably identifiable and factually supportable cost savings, operating expense reductions and savings from synergies or (b) any additional costs incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, in each case in connection with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (i) at the election of the Borrower, such Pro Forma Adjustment shall not be required to be determined for any Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such acquisition was less than $7,500,000, and (ii) so long as such actions are taken during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDAX or such Consolidated EBITDAX, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of such Test Period; provided, further, that any such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDAX or such Consolidated EBITDAX, as the case may be, shall be without duplication for cost savings, operating expense reductions, savings from synergies or additional costs already included in such Acquired EBITDAX or such Consolidated EBITDAX, as the case may be, for such Test Period.

  

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Pro Forma Basis ” and “ Pro Forma Effect ” shall mean, with respect to compliance with any test or covenant or calculation of any ratio hereunder, that (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, which (i) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction”, shall be included, (b) any retirement, redemption, repayment, discharge, defeasance or extinguishment of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith (and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, such Indebtedness shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination); provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to (A) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDAX and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment; provided, further , that when calculating the Financial Performance Covenants for purposes of determining actual compliance (and not compliance on a Pro Forma Basis) with Section 10.11 , any events that occurred subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period shall not be given pro forma effect.

 

Projections ” shall mean financial estimates, forecasts and other forward-looking information prepared by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its representatives and that have been made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Proposed Acquisition ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.10(a) .

 

Proposed Borrowing Base ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(c)(i) .

 

Proposed Borrowing Base Notice ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(c)(ii) .

 

Proved Developed Producing Reserves ” shall mean oil and gas mineral interests that, in accordance with Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and “Developed Producing Reserves.”

 

Proved Developed Reserves ” shall mean oil and gas mineral interests that, in accordance with Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and one of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves” or (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves.”

 

Proved Reserves ” shall mean oil and gas mineral interests that, in accordance with Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and one of the following: (a) “Developed Producing Reserves”, (b) “Developed Non-Producing Reserves” or (c) “Undeveloped Reserves”.

 

PTE ” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

PubCo ” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

  

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Public Company Costs ” shall mean costs relating to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and other expenses arising out of or incidental to being a public reporting company, including costs, fees and expenses (including legal, accounting and other professional fees) relating to compliance with provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the rules of national securities exchange companies with listed equity securities, directors’ compensation, fees and expense reimbursement shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders, directors’ and officers’ insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, and listing fees.

 

PV-9 ” shall mean, with respect to any Proved Reserves expected to be produced from any Borrowing Base Properties, the net present value, discounted at 9% per annum, of the future net revenues expected to accrue to the Borrower’s and the Credit Parties’ collective interests in such reserves during the remaining expected economic lives of such reserves, calculated in accordance with the Bank Price Deck.

 

Qualified Equity Interests ” shall mean any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Parent Entity other than Disqualified Stock.

 

Redetermination Date ” shall mean, with respect to any Scheduled Redetermination or any Interim Redetermination, the date that the redetermined Borrowing Base related thereto becomes effective pursuant to Section 2.14(d) .

 

Refinance ” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.”

 

Refinanced Indebtedness ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.”

 

Register ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(b)(iv) .

 

Regulation T ” shall mean Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

 

Regulation U ” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

 

Regulation X ” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin requirements.

 

Reimbursement Date ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4(a) .

 

Related Indemnified Person ” shall mean, with respect to an Indemnitee, (1) any controlling Person or controlled Affiliate of such Indemnitee, (2) the respective directors, officers, or employees of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling Persons or controlled Affiliates and (3) the respective agents and representatives of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling Persons or controlled Affiliates, in the case of this clause (3) , acting at the instructions of such Indemnitee, controlling Person or such controlled Affiliate.

 

Release ” shall mean any release, spill, emission, discharge, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injecting or leaching into the air, surface water, groundwater, land surface and subsurface strata.

 

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Replaced Loans ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.1(f) .

 

Reportable Event ” shall mean an event described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, other than any event as to which the 30-day notice period has been waived.

 

Representatives ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.16 .

 

Required Cash Collateral Amount ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.7(c) .

 

Required Lenders ” shall mean, at any date, (a) Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding at least 66.67% of the Adjusted Total Commitment at such date or (b) if the Total Commitment has been terminated, Non-Defaulting Lenders having or holding at least 66.67% of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans, the Swingline Exposure and Letter of Credit Exposure (excluding the Loans, Swingline Exposure and Letter of Credit Exposure of Defaulting Lenders) in the aggregate at such date.

 

Requirement of Law ” shall mean, as to any Person, any law, treaty, rule, regulation, statute, order, ordinance, decree, judgment, consent decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or governmental requirement enacted, promulgated or imposed or entered into or agreed by any Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or assets or to which such Person or any of its property or assets is subject.

 

Reserve Report ” shall mean (a) the Initial Reserve Report, (b) any other subsequent report, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or (c) any other engineering data reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, setting forth, as of each June 30th or December 31st (or such other date as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to Interim Redeterminations or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) the Proved Reserves and the Proved Developed Reserves of the Borrower and the Credit Parties (or of Oil and Gas Properties to be acquired, provided that any Oil and Gas Properties not yet acquired shall be expressly designated as such), together with a projection of the rate of production and future net revenues, operating expenses (including production taxes and ad valorem expenses) and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, based upon the PV-9 of the Proved Reserves and Proved Developed Reserves set forth therein; provided that in connection with any Interim Redeterminations of the Borrowing Base pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.14(b) , the Borrower shall only be required, for purposes of updating the Reserve Report, to set forth such additional Proved Reserves and related information as are the subject of such acquisition.

 

Reserve Report Certificate ” shall mean a certificate of an Authorized Officer in substantially the form of Exhibit A certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 9.14(c) .

 

Restricted Payments ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.6 .

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Royal ” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Sanctions ” shall mean economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

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Sanctions Laws ” shall mean the following, in each case, to the extent enacted and in effect: (a) laws, regulations, and rules promulgated or administered by OFAC to implement U.S. sanctions programs, including any enabling legislation or Executive Order related thereto, as amended from time to time; (b) the US Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act and the regulations and rules promulgated thereunder (“CISADA”), as amended from time to time; (c) the U.S. Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act and the regulations and rules promulgated thereunder (“ITRA”), as amended from time to time; (d) the US Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act and the regulations and rules promulgated thereunder (“IFCA”); (e) the sanctions and other restrictive measures applied by the European Union in pursuit of the Common Foreign and Security Policy objectives set out in the Treaty on European Union; and (f) any similar sanctions laws as may be enacted from time to time in the future by the U.S., the European Union (and its member states), or the U.N. Security Council or any other legislative body of the United Nations; and any corresponding laws of jurisdictions in which the Borrower operates or in which the proceeds of the Loans will be used or from which repayments of the Obligations will be derived.

 

S&P ” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

 

Scheduled Redetermination ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.14(b) .

 

Scheduled Redetermination Date ” shall mean the date on which a Borrowing Base that has been redetermined pursuant to a Scheduled Redetermination becomes effective as provided in Section 2.14 .

 

Screen Rate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBOR Rate.”

 

SEC ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

Secured Cash Management Agreement ” shall mean any agreement related to Cash Management Services by and between the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Cash Management Bank.

 

Secured Hedge Agreement ” shall mean any Hedge Agreement by and between the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Hedge Bank or Approved Counterparty.

 

Secured Parties ” shall mean, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Lender, each Hedge Bank or Approved Counterparty that is party to any Secured Hedge Agreement, each Cash Management Bank that is a party to any Secured Cash Management Agreement and each sub-agent appointed pursuant to Section 12.2 by the Administrative Agent with respect to matters relating to the Credit Documents or by the Collateral Agent with respect to matters relating to any Security Document.

 

Securities Account ” shall mean any securities account maintained by the Credit Parties, including any “security accounts” under Article 9 of the UCC. All funds in such Securities Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) shall be conclusively presumed to be Collateral and proceeds of Collateral and the Agents and the Lenders shall have no duty to inquire as to the source of the amounts on deposit in the Securities Accounts.

 

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Securities Account Control Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.17 .

 

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Security Documents ” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Collateral Agreement, (b)  the Mortgages and (c) each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to Section 9.11 or 9.13 or pursuant to any other such Security Documents or otherwise in order to secure or perfect the security interest in any or all of the Obligations.

 

Sold Entity or Business ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDAX.”

 

Solvent ” shall mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability, on a consolidated basis, of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.

 

Specified Contribution Agreement Representations ” shall mean the representations and warranties made by the Contributors or with respect to the Acquired Assets in the Contribution Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrower (or any of its Affiliates) has the right to terminate the obligations of the Borrower and (or its Affiliates) pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Contribution Agreement, as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties in the Contribution Agreement.

 

Specified Existing Commitment ” shall mean any Existing Commitments belonging to a Specified Existing Commitment Class.

 

Specified Existing Commitment Class ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.17(a) .

 

Specified Representations ” shall mean the representations and warranties with respect to the Borrower set forth in Sections 8.1 (to the extent relating to the existence of the Borrower and the Guarantors), 8.2 , 8.3(c) , 8.5 , 8.7 , 8.15 , 8.16 and 8.20 of this Agreement.

 

Specified Transaction ” shall mean any acquisition, Investment, Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment or Subsidiary designation that by the terms of this Agreement requires a financial ratio or test to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

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Sponsor ” shall mean (a) Blackstone Capital Partners VI L.P. and (b) Blackstone Energy Partners I L.P., and each of their respective Affiliates and funds or partnerships managed or advised by and of them or any of their Affiliates, but not including their respective portfolio companies.

 

SPV ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(g) .

 

Stated Amount ” of any Letter of Credit shall mean the maximum amount from time to time available to be drawn thereunder, determined without regard to whether any conditions to drawing could then be met.

 

Subagent ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.2 .

 

Subsequent Test Period ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.18 .

 

Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person: (1) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of Equity Interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, members of management or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and (2) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which: (a) more than 50.0% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and (b) such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor ” shall mean each Subsidiary that is a Guarantor.

 

Subsidiary Redesignation ” shall have the meaning provided in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” contained in this Section 1.1(a) .

 

Successor Borrower ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.3(a) .

 

Swap PV ” shall mean, with respect to any commodity Hedge Agreement, the present value, discounted at 9% per annum, of the future receipts expected to be paid to the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries under such Hedge Agreement netted against the Administrative Agent’s then current Bank Price Deck; provided , that the “Swap PV” shall never be less than $0.00.

 

Swap Termination Value ” shall mean, in respect of any one or more Hedge Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedge Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedge Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a) , the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedge Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedge Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

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Swingline Commitment ” shall mean the obligation of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.1 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $5,000,000.

 

Swingline Exposure ” shall mean at any time the aggregate principal amount at such time of all outstanding Swingline Loans. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall equal its Commitment Percentage of the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

Swingline Lender ” shall mean (a) Citibank in its capacity as the lender of Swingline Loans hereunder and (b) any other Lender that is reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that agrees in writing with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to provide Swingline Loans on same-day notice.

 

Swingline Loan ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(b) .

 

Swingline Maturity Date ” shall mean, with respect to any Swingline Loan, the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

 

Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments, deductions, withholdings or other similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority and any interest, fines, penalties or additions to tax with respect to the foregoing.

 

Termination Date ” shall mean the earlier to occur of (a) the Maturity Date and (b) the date on which the Total Commitment shall have terminated.

 

Test Period ” shall mean, for any date of determination under this Agreement, the latest four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date and/or for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to clause (a) or (b) of Section 9.1 .

 

Total Commitment ” shall mean the sum of the Commitments of the Lenders.

 

Total Exposure ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of the Loans of such Lender then outstanding, (b) such Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure at such time and (c) such Lender’s Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

Transaction Expenses ” shall mean any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or by the Sponsor or any direct or indirect Parent Entity and reimbursed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) in connection with the Transactions (including expenses in connection with hedging transactions (including termination or amendment thereof), if any, payments to officers, employees and directors as change of control payments, severance payments or special or retention bonuses and payments or charges for payments on account of phantom stock units, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and options (including the repurchase or rollover of, or modifications to, the foregoing awards)), this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

Transactions ” shall mean, collectively, the Acquisition and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement or related thereto, this Agreement, the payment of Transaction Expenses and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Credit Documents (including the Closing Date Loans).

 

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Transferee ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 13.6(e) .

 

Type ” shall mean, as to any Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a LIBOR Loan.

 

UCC ” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the perfection of security interests in any Collateral.

 

UCP ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.8 .

 

Uniform Customs ” shall mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits as approved by the International Chamber of Commerce, commencing on July 1, 2007 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

Unpaid Drawing ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.4(a) .

 

Unrestricted Cash ” shall mean cash or cash equivalents (including Permitted Investments) of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that cash or cash equivalents (including Permitted Investments) that would appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries solely because such cash or cash equivalents (including Permitted Investments) are subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement or a Securities Account Control Agreement in favor of the Collateral Agent shall constitute Unrestricted Cash hereunder.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” shall mean (a) any Subsidiary set forth on Schedule 1.1(f) , (b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is formed or acquired after the Closing Date if, at such time or promptly thereafter, the Borrower designates such Subsidiary as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” in a written notice to the Administrative Agent, (c) any Restricted Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower in a written notice to the Administrative Agent; provided that in the case of each of clauses (b)  and (c), (i) such designation shall be deemed to be an Investment (or reduction in an outstanding Investment, in the case of a designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary) on the date of such designation in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Borrower’s investment therein on such date and such designation shall be permitted only to the extent such Investment is permitted under Section 10.5 on the date of such designation, (ii) in the case of clause (c) , such designation shall be deemed to be a Disposition pursuant to which the provisions of Section 2.14(f) will apply to the extent contemplated thereby, (iii) no Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency would result from such designation immediately after giving effect thereto and (iv) immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to such designation, the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants on a Pro Forma Basis and (d) each Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. No Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if, after such designation, it would be a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purpose of any Pari Debt, Permitted Additional Debt, Refinancing Loans, and Credit Agreement or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing, in each case, to the extent applicable. The Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, re-designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (each, a “ Subsidiary Redesignation ”), and thereafter, such Subsidiary shall no longer constitute an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only if (i) no Event of Default would result from such Subsidiary Redesignation, (ii) Liquidity is not less than 10.0% of the then effective Borrowing Base (on a Pro Forma Basis immediately after giving effect to such designation) and (iii) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis, is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00.

 

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U.S. Lender ” shall mean any Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

Voting Stock ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Equity Interests having the right to vote for the election of directors of such Person under ordinary circumstances.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining scheduled installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required scheduled payments of principal, including payment at final scheduled maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided that the effects of any prepayments made on such Indebtedness shall be disregarded in making such calculation.

 

Wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary ” of any person shall mean a Domestic Subsidiary of such person that is a Wholly owned Subsidiary.

 

Wholly owned Subsidiary ” of any person shall mean a subsidiary of such person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such person or another Wholly owned Subsidiary of such person.

 

Withdrawal Liability ” shall mean the liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” shall mean, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions . With reference to this Agreement and each other Credit Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Credit Document:

 

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

(b) The words “herein”, “hereto”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Credit Document shall refer to such Credit Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

 

(c) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Credit Document in which such reference appears.

 

(d) The terms “include,” “includes” and “including” are by way of example and not limitation.

 

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(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

 

(f) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” shall mean “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” shall mean “to and including”.

 

(g) Section headings herein and in the other Credit Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

 

(h) Any reference to any Person shall be constructed to include such Person’s successors or assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all of the functions thereof.

 

(i) Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.

 

(j) The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning as the word “shall”.

 

(k) The words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

(l) The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Borrower dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

1.3 Accounting Terms .

 

(a) Generally . All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the first audited financial statements delivered under Section 9.1(a) , except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

 

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(b) Computation of Certain Financial Covenants . Unless otherwise specified herein, all defined financial terms (and all other definitions used to determine such terms) shall be determined and computed in respect of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

1.4 Rounding . Any financial ratios required to be maintained or complied with by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement) shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

1.5 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to organizational documents, agreements (including the Credit Documents) and other Contractual Requirements shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by any Credit Document and (b) references to any Requirement of Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Requirement of Law.

 

1.6 Times of Day . Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York City (daylight saving or standard, as applicable).

 

1.7 Timing of Payment or Performance . When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in Section 2.9 ) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

1.8 Currency Equivalents Generally .

 

(a) For purposes of any determination under Section 9 , Section 10 (other than Section 10.11 ) or Section 11 or any determination under any other provision of this Agreement requiring the use of a current exchange rate, all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the Exchange Rate then in effect on the date of such determination; provided , however , that (x) for purposes of determining compliance with Section 10 with respect to the amount of any Indebtedness, Investment, Disposition, Restricted Payment or payment under Section 10.7 in a currency other than Dollars, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness or Investment is incurred or Disposition, Restricted Payment or payment under Section 10.7 is made, (y) for purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the Dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first incurred (whichever yields the lower Dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt, provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such Refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinanced Indebtedness does not exceed (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness being Refinanced plus (ii) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums (including tender premiums) and other costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with such refinancing and (z) for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.8 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred or Disposition, Restricted Payment or payment under Section 10.7 may be made at any time under such Sections. For purposes of Section 10.11 , amounts in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the applicable exchange rates used in preparing the most recently delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 9.1(a) or (b) .

 

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(b) Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) to appropriately reflect a change in currency of any country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to such change in currency.

 

1.9 Classification of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., an “ Extended Loan ”) or by Type (e.g., a “ LIBOR Loan ”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “ LIBOR Extended Loan ”).

 

1.10 Hedging Requirements Generally . For purposes of any determination with respect to compliance with Section 10.10 or any other calculation under or requirement of this Agreement in respect of hedging shall be calculated separately for crude, gas and natural gas liquid.

 

1.11 Certain Determinations . For purposes of determining compliance with any of the covenants set forth in Section 9 or Section 10 (including in connection with the Incremental Increase), but subject to any limitation expressly set forth therein, as applicable, at any time (whether at the time of incurrence or thereafter), any Lien, Investment, Indebtedness, Disposition, Restricted Payment, Affiliate transaction, prepayment, redemption or the consummation of any other transaction meets the criteria of one, or more than one, of the categories permitted pursuant to Section 9 or Section 10 (including in connection with any Incremental Increase), as applicable, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, determine under which category such Lien, Investment, Indebtedness, Disposition, Restricted Payment, Affiliate transaction, prepayment, redemption or the consummation of any other transaction (or, in each case, any portion thereof) is permitted.

 

1.12 Pro Forma and Other Calculations .

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Current Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis and in the manner prescribed by this Section 1.12 ; provided that, in connection with any Specified Transaction that is a Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of determining compliance with any test or covenant for any action advisable (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) for the consummation of a Limited Condition Transaction contained in this Agreement during any period which requires the calculation of any of the foregoing ratios or any basket that is determined by reference to Consolidated EBITDAX or Consolidated Total Assets and, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “ LCA Election ”) the date of determination for calculation of any such ratios shall be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Specified Transaction that is a Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (the “ LCA Test Date ”) and if, after giving Pro Forma Effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent date of determination ending prior to the LCA Test Date, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with such ratio or basket, such ratio or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has made an LCA Election and any of the ratios or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCA Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio or basket, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDAX or Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such baskets or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken. If the Borrower has made an LCA Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio with respect to any other Specified Transaction on or following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and any associated Lien and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated.

 

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(b) If since the beginning of any applicable Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such Test Period shall have made any Specified Transaction that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Section 1.12 , then such financial ratio or test (or Consolidated Total Assets) shall be calculated to give Pro Forma Effect thereto in accordance with this Section 1.12 .

 

(c) Whenever Pro Forma Effect is to be given to a Specified Transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and savings from synergies resulting from or relating to any Specified Transactions (including the Transaction) which is being given Pro Forma Effect that have been realized or are expected to be realized and for which the actions necessary to realize such cost savings, operating expense reductions and savings from synergies are taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions and savings from synergies had been realized on the first day of such period and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and savings from synergies were realized during the entirety of such period) and “run-rate” shall mean the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (including any savings expected to result from the elimination of a public target’s Public Company Costs) net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (A) such amounts are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (B) such actions are taken, committed to be taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) no later than thirty-six (36) months after the date of such Specified Transaction, (C) no amounts shall be added pursuant to this clause (c) to the extent duplicative of any amounts that are otherwise added back in computing Consolidated EBITDAX (or any other components thereof), whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, with respect to such period and (D) it is understood and agreed that subject to compliance with the other provisions of this clause (c) , amounts to be included in pro forma calculations pursuant to this Section 1.12 may be included in Test Periods in which the Specified Transaction to which such amounts related is no longer being given Pro Forma Effect pursuant to Section 1.12(a) .

 

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(d) In the event that (x) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or (y) any Restricted Subsidiary issues, repurchases or redeems Preferred Stock, (i) during the applicable Test Period or (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then such financial ratio or test shall be calculated giving Pro Forma Effect to such issuance, refinancing or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable Test Period.

 

SECTION 2.         Amount and Terms of Credit

 

2.1 Commitments .

 

(a) (i) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, each Lender severally, but not jointly, agrees to make a loan or loans denominated in Dollars (each an “ Initial Loan ” and, collectively, the “ Initial Loans ”) to the Borrower, which Loans (i) shall be made at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and prior to the Termination Date, (ii) may, at the option of the Borrower, be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Loans or LIBOR Loans; provided that all Loans made by each of the Lenders pursuant to the same Borrowing shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely of Loans of the same Type, (iii) may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof, (iv) shall not, for any Lender at any time, after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, result in such Lender’s Total Exposure at such time exceeding such Lender’s Commitment Percentage at such time of the Loan Limit, (v) shall not, after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, result in the aggregate amount of all Lenders’ Total Exposures at such time exceeding the Loan Limit then in effect; and (vi) in the case of the Initial Loans made on the Closing Date, shall not result in the aggregate amount of all Lenders’ Total Exposures at such time exceeding $92,000,000.

 

(ii) Each Lender may at its option make any LIBOR Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan, provided that (i) any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan and (ii) in exercising such option, such Lender shall use its reasonable efforts to minimize any increased costs to the Borrower resulting therefrom (which obligation of the Lender shall not require it to take, or refrain from taking, actions that it determines would result in increased costs for which it will not be compensated hereunder or that it determines would be otherwise disadvantageous to it and in the event of such request for costs for which compensation is provided under this Agreement, the provisions of Section 2.10 shall apply).

 

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(b) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Swingline Lender in its individual capacity agrees, at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and prior to the Swingline Maturity Date, to make a loan or loans (each a “ Swingline Loan ” and, collectively, the “ Swingline Loans ”) to the Borrower in Dollars, which Swingline Loans (i) shall be ABR Loans, (ii) shall have the benefit of the provisions of Section 2.1(c) , (iii) shall not exceed at any time outstanding the Swingline Commitment, (iv) shall not, after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, result at any time in the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Total Exposure at such time exceeding the Loan Limit then in effect and (v) may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof. Each outstanding Swingline Loan shall be repaid in full on the earlier of (a) seven (7) Business Days after such Swingline Loan is initially borrowed and (b) the Swingline Maturity Date. The Swingline Lender shall not make any Swingline Loan after receiving a written notice from the Borrower or the Administrative Agent stating that an Event of Default exists and is continuing until such time as the Swingline Lender shall have received written notice of (i) rescission of all such notices from the party or parties originally delivering such notices or (ii) the waiver of such Event of Default in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1 .

 

(c) On any Business Day, the Swingline Lender may, in its sole discretion, give notice to each Lender that all then-outstanding Swingline Loans shall be funded with a Borrowing of Loans, in which case Loans constituting ABR Loans (each such Borrowing, a “ Mandatory Borrowing ”) shall be made on the immediately succeeding Business Day by each Lender pro rata based on each Lender’s Commitment Percentage, and the proceeds thereof shall be applied directly to the Swingline Lender to repay the Swingline Lender for such outstanding Swingline Loans. Each Lender hereby irrevocably agrees to make such Loans upon one Business Days’ notice pursuant to each Mandatory Borrowing in the amount and in the manner specified in the preceding sentence and on the date specified to it in writing by the Swingline Lender notwithstanding (i) that the amount of the Mandatory Borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount for each Borrowing specified in Section 2.2 , (ii) whether any conditions specified in Section 7 are then satisfied, (iii) whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (iv) the date of such Mandatory Borrowing, (v) any reduction in the Total Commitment after any such Swingline Loans were made or (vi) any other event, circumstance or condition whatsoever, whether or not similar to the foregoing. In the event that, in the sole judgment of each Swingline Lender, any Mandatory Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code in respect of the Borrower), each Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith purchase from the Swingline Lender (without recourse or warranty) such participation of the outstanding Swingline Loans as shall be necessary to cause the Lenders to share in such Swingline Loans ratably based upon their respective Commitment Percentages; provided that all principal and interest payable on such Swingline Loans shall be for the account of the Swingline Lender until the date the respective participation is purchased and, to the extent attributable to the purchased participation, shall be payable to such Lender purchasing same from and after such date of purchase.

 

2.2 Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings . The aggregate principal amount of each Borrowing shall be in a minimum amount of at least the Minimum Borrowing Amount for such Type of Loans and in a multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and Swingline Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $100,000 and in a multiple of $10,000 in excess thereof (except that Mandatory Borrowings shall be made in the amounts required by Section 2.1(c) and Loans to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank with respect to any Unpaid Drawing shall be made in the amounts required by Section 3.3 or Section 3.4 , as applicable). More than one Borrowing may be incurred on any date; provided , that at no time shall there be outstanding more than ten Borrowings of LIBOR Loans under this Agreement.

 

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2.3 Notice of Borrowing .

 

(a) Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Loans (other than Swingline Loans, Mandatory Borrowings or borrowings to repay Unpaid Drawings), the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office, (i) (A) in the case of any LIBOR Loans incurred on the Closing Date, prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least two (2) Business Days prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing of Loans and (B) in the case of any LIBOR Loans incurred after the Closing Date, prior to 12:00 noon (New York City time) at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing of Loans and (ii) (A) in the case of any ABR Loans incurred on the Closing Date, prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least one Business Day prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing of Loans and (B) in the case of any ABR Loans incurred after the Closing Date, written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of each Borrowing of Loans that are to be ABR Loans. Such notice (together with each notice of a Borrowing of Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.3(b) , a “ Notice of Borrowing ”) shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing, (B) the date of the Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and (C) whether the respective Borrowing shall consist of ABR Loans and/or LIBOR Loans and, if LIBOR Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto (if no Interest Period is selected, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration). The Administrative Agent shall promptly give each Lender written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each proposed Borrowing of Loans, of such Lender’s Commitment Percentage thereof and of the other matters covered by the related Notice of Borrowing.

 

(b) Whenever the Borrower desires to incur Swingline Loans hereunder, it shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing of Swingline Loans prior to 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing. Each such notice shall specify (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Swingline Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing and (ii) the date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day). The Administrative Agent shall promptly give the Swingline Lender written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each proposed Borrowing of Swingline Loans and of the other matters covered by the related Notice of Borrowing.

 

(c) Mandatory Borrowings shall be made upon the notice specified in Section 2.1(c) , with the Borrower irrevocably agreeing, by its incurrence of any Swingline Loan, to the making of Mandatory Borrowings as set forth in such Section.

 

(d) Borrowings to reimburse Unpaid Drawings shall be made upon the notice specified in Section 3.4(a) .

 

(e) Without in any way limiting the obligation of the Borrower to confirm in writing any notice it may give hereunder by telephone, the Administrative Agent may act prior to receipt of written confirmation without liability upon the basis of such telephonic notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from an Authorized Officer of the Borrower.

 

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2.4 Disbursement of Funds .

 

(a) No later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date specified in each Notice of Borrowing (including Mandatory Borrowings), each Lender will make available its pro rata portion of each Borrowing requested to be made on such date in the manner provided below; provided that on the Closing Date, such funds shall be made available by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) or such earlier time as may be agreed among the Lenders, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent for the purpose of consummating the Transactions; provided , further , that all Swingline Loans shall be made available in the full amount thereof by the Swingline Lender no later than 3:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the date requested.

 

(b) Each Lender shall make available all amounts it is to fund to the Borrower under any Borrowing in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars, and the Administrative Agent will (except in the case of Mandatory Borrowings and Borrowings to repay Unpaid Drawings) make available to the Borrower, by depositing or wiring to an account as designated by the Borrower in the Notice of Borrowing to the Administrative Agent the aggregate of the amounts so made available in Dollars. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the date of any such Borrowing (or, with respect to an ABR Loan, the date of such Borrowing prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York City time)) that such Lender does not intend to make available to the Administrative Agent its portion of the Borrowing or Borrowings to be made on such date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date of Borrowing, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance upon such assumption, may (in its sole discretion and without any obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender and the Administrative Agent has made available such amount to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent in Dollars. The Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to (i) if paid by such Lender, the Overnight Rate or (ii) if paid by the Borrower, the then-applicable rate of interest or fees, calculated in accordance with Section 2.8 , for the respective Loans.

 

(c) Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder).

 

2.5 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt .

 

(a) The Borrower agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable Lenders, on the earlier of (X) the Termination Date and (Y) (i) on the Initial Maturity Date, the then outstanding Initial Loans, (ii) on the relevant maturity date for any Extended Class, all then outstanding Extended Loans in respect of such Extension Series and (iii) on the Swingline Maturity Date, the then outstanding Swingline Loans.

 

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(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to the appropriate lending office of such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such lending office from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such lending office from time to time under this Agreement.

 

(c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 13.6(b)(iv) , and a subaccount for each Lender, in which Register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder (whether such Loan is an Initial Loan, an Extended Loan or Swingline Loan, as applicable), the Type of each Loan made and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender or the Swingline Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(d) The entries made in the Register and accounts and subaccounts maintained pursuant to clauses (b)  and (c)  of this Section 2.5 shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided , however , that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such account, such Register or such subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to the Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

2.6 Conversions and Continuations .

 

(a) Subject to the penultimate sentence of this clause (a) , (i) the Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to convert all or a portion equal to at least the Minimum Borrowing Amount (and in multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof) of the outstanding principal amount of Loans of one Type into a Borrowing or Borrowings of another Type and (ii) the Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to continue the outstanding principal amount of any LIBOR Loans as LIBOR Loans for an additional Interest Period; provided that (A) no partial conversion of LIBOR Loans shall reduce the outstanding principal amount of LIBOR Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing to less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount, (B) ABR Loans may not be converted into LIBOR Loans if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the conversion and the Administrative Agent has or the Majority Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversion, (C) LIBOR Loans may not be continued as LIBOR Loans for an additional Interest Period if an Event of Default is in existence on the date of the proposed continuation and the Administrative Agent has or the Majority Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, and (D) Borrowings resulting from conversions pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be limited in number as provided in Section 2.2 . Each such conversion or continuation shall be effected by the Borrower by giving the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office prior to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least (1) three (3) Business Days’, in the case of a continuation of or conversion to LIBOR Loans or (2) the date of conversion, in the case of a conversion into ABR Loans, prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) (each, a “ Notice of Conversion or Continuation ”) specifying the Loans to be so converted or continued, the Type of Loans to be converted into or continued and, if such Loans are to be converted into or continued as LIBOR Loans, the Interest Period to be initially applicable thereto (if no Interest Period is selected, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration). The Administrative Agent shall give each applicable Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed conversion or continuation affecting any of its Loans.

 

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(b) If any Event of Default is in existence at the time of any proposed continuation of any LIBOR Loans and the Administrative Agent has or the Majority Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, such LIBOR Loans shall be automatically converted on the last day of the current Interest Period into ABR Loans. If upon the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of LIBOR Loans, the Borrower has failed to elect a new Interest Period to be applicable thereto as provided in clause (a)  above, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to continue such Borrowing of LIBOR Loans into a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans having an interest period of one month, effective as of the expiration date of such current Interest Period.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Borrower may deliver a Notice of Conversion or Continuation pursuant to which the Borrower elects to irrevocably continue the outstanding principal amount of any Loan subject to an interest rate Hedge Agreement as LIBOR Loans for each Interest Period until the expiration of the term of such applicable Hedge Agreement; provided that any Notice of Conversion or Continuation delivered pursuant to this Section 2.6(c) shall include a schedule attaching the relevant interest rate Hedge Agreement or related trade confirmation.

 

2.7 Pro Rata Borrowings . Each Borrowing of Initial Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders pro rata on the basis of their then applicable Commitment Percentages with respect to the applicable Class. Each Borrowing of Extended Loans under this Agreement shall be granted by the Lenders of the relevant Extension Series thereof pro rata on the basis of their then-applicable Extended Commitments for the applicable Extension Series. It is understood that (a) no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligation to make Loans hereunder and that each Lender severally but not jointly shall be obligated to make the Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder and (b) failure by a Lender to perform any of its obligations under any of the Credit Documents shall not release any Person from performance of its obligation under any Credit Document.

 

2.8 Interest .

 

(a) The unpaid principal amount of each ABR Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin plus the ABR, in each case, in effect from time to time.

 

(b) The unpaid principal amount of each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity thereof (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be the Applicable Margin plus the relevant LIBOR Rate, in each case, in effect from time to time.

 

(c) If all or a portion of (i) the principal amount of any Loan or (ii) any other amount payable under the Credit Documents (including, without limitation, interest payable thereon and premium, if any) shall not be paid when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum that is (the “ Default Rate ”) (A) in the case of overdue principal, the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto plus 2.0%, (B) in the case of any overdue interest, to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, the rate described in Section 2.8(a) plus 2.0% from and including the date of such non-payment to the date on which such amount is paid in full (after as well as before judgment) and (C) in the case of any overdue amount not specified in subclause (A) or (B) above, a rate per annum equal to the rate per annum otherwise payable at such time on ABR Loans.

 

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(d) Interest on each Loan shall accrue from and including the date of any Borrowing to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof and shall be payable in Dollars; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same date on which it is made shall bear interest for one day. Except as provided below, interest shall be payable (i) in respect of each ABR Loan, quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, (ii) in respect of each LIBOR Loan, on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto and, in the case of an Interest Period in excess of three (3) months, on each date occurring at three-month intervals after the first day of such Interest Period, (iii) in respect of each Loan, (A) on any prepayment (on the amount prepaid), (B) at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and (C) after such maturity, on demand.

 

(e) All computations of interest hereunder shall be made in accordance with Section 5.5 .

 

(f) The Administrative Agent, upon determining the interest rate for any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans, shall promptly notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders thereof. Each such determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

 

2.9 Interest Periods . At the time the Borrower gives a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation in respect of the making of, or conversion into or continuation as, a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans in accordance with Section 2.6(a) , the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of the Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing, which Interest Period shall, at the option of the Borrower be (i) a one-, two-, three- or six- or (if available to all the Lenders making such LIBOR Loans as determined by such Lenders in good faith based on prevailing market conditions) a twelve-month period or (ii) any period shorter than one month (if available to all the Lenders making such LIBOR Loans as determined by such Lenders in good faith based on prevailing market conditions) as requested by the Borrower.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above:

 

(a) the initial Interest Period for any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of ABR Loans) and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

 

(b) if any Interest Period relating to a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month or begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

 

(c) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that, if any Interest Period in respect of a LIBOR Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day; and

 

(d) the Borrower shall not be entitled to elect any Interest Period in respect of any LIBOR Loan if such Interest Period would extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

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2.10 Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc .

 

(a) In the event that (x) in the case of clause (i) below, the Majority Lenders or (y) in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) below, any Lender (or the Administrative Agent, as applicable), shall have reasonably determined (which determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto):

 

(i) on any date for determining the LIBOR Rate for any Interest Period that (A) deposits in the principal amounts of the Loans comprising such Borrowing of LIBOR Loans are not generally available in the relevant market or (B) by reason of any changes arising on or after the Closing Date affecting the interbank LIBOR market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable interest rate on the basis provided for in the definition of LIBOR Rate; or

 

(ii) that a Change in Law occurring at any time after the Closing Date shall (A) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender, (B) subject any Lender (including any Issuing Bank and any Swingline Lender) and the Administrative Agent to any Tax (other than (i) Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes indemnifiable under Section 5.4 , or (ii) Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto, or (C) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Loans made by such Lender, which results in the cost to such Lender of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining LIBOR Loans or participating in Letters of Credit (in each case hereunder) increasing by an amount which such Lender reasonably deems material or the amounts received or receivable by such Lender hereunder with respect to the foregoing shall be reduced; or

 

(iii) at any time, that the making or continuance of any LIBOR Loan has become unlawful as a result of compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Requirement of Law (or would conflict with any such Requirement of Law not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful);

 

then, and in any such event, such Lenders (or the Administrative Agent, in the case of clause (i)  and (ii)(B) above) shall within a reasonable time thereafter give notice (if by telephone, confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent of such determination (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the other Lenders). Thereafter (x) in the case of clause (i)  above, LIBOR Loans shall no longer be available until such time as the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice by the Administrative Agent no longer exist (which notice the Administrative Agent agrees to give at such time when such circumstances no longer exist), and any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Continuation given by the Borrower with respect to LIBOR Loans that have not yet been incurred shall be deemed rescinded by the Borrower, (y) in the case of clause (ii)  above, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender (or the Administrative Agent, as applicable), promptly (but no later than fifteen (15) days) after receipt of written demand therefor such additional amounts as shall be required to compensate such Lender (or the Administrative Agent, as applicable) for such increased costs or reductions in amounts receivable hereunder (it being agreed that a written notice as to the additional amounts owed to such Lender (or the Administrative Agent, as applicable), showing in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to the Borrower by such Lender (or the Administrative Agent, as applicable) shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) and (z) in the case of clause (iii)  above, the Borrower shall take one of the actions specified in Section 2.10(b) as promptly as possible and, in any event, within the time period required by applicable Requirements of Law.

 

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(b) At any time that any LIBOR Loan is affected by the circumstances described in Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iii) , the Borrower may (and in the case of a LIBOR Loan affected pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(iii)  shall) either if the affected LIBOR Loan is then being made pursuant to a Borrowing, cancel such Borrowing by giving the Administrative Agent telephonic notice (confirmed promptly in writing) thereof on the same date that the Borrower was notified by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(ii) or (iii) or if the affected LIBOR Loan is then outstanding, upon at least three (3) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, require the affected Lender to convert each such LIBOR Loan into an ABR Loan; provided that if more than one Lender are affected at any time, then all affected Lenders must be treated in the same manner pursuant to this Section 2.10(b) .

 

(c) If, after the Closing Date, any Change in Law relating to capital adequacy or liquidity requirements of any Lender or compliance by any Lender or its parent with any Change in Law relating to capital adequacy or liquidity requirements occurring after the Closing Date, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or its parent’s capital or assets as a consequence of such Lender’s commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or its parent could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or its parent’s policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity requirements), then from time to time, promptly (but in any event no later than fifteen (15) days) after written demand by such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or its parent for such reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that a Lender shall not be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Lender’s compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any applicable Requirement of Law as in effect on the Closing Date. Each Lender, upon determining in good faith that any additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) , will give prompt written notice thereof to the Borrower, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis of the calculation of such additional amounts, although the failure to give any such notice shall not, subject to Section 2.13 , release or diminish the Borrower’s obligations to pay additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) upon receipt of such notice.

 

2.11 Compensation . If (a) any payment of principal of any LIBOR Loan is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan as a result of a payment or conversion pursuant to Section 2.5 , 2.6 , 2.10 , 5.1 , 5.2 or 13.7 , as a result of acceleration of the maturity of the Loans pursuant to Section 11 or for any other reason, (b) any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans is not made on the date specified in a Notice of Borrowing, (c) any ABR Loan is not converted into a LIBOR Loan on the date specified in a Notice of Conversion or Continuation, (d) any LIBOR Loan is not continued as a LIBOR Loan on the date specified in a Notice of Conversion or Continuation or (e) any prepayment of principal of any LIBOR Loan is not made as a result of a withdrawn notice of prepayment pursuant to Section 5.1 or 5.2 , the Borrower shall after the Borrower’s receipt of a written request by such Lender (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount), pay to the Administrative Agent (within fifteen (15) days after such request) for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that such Lender may reasonably incur as a result of such payment, failure to convert, failure to continue or failure to prepay, including any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such LIBOR Loan.

 

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2.12 Change of Lending Office . Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.10(a)(ii) , 2.10(a)(iii), 2.10(c) , 3.11 or 5.4 with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event; provided that such designation does not cause such Lender or its lending office to suffer any economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, with the object of avoiding the consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of any such Section. Nothing in this Section 2.12 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the right of any Lender provided in Section 2.10 , 3.11 or 5.4 .

 

2.13 Notice of Certain Costs . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent any notice required by Section 2.10, 2.11 or 5.4 is given by any Lender more than 180 days after such Lender has knowledge (or should have had knowledge) of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the additional cost, reduction in amounts, loss, Tax or other additional amounts described in such Sections, such Lender shall not be entitled to compensation under Section 2.10, 2.11 or 5.4, as the case may be, for any such amounts incurred or accruing prior to the 181 st day prior to the giving of such notice to the Borrower; provided that if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

2.14 Borrowing Base .

 

(a) Initial Borrowing Base . For the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the first Redetermination Date, the Borrowing Base shall be equal to $115,000,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowing Base may be subject to further adjustments from time to time pursuant to Section 2.14(e) , (f) and (h) .

 

(b) Scheduled and Interim Redeterminations . The Borrowing Base shall be redetermined semi-annually in accordance with this Section 2.14 (a “ Scheduled Redetermination ”), and, subject to Section 2.14(d) , such redetermined Borrowing Base shall become effective and applicable to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders (x) on or about November 1, 2018 and (y) thereafter on April 1 st and October 1 st of each year (or as promptly as possible thereafter), commencing April 1, 2019. In addition, (i) the Borrower may at any time (including prior to the first Scheduled Redetermination Date of November 1, 2018), by notifying the Administrative Agent thereof not more than once during any period between Scheduled Redeterminations and not more than twice during any fiscal year; and (ii) the Administrative Agent, following the first Scheduled Redetermination Date of November 1, 2018 may, at the written direction of the Required Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower thereof, not more than once during any period between Scheduled Redeterminations and not more than twice during any fiscal year ( provided that such limitation shall not apply to any redetermination requested by the Borrower in connection with any Incremental Increase pursuant to Section 2.16 ), in each case, elect to cause the Borrowing Base to be redetermined between Scheduled Redeterminations (an “ Interim Redetermination ”) in accordance with this Section 2.14 . In addition to, and not including and/or limited by the annual Interim Redeterminations allowed above, the Borrower may, by notifying the Administrative Agent thereof, at any time between Scheduled Redeterminations, request additional Interim Redeterminations of the Borrowing Base in the event that a Credit Party acquires Oil and Gas Properties which are to be Borrowing Base Properties with Proved Reserves having a PV-9 value (calculated at the time of acquisition) in excess of five percent (5.0%) of the Borrowing Base in effect immediately prior to such acquisition (and for purposes of the foregoing, the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary owning Oil and Gas Properties with Proved Reserves as a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to constitute an acquisition by a Credit Party of Oil and Gas Properties with Proved Reserves).

 

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(c) Scheduled and Interim Redetermination Procedure .

 

(i) Each Scheduled Redetermination and each Interim Redetermination shall be effectuated as follows: Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of the Reserve Report, the Reserve Report Certificate, the information provided pursuant to Section 9.14(c) and such other related reports, data and supplemental information as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, including notice of any reduction of Pari Debt (the Reserve Report, such Reserve Report Certificate and such other related reports, data and information being the “ Engineering Reports ”), the Administrative Agent shall evaluate the information contained in the Engineering Reports and shall in good faith propose a new Borrowing Base (the “ Proposed Borrowing Base ”) based upon such information and such other related information (including the status of title information with respect to the Borrowing Base Properties as described in the Engineering Reports and the existence of any Hedge Agreements) in good faith in accordance with its usual and customary oil and gas lending criteria as they exist at the particular time.

 

(ii) The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Proposed Borrowing Base (the “ Proposed Borrowing Base Notice ”):

 

(A)   in the case of a Scheduled Redetermination, (1) if the Administrative Agent shall have received the Engineering Reports required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 9.14(a) and (c)  in a timely manner, within ten (10) Business Days following its receipt of such Engineering Reports or (2) if the Administrative Agent shall not have received the Engineering Reports required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 9.14(a) and (c)  in a timely manner, then promptly after the Administrative Agent has received complete Engineering Reports from the Borrower and has had a reasonable opportunity to determine the Proposed Borrowing Base in accordance with Section 2.14(c)(i) ; and

 

(B)   in the case of an Interim Redetermination, promptly, and in any event, within fifteen (15) days after the Administrative Agent has received the required Engineering Reports.

 

(iii) [Reserved].

 

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(iv) Any Proposed Borrowing Base that would increase the Borrowing Base then in effect must be approved or deemed to have been approved by each Lender in each such Lender’s sole discretion and consistent with each such Lender’s normal and customary oil and gas lending criteria as they exist at the particular time as provided in this Section 2.14(c)(iv) and any Proposed Borrowing Base that would decrease or maintain the Borrowing Base then in effect must be approved or be deemed to have been approved by Lenders constituting at least the Required Lenders in each such Lender’s sole discretion and consistent with each such Lender’s normal and customary oil and gas lending criteria as they exist at the particular time as provided in this Section 2.14(c)(iv) . Upon receipt of the Proposed Borrowing Base Notice, each Lender shall have, in the case of any Scheduled Redetermination, fifteen (15) Business Days, and in the case of any Interim Redetermination, five (5) Business Days, in either case, to agree with the Proposed Borrowing Base or disagree with the Proposed Borrowing Base by proposing an alternate Borrowing Base. If at the end of such 15-Business Day period or 5-Business Day period (as applicable), all of the Lenders, in the case of a Proposed Borrowing Base that would increase the Borrowing Base then in effect, or the Required Lenders, in the case of a Proposed Borrowing Base that would decrease or maintain the Borrowing Base then in effect, have approved, then the Proposed Borrowing Base shall become the new Borrowing Base, effective on the date specified in Section 2.14(d) . If, however, at the end of such 15-Business Day period or 5-Business Day period (as applicable), all Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, have not approved, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly thereafter poll the Lenders to ascertain the highest Borrowing Base then acceptable to (a) in the case of a decrease or reaffirmation, a number of Lenders sufficient to constitute the Required Lenders or (b) in the case of an increase, all of the Lenders, and such amount shall become the new Borrowing Base, effective on the date specified in Section 2.14(d) .

 

(d) Effectiveness of a Redetermined Borrowing Base . Subject to Section 2.14(h) , after a redetermined Borrowing Base is approved by each Lender or the Required Lenders, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.14(c)(iv) , the Administrative Agent shall promptly thereafter notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the amount of the redetermined Borrowing Base (the “ New Borrowing Base Notice ”), and such amount shall become the new Borrowing Base, effective and applicable to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders:

 

(i) in the case of a Scheduled Redetermination, (A) if the Administrative Agent shall have received the Engineering Reports required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 9.14(a) and (c)  in a timely and complete manner, on the April 1 or October 1, as applicable, following such notice, or (B) if the Administrative Agent shall not have received the Engineering Reports required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 9.14(a) and (c)  in a timely and complete manner, then on the Business Day next succeeding delivery of such New Borrowing Base Notice; and

 

(ii) in the case of an Interim Redetermination, on the Business Day next succeeding delivery of such New Borrowing Base Notice.

 

Such amount shall then become the Borrowing Base until the next Scheduled Redetermination Date, the next redetermination or modification thereof hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Scheduled Redetermination or Interim Redetermination shall become effective until the New Borrowing Base Notice related thereto delivered to the Borrower in accordance with Section 13.2 .

 

(e) Reduction of Borrowing Base Upon Incurrence of Borrowing Base Reduction Debt . The Borrowing Base shall be reduced upon the issuance or incurrence of any Borrowing Base Reduction Debt after the Closing Date (other than Borrowing Base Reduction Debt constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness) by an amount equal to the product of 0.25 multiplied by the stated principal amount of such Borrowing Base Reduction Debt (without regard to any original issue discount), and the Borrowing Base as so reduced shall become the new Borrowing Base immediately upon the date of such issuance or incurrence, effective and applicable to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders on such date until the next redetermination or modification thereof hereunder.

 

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(f) Reduction of Borrowing Base Upon Termination of Hedge Positions and Asset Dispositions .

 

(i) If the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall terminate or create any off-setting positions in respect of any commodity hedge positions (whether evidenced by a floor, put or Hedge Agreement) upon which the Lenders relied in determining the Borrowing Base, and/or

 

(ii) If the Borrower or one of the other Credit Parties Disposes of Borrowing Base Properties or Disposes of any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary or Minority Investment owning Borrowing Base Properties, and

 

(iii) the sum of (x) the Swap PV of such terminated and/or offsetting positions (after taking into account any other Hedge Agreement executed (a) contemporaneously with the taking of such actions or (b) subsequent to the last redetermination of the Borrowing Base) plus (y) the aggregate PV-9 value of all such Borrowing Base Properties Disposed of (after giving effect to any concurrent acquisitions of and other investments in Oil and Gas Properties by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to which the Borrower has delivered a Reserve Report in accordance with Section 9.14(b) ), in each case, since the later of (A) the most recent Scheduled Redetermination Date and (B) the last adjustment of the Borrowing Base made pursuant to this Section 2.14(f) exceeds 7.5% of the then-effective Borrowing Base, then the Required Lenders shall have the right to adjust the Borrowing Base in an amount equal to the sum of (1) the Borrowing Base Value, if any, attributable to such terminated or off-setting hedge positions in the calculation of the then-effective Borrowing Base (after taking into account any other Hedge Agreement executed contemporaneously with the taking of such actions) and (2) an amount equal to the Borrowing Base Value, if any, attributable to such Disposed Borrowing Base Properties in the calculation of the then-effective Borrowing Base (after giving effect to any concurrent acquisitions of and other investments in Oil and Gas Properties by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to which the Borrower has delivered a Reserve Report in accordance with Section 9.14(b) ) and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower in writing of the Borrowing Base Value, if any, attributable to such terminated or offsetting hedge positions and Disposed of Borrowing Base Properties in the calculation of the then-effective Borrowing Base and, upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowing Base shall be simultaneously reduced by such amount.

 

(iv) For the purposes of this Section 2.14(f) , a “Disposition” of Oil and Gas Properties shall include the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary owning Oil and Gas Properties as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and the Disposition or other transfer of Oil and Gas Properties or the Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary or Minority Investment owning Oil and Gas Properties to an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

(g) [ Reserved ].

 

(h) Borrower’s Right to Elect Reduced Borrowing Base . Within three (3) Business Days of its receipt of an New Borrowing Base Notice, the Borrower may provide written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that specifies for the period from the effective date of the New Borrowing Base Notice until the next succeeding Scheduled Redetermination Date, the Borrowing Base will be a lesser amount than the amount set forth in such New Borrowing Base Notice, whereupon such specified lesser amount (the “ Draw Limit ”) will become the new Borrowing Base. The Borrower’s notice under this Section 2.14(h) shall be irrevocable, but without prejudice to its rights to initiate Interim Redeterminations.

 

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(i) Administrative Agent Data . The Administrative Agent hereby agrees to provide, promptly, and in any event within three (3) Business Days, following its receipt of a request by the Borrower, an updated Bank Price Deck. In addition, the Administrative Agent agrees, upon request, to meet with the Borrower to discuss its evaluation of the reservoir engineering of the Oil and Gas Properties included in the Reserve Report and their respective methodologies for valuing such properties and the other factors considered in calculating the Borrowing Base.

 

(j) [ Reserved ].

 

(k) [Reserved] .

 

(l) [Reserved] .

 

2.15 Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

 

(a) Commitment Fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 4.1(a) ;

 

(b) The Commitment and Total Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders, the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders or each affected Lender have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 13.1 ); provided that (i) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders pursuant to Section 13.1 (other than Section 13.1(a)(x) ) or requiring the consent of each affected Lender pursuant to Section 13.1(a)(i) or (ix) shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender (which for the avoidance of doubt would include any change to the Maturity Date applicable to such Defaulting Lender, decreasing or forgiving any principal or interest due to such Defaulting Lender, any decrease of any interest rate applicable to Loans made by such Defaulting Lender (other than the waiving of post-default interest rates) and any increase in or extension of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) and (ii) any redetermination, whether an increase, decrease or affirmation, of the Borrowing Base shall occur without the participation of a Defaulting Lender, but the Commitment (i.e., the Commitment Percentage of the Borrowing Base) of a Defaulting Lender may not be increased without the consent of such Defaulting Lender;

 

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(c) If any Swingline Exposure or Letter of Credit Exposure exists at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then (i) all or any part of such Swingline Exposure and Letter of Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender will, subject to the limitation in the first proviso below, automatically be reallocated (effective on the day such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender) among the Non-Defaulting Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages; provided that (A) each Non-Defaulting Lender’s Total Exposure may not in any event exceed the Commitment Percentage of the Loan Limit of such Non-Defaulting Lender as in effect at the time of such reallocation and (B) neither such reallocation nor any payment by a Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant thereto will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or any other Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender or cause such Defaulting Lender to be a Non-Defaulting Lender, (ii) to the extent that all or any portion of the Defaulting Lender’s Swingline Exposure or Letter of Credit Exposure cannot, or can only partially, be so reallocated to Non-Defaulting Lenders, whether by reason of the first proviso in Section 2.15(c)(i) or otherwise, the Borrower shall within two (2) Business Days following notice by the Administrative Agent (x)  first , prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y)  second , Cash Collateralize for the benefit of the applicable Issuing Bank only the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i)  above), in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.7 for so long as such Letter of Credit Exposure is outstanding, (iii) if the Borrower Cash Collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure pursuant to this Section 2.15(c) , the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 4.1(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure is Cash Collateralized (and such fees shall be payable to the Issuing Banks), (iv) if the Letter of Credit Exposure of the Non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to this Section 2.15(c) , then the Letter of Credit Fees payable for the account of the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.1(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such Non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitment Percentages and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any Swingline Loan fees (if any) or Letter of Credit Fees to the Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 4.1(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure during the period that such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure is reallocated, or (v) if any Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure is neither Cash Collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to this Section 2.15(c) , then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any Issuing Bank or any Lender hereunder, all Letter of Credit Fees payable under Section 4.1(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Letter of Credit Exposure shall be payable to such Issuing Bank until such Letter of Credit Exposure is Cash Collateralized and/or reallocated;

 

(d) So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank will be required to issue any new Letter of Credit or amend any outstanding Letter of Credit to increase the Stated Amount thereof, alter the drawing terms thereunder or extend the expiry date thereof, unless each Issuing Bank is reasonably satisfied that any exposure that would result from the exposure to such Defaulting Lender is eliminated or fully covered by the Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Lenders or by Cash Collateralization or a combination thereof in accordance with clause (c)  above or otherwise in a manner reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank, and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit or newly made Swingline Loan shall be allocated among Non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.15(c)(i) (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein);

 

(e) If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank agree in writing in their discretion that a Lender that is a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon, as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender and will be a Non-Defaulting Lender and any applicable Cash Collateral shall be promptly returned to the Borrower and any Letter of Credit Exposure of such Lender reallocated pursuant to Section 2.15(c) shall be reallocated back to such Lender; provided that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender; and

 

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(f) Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 11 or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 13.8 ), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender hereunder; third , as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fourth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; fifth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, each Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as a result of any final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; sixth , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and seventh , to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or Unpaid Drawings, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the relevant Loans of, and Unpaid Drawings owed to, the relevant non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied in the manner set forth in this Section 2.15(f) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 3.7 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

2.16 Increase of Total Commitment .

 

(a) Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2.16(b) , the Borrower may increase the Total Commitment then in effect (any such increase an “ Incremental Increase ”) by increasing the Commitment of a Lender (an “ Increasing Lender ”) or by causing a Person that at such time is not a Lender to become a Lender (an “ Additional Lender ”).

 

(b) Any increase in the Total Commitment shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(i) such increase shall not be less than $10,000,000 (and increments of $1,000,000 above that minimum) unless the Administrative Agent otherwise consents;

 

(ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately after giving effect to such increase;

 

(iii) no Lender’s Commitment may be increased without the consent of such Lender;

 

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(iv) the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank must consent to the increase in Commitments of an Increasing Lender and the addition of any Additional Lender, in each case, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;

 

(v) the maturity date of such increase shall be the same as the Maturity Date;

 

(vi) for the avoidance of doubt, such increase shall be subject to the Borrowing Base (which may, subject to and in accordance with Section 2.14(b) (including the limitations on the number and frequency of Interim Redeterminations), and be redetermined pursuant to an Interim Redetermination at the Borrower’s option immediately after giving effect to any acquisition of Borrowing Base Properties);

 

(vii) the increase shall be on the exact same terms and pursuant to the exact same documentation applicable to this Agreement (other than with respect to any arrangement, structuring, upfront or other fees or discounts payable in connection with such Incremental Increase) ( provided that the Applicable Margin of the Facility shall be increased to be consistent with that for such Incremental Increases); and

 

(viii) the Borrower may seek commitments in respect of an Incremental Increase, in its sole discretion, from either existing Lenders (each of which shall be entitled to agree or decline to participate in its sole discretion) or from additional banks, financial institutions or other institutional lenders who will become Lenders hereunder with the consent of the Administrative Agent, each Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank (in each case, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(c) Any increase in the Total Commitment shall be implemented using customary documentation (any such documentation, an “ Incremental Agreement ”). Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Credit Documents may be amended pursuant to an Incremental Agreement, without the consent of Lenders other than the Lenders providing such Incremental Increase, to the extent necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of an Incremental Increase and (ii) address technical issues relating to funding and payments, and the Required Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such Incremental Agreement.

 

2.17 Extension Offers .

 

(a) The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Commitments and related Loans of a given Class be amended to extend the scheduled Maturity Date thereof and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.17 . In order to establish an Extended Class, the Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Class) (each, a “ Loan Extension Request ”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Class to be established, which shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under such Existing Class (including as to the proposed interest rates and fees payable, but excluding any arrangement, structuring or other similar fees payable in connection therewith that are not generally shared with all relevant Lenders) and offered pro rata to each Lender under such Existing Class and (y) be identical to the Commitments and Loans under the Existing Class from which such Extended Class is to be amended (the “ Specified Existing Commitment Class ”), except that: (i) the fees with respect to the Extended Commitments of any Extended Class may be different than the fees for the Commitments of such Existing Class, in each case to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, (ii) the yield with respect to the Extended Loans of any Extended Class (whether in the form of interest rate margin, upfront fees, original issue discount or otherwise) may be different than the yield for the Loans of such Existing Class, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (iii) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Class); provided that (A) in no event shall the final Maturity Date of any Extended Class of a given Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof be earlier than the Maturity Date of the Existing Class, (B) all documentation in respect of such Extension Amendment shall be consistent with the foregoing and (C) any Extended Loans of an Extended Class may participate on a pro rata basis or less than or greater than pro rata basis in any voluntary repayments or prepayments of principal of the Loans hereunder and on a pro rata basis or less than a pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments or prepayments of Loans hereunder, in each case as specified in the respective Loan Extension Request. Any Class of Loans and Commitments amended pursuant to any Loan Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, an “ Extension Series ”) of Extended Commitments and Extended Loans for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Extended Commitments and Extended Loans amended from an Existing Class may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established Extension Series with respect to an Existing Class. Each request for an Extension Series of Extended Commitments and Extended Loans proposed to be incurred under this Section 2.17 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000 (it being understood that the actual principal amount thereof provided by the applicable Lenders may be lower than such minimum amount) and the Borrower may impose an Extension Minimum Condition with respect to any Loan Extension Request, which may be waived by the Borrower in its sole discretion.

 

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(b) The Borrower shall provide the applicable Loan Extension Request at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior to the date on which Lenders under the Existing Class are requested to respond, and shall agree to such procedures, if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.17 . No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Commitments and Loans of any Existing Class amended into an Extended Class pursuant to any Loan Extension Request. Any Lender holding a Commitment or Loan under an Existing Class (each, an “ Extending Lender ”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Commitments and Loans under the Existing Class subject to such Loan Extension Request amended into Extended Commitments and Extended Loans shall notify the Administrative Agent (each, an “ Extension Election ”) on or prior to the date specified in such Loan Extension Request of the amount of its Commitments and Loans under the Existing Class, which it has elected to request be amended into an Extended Class (subject to any minimum denomination requirements imposed by the Administrative Agent). In the event that the aggregate principal amount of Commitments and Loans under the Existing Class in respect of which applicable Lenders shall have accepted the relevant Loan Extension Request exceeds the amount of Extended Commitments and Extended Loans requested to be extended pursuant to the Loan Extension Request, Commitments and Loans subject to Extension Elections shall be amended to Extended Commitments and Extended Loans on a pro rata basis (subject to rounding by the Administrative Agent) based on the aggregate principal amount of Commitments and Loans included in each such Extension Election. Notwithstanding the conversion of any Existing Commitment into an Extended Commitment, such Extended Commitment shall be treated identically to all Existing Commitments of the Specified Existing Commitment Class for purposes of the obligations of a Lender in respect of Swingline Loans under Section 2.1(c) and Letters of Credit under Section 3 , except that the applicable Extension Amendment may provide that the Swingline Maturity Date and/or the last day for issuing Letters of Credit may be extended and the related obligations to make Swingline Loans and issue Letters of Credit may be continued (pursuant to mechanics to be specified in the applicable Extension Amendment) so long as the applicable Swingline Lender and/or the applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable, have consented to such extensions. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Swingline Maturity Date and/or the last day for issuing Letters of Credit may be extended (and the related obligations to make Swingline Loans or issue Letters of Credit may not be continued) without the express consent of the Swingline Lender or applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable.

 

(c) Extended Commitments and Extended Loans shall be established pursuant to an amendment (each, a “ Extension Amendment ”) to this Agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Extending Lender providing an Extended Commitment and Extended Loan thereunder (and the Swingline Lender and Issuing Bank, if applicable), which shall be consistent with the provisions set forth in Sections 2.17(a) and (b) above (but which shall not require the consent of any other Lender). The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Extension Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Credit Documents may be amended pursuant to an Extension Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Extended Commitment and Extended Loans incurred pursuant thereto, (ii) modify the prepayments set forth in Section 5.2 to reflect the existence of the Extended Commitments and Extended Loans and the application of prepayments with respect thereto, (iii) address technical issues relating to funding and payments and (iv) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Administrative Agent and of the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.17 , and the Required Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such Extension Amendment. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, no Extension Amendment shall be effective unless (i) all Letter of Credit Exposure will be covered on terms reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank, (ii) all Swingline Exposure will be covered on terms reasonably acceptable to the Swingline Lender and (iii) the Available Commitment shall not exceed the Borrowing Base.

 

(d) No conversion of Commitments and Loans pursuant to any extension in accordance with this Section 2.17 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 3. Letters of Credit

 

3.1 Letters of Credit .

 

(a) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date and prior to the L/C Maturity Date, each Issuing Bank, severally, and not jointly, agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 3 , to issue upon the request of the Borrower and for the direct or indirect benefit of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, a letter of credit or letters of credit in dollars (the “ Letters of Credit ” and each, a “ Letter of Credit ”) in such form and with such Issuer Documents as may be approved by the applicable Issuing Bank in its reasonable discretion; provided that the Borrower shall be a co-applicant of, and jointly and severally liable with respect to, each Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Letters of Credit Outstanding at such time, would exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment then in effect, (ii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued the Stated Amount of which would cause the aggregate amount of all Lenders’ Total Exposures at such time to exceed the Loan Limit then in effect, (iii) each Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date occurring no later than one year after the date of issuance or such longer period of time as may be agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank or as provided under Section 3.2(b) ; provided that any Letter of Credit may provide for automatic renewal thereof for additional periods of up to 12 months or such longer period of time as may be agreed upon by the applicable Issuing Bank, subject to the provisions of Section 3.2(b) ; provided , further , that in no event shall such expiration date occur later than the L/C Maturity Date unless arrangements which are reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank to Cash Collateralize (or backstop) such Letter of Credit have been made, (iv) no Letter of Credit shall be issued if it would be illegal under any applicable Requirement of Law for the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit to have a Letter of Credit issued in its favor, (v) no Letter of Credit shall be issued by an Issuing Bank after it has received a written notice from the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders stating that a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing until such time as such Issuing Bank shall have received a written notice (A) of rescission of such notice from the party or parties originally delivering such notice, (B) of the waiver of such Default or Event of Default in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1 or (C) that such Default or Event of Default is no longer continuing and (vi) without the consent of the applicable Issuing Bank, no Letter of Credit shall be issued in any currency other than Dollars.

 

(c) Upon at least one Business Day’s prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the applicable Lenders), the Borrower shall have the right, on any day, permanently to terminate or reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment in whole or in part; provided that, after giving effect to such termination or reduction, the Letters of Credit Outstanding shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

3.2 Letter of Credit Applications .

 

(a) Whenever the Borrower desires that a Letter of Credit be issued, amended or renewed for its account on its own behalf, or on behalf of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent a Letter of Credit application, amendment request or any such document in the Issuing Bank’s customary form or, if the relevant Issuing Bank does not maintain such a form, in such form as may be approved by the applicable Issuing Bank (each, a “ Letter of Credit Application ”). Upon receipt of any Letter of Credit Application or amendment request, the applicable Issuing Bank will issue such Letter of Credit or amendment on the second Business Day after the relevant Letter of Credit Application is received, so long as such Letter of Credit Application is received no later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Business Day, or if received after such time or on a day that is not a Business Day, the third Business Day next succeeding receipt of such Letter of Credit Application. No Issuing Bank shall issue any Letters of Credit unless such Issuing Bank shall have received notice from the Administrative Agent that the conditions to such issuance have been met.

 

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(b) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable Issuing Bank may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit such Issuing Bank to prevent any such extension at least once in each 12-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such 12-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such Issuing Bank for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable Issuing Bank to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the L/C Maturity Date; provided , however , that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any such extension if (i) such Issuing Bank has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (b)  of Section 3.1 or otherwise), or (ii) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 7 are not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such Issuing Bank not to permit such extension.

 

(c) Each Issuing Bank (other than the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates) shall provide the Administrative Agent with a reasonably detailed notice upon its issuance or amendment of any Letter of Credit, or upon any drawing under any Letter of Credit issued by it; provided that, upon written request from the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank shall promptly provide the Administrative Agent with a list of all Letters of Credit issued by it that are outstanding at such time.

 

3.3 Letter of Credit Participations .

 

(a) Immediately upon the issuance by an Issuing Bank of any Letter of Credit, such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have sold and transferred to each Lender (each such Lender, in its capacity under this Section 3.3 , an “ L/C Participant ”), and each such L/C Participant shall be deemed irrevocably and unconditionally to have purchased and received from such Issuing Bank, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation (each an “ L/C Participation ”), to the extent of such L/C Participant’s Commitment Percentage, in each Letter of Credit, each substitute therefor, each drawing made thereunder and the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement with respect thereto, and any security therefor or guaranty pertaining thereto.

 

(b) In determining whether to pay under any Letter of Credit, the relevant Issuing Bank shall have no obligation relative to the L/C Participants other than to confirm that (i) any documents required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been delivered, (ii) such Issuing Bank has examined the documents with reasonable care and (iii) the documents appear to comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit. Any action taken or omitted to be taken by the relevant Issuing Bank under or in connection with any Letter of Credit issued by it, if taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), shall not create for such Issuing Bank any resulting liability.

 

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(c) In the event that an Issuing Bank makes any payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and the Borrower shall not have repaid such amount in full to such Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.4(a) , such Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify each L/C Participant) of such failure, and each such L/C Participant shall promptly and unconditionally pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank, the amount of such L/C Participant’s Commitment Percentage of such unreimbursed payment in Dollars and in immediately available funds. Each L/C Participant shall make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank such L/C Participant’s Commitment Percentage of the amount of such payment no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the first Business Day after the date notified by such Issuing Bank in immediately available funds. If and to the extent such L/C Participant shall not have so made its Commitment Percentage of the amount of such payment available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank, such L/C Participant agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank, forthwith on demand, such amount, together with interest thereon for each day from such date until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank at a rate per annum equal to the Overnight Rate from time to time then in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such Issuing Bank in connection with the foregoing. The failure of any L/C Participant to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Issuing Bank its Commitment Percentage of any payment under any Letter of Credit shall not relieve any other L/C Participant of its obligation hereunder to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank its Commitment Percentage of any payment under such Letter of Credit on the date required, as specified above, but no L/C Participant shall be responsible for the failure of any other L/C Participant to make available to the Administrative Agent such other L/C Participant’s Commitment Percentage of any such payment.

 

(d) Whenever an Issuing Bank receives a payment in respect of an unpaid reimbursement obligation as to which the Administrative Agent has received for the account of such Issuing Bank any payments from the L/C Participants pursuant to clause (c)  above, such Issuing Bank shall pay to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to each L/C Participant that has paid its Commitment Percentage of such reimbursement obligation, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s share (based upon the proportionate aggregate amount originally funded by such L/C Participant to the aggregate amount funded by all L/C Participants) of the principal amount so paid in respect of such reimbursement obligation and interest thereon accruing after the purchase of the respective L/C Participations at the Overnight Rate.

 

(e) The obligations of the L/C Participants to make payments to the Administrative Agent for the account of an Issuing Bank with respect to Letters of Credit shall be irrevocable and not subject to counterclaim, set-off or other defense or any other qualification or exception whatsoever and shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement under all circumstances, including under any of the following circumstances:

 

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents;

 

(ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower or any other Person (including an L/C Participant) may have at any time against a beneficiary named in a Letter of Credit, any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transactions (including any underlying transaction between the Borrower and the beneficiary named in any such Letter of Credit);

 

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(iii) any draft, certificate or any other document presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

 

(iv) the surrender or impairment of any security for the performance or observance of any of the terms of any of the Credit Documents; or

 

(v) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default; or

 

(vi) any other event, condition of circumstance, whether or not similar to the foregoing.

 

3.4 Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Drawings .

 

(a) The Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank by making payment in Dollars or to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank (whether with its own funds or with proceeds of the Loans) in immediately available funds, for any payment or disbursement made by such Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit issued by it (each such amount so paid until reimbursed, an “ Unpaid Drawing ”) (i) within one Business Day of the date of such payment or disbursement if such Issuing Bank provides notice to the Borrower of such payment or disbursement prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on such next succeeding Business Day (from the date of such payment or disbursement) or (ii) if such notice is received after such time, on the next Business Day following the date of receipt of such notice (such required date for reimbursement under clause (i) or (ii) , as applicable, on such Business Day (the “ Reimbursement Date ”)), with interest on the amount so paid or disbursed by such Issuing Bank, from and including the date of such payment or disbursement to but excluding the Reimbursement Date, at the per annum rate for each day equal to the rate described in Section 2.8(a) ; provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Letter of Credit, (i) unless the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Reimbursement Date that the Borrower intends to reimburse such Issuing Bank for the amount of such drawing with funds other than the proceeds of Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have given a Notice of Borrowing requesting that the Lenders make Loans (which shall be ABR Loans) on the Reimbursement Date in an amount equal to the amount at such drawing, and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each L/C Participant of such drawing and the amount of its Loan to be made in respect thereof, and each L/C Participant shall be irrevocably obligated to make a Loan to the Borrower in the manner deemed to have been requested in the amount of its Commitment Percentage of the applicable Unpaid Drawing by 12:00 noon (New York City time) on such Reimbursement Date by making the amount of such Loan available to the Administrative Agent. Such Loans made in respect of such Unpaid Drawing on such Reimbursement Date shall be made without regard to the Minimum Borrowing Amount and without regard to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 7 . The Administrative Agent shall use the proceeds of such Loans solely for purpose of reimbursing the relevant Issuing Bank for the related Unpaid Drawing. In the event that the Borrower fails to Cash Collateralize any Letter of Credit that is outstanding on the L/C Maturity Date, the full amount of the Letters of Credit Outstanding in respect of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be an Unpaid Drawing subject to the provisions of this Section 3.4 except that such Issuing Bank shall hold the proceeds received from the Lenders as contemplated above as cash collateral for such Letter of Credit to reimburse any Drawing under such Letter of Credit and shall use such proceeds first , to reimburse itself for any Drawings made in respect of such Letter of Credit following the L/C Maturity Date, second , to the extent such Letter of Credit expires or is returned undrawn while any such cash collateral remains, to the repayment of obligations in respect of any Loans that have not paid at such time and third , to the Borrower or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing in this Section 3.4(a) shall affect the Borrower’s obligation to repay all outstanding Loans when due in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(b) The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 3.4 to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank with respect to Unpaid Drawings (including, in each case, interest thereon) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment that the Borrower or any other Person may have or have had against such Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including in its capacity as an L/C Participant), including any defense based upon (i) the failure of any drawing under a Letter of Credit (each a “ Drawing ”) to conform to the terms of the Letter of Credit, (ii) any non-application or misapplication by the beneficiary of the proceeds of such Drawing, (iii) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (iv) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect or (v) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 3.4 , constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the relevant Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care pursuant to the applicable ICC Rule or applicable law when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted to be taken by an Issuing Bank under or in connection with any Letter of Credit or the related drafts or documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not result in any liability of such Issuing Bank to the Borrower; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse such Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care, when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank that issued such Letter of Credit may in its sole discretion either accept or make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit (unless the Borrower shall consent to payment thereon not withstanding such lack of strict compliance).

 

3.5 New or Successor Issuing Bank .

 

(a) Any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. The Borrower may replace any Issuing Bank for any reason upon written notice to such Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent and may add Issuing Banks at any time upon notice to the Administrative Agent. If an Issuing Bank shall resign or be replaced, or if the Borrower shall decide to add a new Issuing Bank under this Agreement, then the Borrower may appoint from among the Lenders (who have agreed to act as successor issuer of Letters of Credit or a new Issuing Bank) a successor issuer of Letters of Credit or a new Issuing Bank, as the case may be, or, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) and such new Issuing Bank, another successor or new issuer of Letters of Credit, whereupon such successor issuer shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the replaced or resigning Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, or such new issuer of Letters of Credit shall be granted the rights, powers and duties of an Issuing Bank hereunder, and the term “Issuing Bank” shall mean such successor or such new issuer of Letters of Credit effective upon such appointment. The acceptance of any appointment as an Issuing Bank hereunder whether as a successor issuer or new issuer of Letters of Credit in accordance with this Agreement, shall be evidenced by an agreement entered into by such new or successor issuer of Letters of Credit, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, such new or successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall become an “Issuing Bank” hereunder. After the resignation or replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the resigning or replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit. In connection with any resignation or replacement pursuant to this clause (a) (but, in case of any such resignation, only to the extent that a successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall have been appointed), either (i) the Borrower, the resigning or replaced Issuing Bank and the successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall arrange to have any outstanding Letters of Credit issued by the resigning or replaced Issuing Bank replaced with Letters of Credit issued by the successor issuer of Letters of Credit or (ii) the Borrower shall cause the successor issuer of Letters of Credit, if such successor issuer is reasonably satisfactory to the replaced or resigning Issuing Bank, to issue “back-stop” Letters of Credit naming the resigning or replaced Issuing Bank as beneficiary for each outstanding Letter of Credit issued by the resigning or replaced Issuing Bank, which new Letters of Credit shall have a Stated Amount equal to the Letters of Credit being back-stopped and the sole requirement for drawing on such new Letters of Credit shall be a drawing on the corresponding back- stopped Letters of Credit. After any resigning or replaced Issuing Bank’s resignation or replacement as Issuing Bank, the provisions of this Agreement relating to an Issuing Bank shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it (A) while it was an Issuing Bank under this Agreement or (B) at any time with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.

 

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(b) To the extent that there are, at the time of any resignation or replacement as set forth in clause (a)  above, any outstanding Letters of Credit, nothing herein shall be deemed to impact or impair any rights and obligations of any of the parties hereto with respect to such outstanding Letters of Credit (including any obligations related to the payment of fees or the reimbursement or funding of amounts drawn), except that the Borrower, the resigning or replaced Issuing Bank and the successor issuer of Letters of Credit shall have the obligations regarding outstanding Letters of Credit described in clause (a)  above.

 

3.6 Role of Issuing Bank . Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, no Issuing Bank shall have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the Issuing Banks, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective affiliates nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of any Issuing Bank shall be liable to any Lender for (a) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Majority Lenders, (b) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct or (c) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the Issuing Banks, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective affiliates nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of any Issuing Bank shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in Section 3.3(e) ; provided that anything in such Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against an Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by such Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction) or such Issuing Bank’s unlawful failure (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction) to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, any Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no Issuing Bank shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

3.7 Cash Collateral .

 

(a) Upon the request of the Majority Lenders if, as of the L/C Maturity Date, there are any Letters of Credit Outstanding, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the Letters of Credit Outstanding.

 

(b) If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the Loans shall have been accelerated in accordance with Section 11 , the Majority Lenders may require that the L/C Obligations be Cash Collateralized; provided that, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default referred to in Section 11.5 with respect to the Borrower, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the Letters of Credit then outstanding and no notice or request by or consent from the Majority Lenders shall be required.

 

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cash Collateralize ” shall mean to (i) pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances (“ Cash Collateral ”) in an amount equal to the amount of the Letters of Credit Outstanding required to be Cash Collateralized (the “ Required Cash Collateral Amount ”) or (ii) if the relevant Issuing Bank benefiting from such collateral shall agree in its reasonable discretion, other forms of credit support (including any backstop letter of credit) in a face amount equal to 103% of the Required Cash Collateral Amount from an issuer reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank, in each case under clause (i) and (ii) above pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the L/C Participants, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Such cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts established by and in the name of the Borrower, but under the “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the UCC) of the Administrative Agent.

 

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3.8 Applicability of ISP and UCP . The Borrower agrees that any Issuing Bank may issue Letters of Credit hereunder subject to the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ ICC ”) Publication Nos. 600 (2007 Revision) (“ UCP 600 ”) or, at such Issuing Bank’s option, such later revision thereof in effect at the time of issuance of the Letter of Credit or the International Standby Practices 1998, ICC Publication No. 590 or, at such Issuing Bank’s option, such later revision thereof in effect at the time of issuance of any such Letter of Credit (“ ISP 98 ”, and each of the UCP 600 and the ISP 98, an “ ICC Rule ”). Each Issuing Bank’s privileges, rights and remedies under such ICC Rules shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, its privileges, rights and remedies expressly provided for herein. The Borrower agrees for matters not addressed by the chosen ICC Rule, each Letter of Credit shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the State of New York and applicable United States Federal laws; provided that if at Borrower’s request, a Letter of Credit chooses a state or country law other than New York State law and United States Federal law or is silent with respect to the choice of an ICC Rule or a governing law, the Issuing Bank shall not be liable for any payment, cost, expense or loss resulting from any action or inaction taken by the Issuing Bank if such action or inaction is or would be justified under an ICC Rule, New York law or applicable United States Federal law, and Borrower shall indemnify Issuing Bank for all such payments, costs, expenses or losses.

 

3.9 Conflict with Issuer Documents . In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

 

3.10 Letters of Credit Issued for Restricted Subsidiaries . Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Restricted Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

3.11 Increased Costs . If, after the Closing Date, the adoption of any Change in Law shall either (a) impose, modify or make applicable any reserve, deposit, capital adequacy or similar requirement against Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank, or any L/C Participant’s L/C Participation therein, or (b) impose on any Issuing Bank or any L/C Participant any other conditions, costs or expenses affecting its obligations under this Agreement in respect of Letters of Credit or L/C Participations therein or any Letter of Credit or such L/C Participant’s L/C Participation therein, and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Issuing Bank or such L/C Participant of issuing, maintaining or participating in any Letter of Credit, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Issuing Bank or such L/C Participant hereunder (other than (i) Taxes indemnifiable under Section 5.4 , or (ii) Excluded Taxes) in respect of Letters of Credit or L/C Participations therein, then, promptly (and in any event no later than fifteen (15) days) after receipt of written demand to the Borrower by such Issuing Bank or such L/C Participant, as the case may be (a copy of which notice shall be sent by such Issuing Bank or such L/C Participant to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Issuing Bank or such L/C Participant such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Issuing Bank or such L/C Participant for such increased cost or reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that no Issuing Bank or L/C Participant shall be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Person’s compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any such Requirement of Law as in effect on the Closing Date. A certificate submitted to the Borrower by the relevant Issuing Bank or an L/C Participant, as the case may be (a copy of which certificate shall be sent by such Issuing Bank or such L/C Participant to the Administrative Agent), setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for the determination of such additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Issuing Bank or such L/C Participant as aforesaid shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower absent clearly demonstrable error.

 

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3.12 Independence . The Borrower acknowledges that the rights and obligations of each Issuing Bank under each Letter of Credit issued by it are independent of the existence, performance or nonperformance of any contract or arrangement underlying such Letter of Credit, including contracts or arrangements between such Issuing Bank and the Borrower (other than the Credit Documents and the Issuer Documents) and between the Borrower and the relevant beneficiary.

 

SECTION 4. Fees; Commitments.

 

4.1 Fees .

 

(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars, for the account of each Lender (in each case pro rata according to the respective Commitment Percentages of the Lenders), a commitment fee (the “ Commitment Fee ”) for each day from the Closing Date until but excluding the Termination Date. Each Commitment Fee shall be payable by the Borrower quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December (for the three-month period (or portion thereof) ended on such day for which no payment has been received) and on the Termination Date (for the period ended on such date for which no payment has been received pursuant to clause (i) above), and shall be computed for each day during such period at a rate per annum equal to the Commitment Fee Rate in effect on such day on the Available Commitment (assuming for this purpose that there is no reference to “Swingline Exposure” in the definition of Total Exposure) in effect on such day. It is understood and agreed that for purposes of calculating the Commitment Fee payable pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) , Swingline Loans made by or deemed made by such Lender shall not count as utilization for purposes of determining the unutilized Revolving Commitment of each Lender.

 

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars for the account of the Lenders pro rata on the basis of their respective Letter of Credit Exposure, a fee in respect of each Letter of Credit (the “ Letter of Credit Fee ”), for the period from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit until the termination or expiration date of such Letter of Credit computed at the per annum rate for each day equal to the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans on the average daily Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit. Such Letter of Credit Fees shall be due and payable (i) quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and (ii) on the Termination Date (for the period for which no payment has been received pursuant to clause (i) above).

 

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to each Issuing Bank a fee in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by it (the “ Fronting Fee ”), for the period from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to the termination or expiration date of such Letter of Credit, computed at the rate for each day equal to 0.125% per annum (or such other amount as may be agreed in a separate writing between the Borrower and the relevant Issuing Bank) on the average daily Stated Amount of such Letter of Credit (or at such other rate per annum as agreed in writing between the Borrower and the relevant Issuing Bank). Such Fronting Fees shall be due and payable by the Borrower (i) quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and (ii) on the Termination Date (for the period for which no payment has been received pursuant to clause (i) above).

 

(d) The Borrower agrees to pay directly to each Issuing Bank upon each issuance of, drawing under, and/or amendment of, a Letter of Credit issued by it such amount as the relevant Issuing Bank and the Borrower shall have agreed upon for issuances of, drawings under or amendments of, letters of credit issued by it.

 

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(e) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent the administrative agent fees in the amounts and on the dates as set forth in writing from time to time between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

4.2 Voluntary Reduction of Commitments .

 

(a) Upon at least two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the Lenders), the Borrower shall have the right, without premium or penalty, on any day, permanently to terminate or reduce the Commitments of any Class, as determined by the Borrower, in whole or in part; provided that (a) with respect to the Commitments, any such termination or reduction shall apply proportionately and permanently to reduce the Commitments of each of the Lenders of such Class, except that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) the Borrower may allocate any termination or reduction of Commitments among Classes of Commitments either (A) ratably among Classes or (B) first to the Commitments with respect to any Existing Commitments and second to any Extended Commitments and (2) in connection with the establishment on any date of any Extended Commitments pursuant to Section 2.17 , (i) the Existing Commitments of each Lender providing any such Extended Commitments on such date shall be reduced in an amount equal to the amount of Specified Existing Commitments so extended on such date by such Lender and (ii) the Existing Commitments of any Lender not providing such Extended Commitments shall be reduced, solely to the extent elected to be reduced by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.17 , among the Class or Classes of Commitments elected by the Borrower ( provided that (x) after giving effect to any such reduction and to the repayment of any Loans made on such date, the Total Exposure of any such Lender does not exceed the Commitment of such Lender (such Total Exposure and Commitment in the case of an Extending Lender being determined for purposes of this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, exclusive of such Extending Lender’s Extended Commitment and any exposure in respect thereof) and (y) for the avoidance of doubt, any such repayment of Loans contemplated by the preceding clause (x) shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 5.3(a) with respect to the ratable allocation of payments hereunder, with such allocation being determined after giving effect to any conversion pursuant to Section 2.17 of Existing Commitments and Existing Loans into Extended Commitments and Extended Loans respectively, and prior to any reduction being made to the Commitment of any other Lender), (b) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be in the amount of at least $1,000,000 and (c) after giving effect to such termination or reduction and to any prepayments of Loans or cancellation or Cash Collateralization of Letters of Credit made on the date thereof in accordance with this Agreement, the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Total Exposures shall not exceed the Loan Limit.

 

(b) The Borrower may terminate the unused amount of the Commitment of a Defaulting Lender upon not less than two (2) Business Days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly notify the Lenders thereof), and in such event the provisions of Section 2.15(f) will apply to all amounts thereafter paid by the Borrower for the account of such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, indemnity or other amounts), provided that such termination will not be deemed to be a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any such notice of commitment termination pursuant to Section 4.2 may state that it is conditioned upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event specified therein (including the effectiveness of other credit facilities), in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by written notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

 

4.3 Mandatory Termination of Commitments .

 

(a) The Total Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Termination Date.

 

(b) The Swingline Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the earlier of (x) the Swingline Maturity Date and (y) the Termination Date.

 

SECTION 5.         Payments.

 

5.1 Voluntary Prepayments . The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans and Swingline Loans, in each case, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part from time to time on the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of its intent to make such prepayment, the amount of such prepayment and (in the case of LIBOR Loans) the specific Borrowing(s) being prepaid, which notice shall be given by the Borrower no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) (i) in the case of LIBOR Loans, two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment and (ii) in the case of ABR Loans on the date of such prepayment and shall promptly be transmitted by the Administrative Agent to each of the Lenders;

 

(b) each partial prepayment of (i) LIBOR Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000 and in multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof or a lesser amount to the extent such lesser amount represents the entire aggregate outstanding LIBOR Loans at such time, and (ii) any ABR Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000 and in multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof or a lesser amount to the extent such lesser amount represents the entire aggregate outstanding ABR Loans at such time; provided that no partial prepayment of LIBOR Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing shall reduce the outstanding LIBOR Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less than the applicable Minimum Borrowing Amount for such LIBOR Loans; and

 

(c) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans pursuant to this Section 5.1 on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto shall be subject to compliance by the Borrower with the applicable provisions of, including any breakage costs as set forth in, Section 2.11 .

 

Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type and Class of Loans to be prepaid. At the Borrower’s election in connection with any prepayment pursuant to this Section 5.1 , such prepayment shall not be applied to any Loans of a Defaulting Lender.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any such notice of prepayment pursuant to Section 5.1 may state that it is conditioned upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event specified therein (including the effectiveness of other credit facilities), in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by written notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

 

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5.2 Mandatory Prepayments .

 

(a) Repayment following Optional Reduction of Commitments . If, after giving effect to any termination or reduction of the Commitments pursuant to Section 4.2(a) , the aggregate Total Exposures of all Lenders exceeds the Loan Limit (as reduced), then the Borrower shall on the same Business Day (i) prepay the Swingline Loans and, after all Swingline Loans have been paid in full, the remaining Loans on the date of such termination or reduction in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess and (ii) if any excess remains after prepaying all of the Loans as a result of any Letter of Credit Exposure, pay to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Issuing Banks and the L/C Participants an amount in cash or otherwise Cash Collateralize an amount equal to such excess as provided in Section 3.7 .

 

(b) Repayment of Loans Following Redetermination or Adjustment of Borrowing Base .

 

(i) Upon the effectiveness of a redetermination of the Borrowing Base in accordance with Section 2.14(d) , if a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists, then the Borrower shall, within ten (10) Business Days after its receipt of a New Borrowing Base Notice indicating such Borrowing Base Deficiency, inform the Administrative Agent that it intends to take one or more of the following actions ( provided that , if the Borrower fails to inform the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after its receipt of a New Borrowing Base Notice, Borrower shall be deemed to have elected (B) below): (A) within thirty (30) days following such election prepay the Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess, (B) prepay the Loans in six equal monthly installments, commencing on the 30th day following such election with each payment being equal to l/6th of the aggregate principal amount of such excess, (C) within thirty (30) days following such election, provide additional Oil and Gas Properties (accompanied by reasonably acceptable Engineering Reports) not evaluated in the most recently delivered Reserve Report (which shall become Mortgaged Properties within the time period prescribed by Section 9.11(d) regardless of whether the Collateral Coverage Minimum is then satisfied) or other Collateral reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent having a Borrowing Base Value (as proposed by the Administrative Agent and approved by the Required Lenders) sufficient, after giving effect to any other actions taken pursuant to this Section 5.2(b)(i)  to eliminate any such excess, or (D) undertake a combination of clauses (A) , (B) , and (C) ; provided that if, because of Letter of Credit Exposure, a Borrowing Base Deficiency remains after prepaying all of the Loans, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize such remaining Borrowing Base Deficiency as provided in Section 3.7 ; provided further , that any Borrowing Base Deficiency must be cured on or prior to the Termination Date.

 

(ii) Upon any adjustment to the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 2.14(e) , (f) or (h) , if a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists, as adjusted, then the Borrower shall (A) prepay the Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess and (B) if any excess remains after prepaying all of the Loans as a result of any Letter of Credit Exposure, Cash Collateralize such excess as provided in Section 3.7 . Upon any Disposition pursuant to Section 10.4(m) when (A) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (B) a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists or would result therefrom (unless the net cash proceeds of such Disposition are sufficient, together with Unrestricted Cash, to eliminate any Borrowing Base Deficiency that exists or would result therefrom), the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate net cash proceeds of all such Dispositions in excess of $5,000,000 in any fiscal year. The Borrower shall be obligated to make any prepayment and/or deposit of cash collateral under this clause (ii) no later than three (3) Business Days following the dates of any applicable adjustment of the Borrowing Base; provided that all payments required to be made pursuant to this clause (ii) must be made on or prior to the Termination Date.

 

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(iii) If, after the incurrence of any Pari Debt (other than Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Pari Debt), the sum of (x) the aggregate Total Exposure of all Lenders and (y) the aggregate amount of Pari Debt outstanding at such time (without giving effect to any payments applied to reduce such Pari Debt unless the Administrative Agent is notified of such reduction in Pari Debt at the time of the next Scheduled Redetermination or Interim Redetermination) exceeds the Borrowing Base then in effect, the Borrower shall within three (3) Business Days of the date on which such incurrence occurs (A) prepay the Loans or (B) Cash Collateralize such excess as provided in Section 3.7 , in each case such that after giving effect to such prepayments and/or such Cash Collateral no Borrowing Base Deficiency exists.

 

(c) Application to Loans . With respect to each prepayment of Loans elected under Section 5.1 or required by Section 5.2 , the Borrower may designate (i) the Types and Class of Loans that are to be prepaid and the specific Borrowing(s) being repaid and (ii) the Loans to be prepaid; provided that (A) each prepayment of any Loans made pursuant to a Borrowing shall be applied pro rata among such Loans, and (B) notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding clause (A) , no prepayment of Loans shall be applied to the Loans of any Defaulting Lender unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Borrower. In the absence of a designation by the Borrower as described in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the above, make such designation in its reasonable discretion with a view, but no obligation, to minimize breakage costs owing under Section 2.11 .

 

(d) LIBOR Interest Periods . In lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 5.2 in respect of any LIBOR Loan, other than on the last day of the Interest Period thereof so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower at its option may deposit, on behalf of the Borrower, with the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the amount of the LIBOR Loan to be prepaid and such LIBOR Loan shall be repaid on the last day of the Interest Period therefor in the required amount. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a corporate time deposit account established on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, earning interest at the then customary rate for accounts of such type. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Such deposit shall constitute cash collateral for the LIBOR Loans to be so prepaid; provided that the Borrower may at any time direct that such deposit be applied to make the applicable payment required pursuant to this Section 5.2 .

 

(e) Application of Proceeds . The application of proceeds pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall not reduce the aggregate amount of Commitments under the Facility and amounts prepaid may be reborrowed subject to the Available Commitment.

 

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5.3 Method and Place of Payment .

 

(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all payments under this Agreement shall be made by the Borrower without set-off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind, to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders entitled thereto or the Issuing Banks or the Swingline Lender entitled thereto, as the case may be, not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time), in each case, on the date when due and shall be made in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office or at such other office as the Administrative Agent shall specify for such purpose by notice to the Borrower, it being understood that written or facsimile notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to make a payment from the funds in the Borrower’s account at the Administrative Agent’s Office shall constitute the making of such payment to the extent of such funds held in such account. All repayments or prepayments of any Loans (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) hereunder and all other payments under each Credit Document shall be made in Dollars. The Administrative Agent will thereafter cause to be distributed on the same day (if payment was actually received by the Administrative Agent prior to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) or, otherwise, on the next Business Day in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent) like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or fees ratably to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as applicable, entitled thereto.

 

(b) For purposes of computing interest or fees, any payments under this Agreement that are made later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent. Whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, with respect to payments of principal, interest shall be payable during such extension at the applicable rate in effect immediately prior to such extension.

 

5.4 Net Payments .

 

(a) Any and all payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Guarantor under this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any Taxes; provided that if the Borrower, any Guarantor or the Administrative Agent or any other applicable withholding agent shall be required by applicable Requirements of Law to deduct or withhold any Taxes from such payments, then (i) the applicable withholding agent shall make such deductions or withholdings as are reasonably determined by the applicable withholding agent to be required by any applicable Requirement of Law, (ii) the applicable withholding agent shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law, and (iii) to the extent withholding or deduction is required to be made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower or such Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions and withholdings have been made (including deductions or withholdings of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.4 ) the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, or the applicable Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made. After any payment of Taxes by any Credit Party or the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 5.4 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by law to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

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(b) The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for, any Other Taxes (whether or not such Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority).

 

(c) The Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender within fifteen (15) Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender, as the case may be (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.4 ), and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as applicable) on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error and shall constitute a required notice for purposes of Section 2.13 .

 

(d) Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not any payments made hereunder or under any other Credit Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of any payments to be made to such Lender by any Credit Party pursuant to any Credit Document or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 5.4(e)(i)(A) , (B) and (C) and Section 5.4(h) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

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(e) Without limiting the generality of Section 5.4(d) , each Non-U.S. Lender with respect to any Loan made to the Borrower shall, to the extent it is legally eligible to do so:

 

(i) deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement, two copies of (A) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest”, United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any applicable successor form) (together with a certificate (substantially in the form of Exhibit K hereto) representing that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a bank for purposes of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, is not a “10-percent shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code) of the Borrower, and is not a CFC described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code), (B) IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8ECI or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any applicable successor form), in each case properly completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or reduced rate of, U.S. federal withholding tax on payments by the Borrower under this Agreement, (C) IRS Form W-8IMY (or any applicable successor form) and all necessary attachments (including the forms described in clauses (A)  and (B) above, provided that if the Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership and not a participating Lender, and one or more of the partners is claiming portfolio interest treatment, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit K hereto may be provided by such Non-U.S. Lender on behalf of such partners) or (D) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

  

(ii) deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two further copies of any such form or certification (or any applicable successor form) promptly after such form or certification expires or becomes obsolete or invalid, after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent or promptly notify in writing the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such Non-U.S. Lender’s inability to do so.

 

(iii) Each Person that shall become a Participant pursuant to Section 13.6 or a Lender pursuant to Section 13.6 shall, upon the effectiveness of the related transfer, be required to provide all the forms and statements required pursuant to this Section 5.4(e) ; provided that in the case of a Participant such Participant shall furnish all such required forms and statements to the Person from which the related participation shall have been purchased.

 

(f) In addition, to the extent it is legally eligible to do so, each Agent shall deliver to the Borrower (x)(I) prior to the date on which the first payment by the Borrower is due hereunder or (II) prior to the first date on or after the date on which such Agent becomes a successor Agent pursuant to Section 12.9 on which payment by the Borrower is due hereunder, as applicable, two copies of a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 certifying its exemption from U.S. Federal backup withholding or a properly completed and executed applicable IRS Form W-8 certifying its non-U.S. status and its entitlement to any treaty benefits and its status as a qualified intermediary or withholding foreign partnership, and (y) on or before the date on which any such previously delivered documentation expires or becomes obsolete or invalid, after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent documentation previously delivered by it to the Borrower, and from time to time if reasonably requested by the Borrower, two further copies of such documentation.

 

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(g) If any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax for which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.4 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.4 ), then the Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Borrower or such Guarantor for such amount (net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, and without interest other than any interest received thereon from the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund) as the Lender, Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, determines in its sole discretion exercised in good faith to be the proportion of the refund as will leave it, after such reimbursement, not in a less favorable net after-Tax position (taking into account expenses or any taxes imposed on the refund) than it would have been in if the payment had not been required; provided that the Borrower or such Guarantor, upon the request of the Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower or such Guarantor ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in the event the Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. In such event, such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall, at the Borrower’s request, provide the Borrower with a copy of any notice of assessment or other evidence of the requirement to repay such refund received from the relevant Governmental Authority ( provided that such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may delete any information therein that it deems confidential). No Lender nor the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be obliged to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Credit Party in connection with this clause (g) or any other provision of this Section 5.4 .

 

(h) Each U.S. Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two IRS Forms W-9 (or substitute or successor form), properly completed and duly executed, certifying that such U.S. Lender is exempt from United States federal backup withholding (i) on or prior to the Closing Date (or on or prior to the date it becomes a party to this Agreement), (ii) on or before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete or invalid, (iii) after the occurrence of a change in the U.S. Lender’s circumstances requiring a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (iv) from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent.

 

(i) If a payment made to any Lender under this Agreement or any other Credit Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 5.4(j) , “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(j) For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 5.4 , the term “ Lender ” includes any Issuing Bank and any Swingline Lender and the term “applicable law” or “Requirement of Law” includes FATCA.

 

(k) The agreements in this Section 5.4 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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5.5 Computations of Interest and Fees .

 

(a) Except as provided in the next succeeding sentence, interest on LIBOR Loans and ABR Loans shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed. Interest on ABR Loans in respect of which the rate of interest is calculated on the basis of the Administrative Agent’s prime rate and interest on overdue interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed.

 

(b) Fees and the average daily Stated Amount of Letters of Credit shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed.

 

5.6 Limit on Rate of Interest .

 

(a) No Payment Shall Exceed Lawful Rate . Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any interest or other amounts under or in connection with this Agreement or otherwise in respect to any of the Obligations in excess of the amount or rate permitted under or consistent with any applicable law, rule or regulation.

 

(b) Payment at Highest Lawful Rate . If the Borrower is not obliged to make a payment that it would otherwise be required to make, as a result of Section 5.6(a) , the Borrower shall make such payment to the maximum extent permitted by or consistent with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

(c) Adjustment if Any Payment Exceeds Lawful Rate . If any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents would obligate the Borrower or any other Credit Party to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Lender in an amount or calculated at a rate that would be prohibited by any applicable Requirement of Law, then notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by applicable Requirements of Law, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid by the Borrower to the affected Lender under Section 2.8 .

 

(d) Rebate of Excess Interest . Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if any Lender shall have received from the Borrower an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by any applicable Requirement of Law, then the Borrower shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the Administrative Agent to obtain reimbursement from that Lender in an amount equal to such excess, and pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by that Lender to the Borrower.

 

SECTION 6.         Conditions Precedent to Initial Borrowing.

 

The initial Borrowing under this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed or waived pursuant to Section 13.1 .

 

(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from the Borrower (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include e-mail transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

 

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(b) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received, on behalf of itself, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, written opinions of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Credit Parties (i) dated the Closing Date, (ii) addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and each Issuing Bank and (iii) in form and substance customary for transactions of this type. The Borrower, the other Credit Parties and the Administrative Agent hereby instruct such counsel to deliver such legal opinions.

 

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received, in the case of each Credit Party, a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary or similar officer of each Credit Party dated the Closing Date and certifying:

 

(i) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the bylaws (or limited liability company agreement or other equivalent governing documents) of such Credit Party as in effect on the Closing Date and at all times since a date prior to the date of the resolutions described in clause (ii) below,

 

(ii) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors (or managing member or equivalent) of such Credit Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which such person is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowings hereunder, and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect on the Closing Date,

 

(iii) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the certificate or articles of incorporation or certificate of formation, including all amendments thereto, of such Credit Party, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State (or other similar official) of the jurisdiction of its organization, and a certificate as to the good standing (to the extent such concept or a similar concept exists under the laws of such jurisdiction) of each such Credit Party as of a recent date from such Secretary of State (or other similar official), which has not been amended,

 

(iv) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer executing any Credit Document or any other document delivered in connection herewith on behalf of such Credit Party, and

 

(v) a certificate of a director or an officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary or similar officer executing the certificate pursuant to subclause (ii) above.

 

(d) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received executed copies of the Guarantee, executed by each Person which will be a Guarantor on the Closing Date.

 

(e) (i) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received copies of the Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages (subject to the final paragraph of this Section) and each other Security Document that is required to be executed on the Closing Date, duly executed by each Credit Party party thereto, together with evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings required by the Security Documents as of the Closing Date subject to the last paragraph of this Section 6 or that the Collateral Agent may deem reasonably necessary to (A) create the Liens intended to be created by any Security Document and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, such Security Document shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording and (B) comply with Section 9.11 , in each case shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(ii) All Equity Interests of each wholly-owned Material Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower, Falcon GP or any Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case as of the Closing Date, shall have been pledged pursuant to Collateral Agreement (except that such Credit Parties shall not be required to pledge any Excluded Equity Interests) and the Collateral Agent shall have received all certificates, if any, representing such securities pledged under the Collateral Agreement, accompanied by instruments of transfer and/or undated powers endorsed in blank.

 

(iii) The Administrative Agent shall have received customary UCC lien searches with respect to the Borrower and the Guarantors in their applicable jurisdictions of organization.

 

(f) The Acquisition shall have been consummated, or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing under this Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement. The Contribution Agreement shall not have been amended or waived in any material respect by PubCo and PubCo shall not have granted any material consent under the Contribution Agreement in a manner materially adverse to the Lenders (in their capacity as such) without the consent of the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(g) The Specified Contribution Agreement Representations and the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an authorized officer of the borrower certifying as to the satisfaction of such condition.

 

(h) The approval of the Stockholder Proposals (other than approval and adoption of the Falcon Minerals 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan) shall have been duly obtained in accordance with the DGCL, PubCo’s Organizational Documents and the rules and regulations of NASDAQ (all such terms in this clause (h) that are not defined herein as are defined in the Contribution Agreement).

 

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received (a) the audited consolidated balance sheet of Royal Resources L.P. and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in partners’ capital (deficit) and cash flows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and (b) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Royal Resources L.P. and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2018, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in partners’ capital (deficit) and cash flows for the three-month period then ended (the “ Closing Date Financials ”).

 

(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received a pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three-month period ending March 31, 2018, prepared after giving effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income).

 

(k) [Reserved].

 

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(l) On the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) a solvency certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit J hereto and signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower and (ii) a Notice of Borrowing (whether in writing or by telephone) satisfying the requirements of Section 2.3(a) .

 

(m) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that the Borrower has (i) obtained and effected all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Credit Documents and (ii) made commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Administrative Agent to be named as loss payee and/or additional insured under each insurance policy with respect to such insurance, as applicable.

 

(n) All fees and expenses required to be paid hereunder and invoiced at least three (3) Business Days before the Closing Date (or such shorter period as may be reasonably agreed by the Borrower) shall have been paid in full in cash or netted from the proceeds of the initial funding under the Facility, to the extent applicable.

 

(o) (i) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, the Patriot Act, that has been requested by the Administrative Agent in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date and (ii) to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Borrower at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower, shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition set forth in this clause (ii) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

 

(p) On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any Disqualified Equity or Material Indebtedness for borrowed money other than the Facility, with any existing Indebtedness for borrowed money (including Indebtedness under the DGK Credit Agreement) having been paid in full and the commitments thereunder having been terminated and all liens and security interests released.

 

(q) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received satisfactory title information (including customary title opinions, information or reports or other documents) consistent with usual and customary standards for the geographic regions in which the Borrowing Base Properties and Oil and Gas Properties acquired on the Closing Date are located with respect to not less than 50% of the PV-9 value of the Borrowing Base Properties on the Closing Date; provided that such timeline may be extended with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(r) The Initial Loans made on the Closing Date shall not result in the aggregate amount of all Lenders’ Total Exposures at such time exceeding $92,000,000.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 12.4 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 6 , each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matters required under this Section 6 to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any security interest in any Collateral (other than any a lien on Collateral that may be perfected solely (A) by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or (B) by the delivery of stock certificates of the Borrower’s Wholly owned Domestic Subsidiaries that are Material Subsidiaries) is not or cannot be provided and/or perfected on the Closing Date (subject to extensions approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) after the Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so without undue burden or expense, the provision and/or perfection of security interests in such Collateral shall not constitute conditions precedent to the initial Borrowing under this Agreement, but shall be required to be delivered, provided, and/or perfected within (i) in the case of Mortgages required to be delivered pursuant to the Collateral Coverage Minimum, by the dates provided in the definition of “Collateral Coverage Minimum” and (ii) in the case of all other Collateral not otherwise described in the preceding clause (i) , ninety (90) days following the Closing Date.

 

SECTION 7. Conditions Precedent to All Subsequent Credit Events.

 

The agreement of each Lender to make any Loan requested to be made by it on any date after the Closing Date (excluding Mandatory Borrowings and Loans required to be made by the Lenders in respect of Unpaid Drawings pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 and subject, in the case of clause (a) below, to the provisions set forth in Section 1.12(a) ), and the obligation of any Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit on any date after the Closing Date, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a) At the time of each such Credit Event and also after giving effect thereto, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) all representations and warranties made by any Credit Party contained herein or in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Credit Event (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date and except that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates) and (iii) if the Borrower has delivered a compliance certificate pursuant to Section 9.1(c) notifying the Administrative Agent of a failure to comply with the Leverage Ratio Covenant, the Borrower shall have cured such failure pursuant to Section 11.13(a) .

 

(b) Prior to the making of each Loan (other than any Loan made pursuant to Section 3.4(a) ) and each Swingline Loan, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing (whether in writing or by telephone) meeting the requirements of Section 2.3(a) .

 

(c) Prior to the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank shall have received a Letter of Credit Application meeting the requirements of Section 3.2(a) .

 

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The acceptance of the benefits of each Credit Event after the Closing Date shall constitute a representation and warranty by each Credit Party to each of the Lenders that all the applicable conditions specified in Section 7 above have been satisfied as of that time.

 

SECTION 8.    Representations, Warranties and Agreements

 

In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement, to make the Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit as provided for herein, the Borrower makes, on the date of each Credit Event (but solely, on the Closing Date, to the extent such representations and warranties are required to be true and correct as a condition to Borrowing pursuant to Section 6 ), the following representations and warranties to, and agreements with, the Lenders, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit:

 

8.1 Existence, Qualification and Power . Each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) is a duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to own its property and assets and to transact its business as now conducted and (b) has duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing (if applicable) in all jurisdictions where it is required to be so qualified, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.2 Corporate Power and Authority; Enforceability; Binding Effect . Each Credit Party has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and has taken all necessary corporate or other organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which it is a party. Each Credit Party has duly executed and delivered each Credit Document to which it is a party and each such Credit Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

8.3 No Violation . None of the execution, delivery or performance by any Credit Party of the Credit Documents to which it is a party will (a) contravene any Requirement of Law, except to the extent such contravention would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) result in any breach of any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon any of the property or assets of such Credit Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Liens created under the Credit Documents and Permitted Liens) pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan agreement, lease agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, agreement or other instrument to which such Credit Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets is bound (any such term, covenant, condition or provision, a “ Contractual Requirement ”) except to the extent such breach, default or Lien that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (c) violate any provision of the Organization Documents of such Credit Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

8.4 Litigation . Except as set forth on Schedule 8.4 , there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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8.5 Margin Regulations . Neither the making of any Loan hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the provisions of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board.

 

8.6 Governmental Authorization . The execution, delivery and performance of each Credit Document do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or other action by, any Governmental Authority or any other Person, except for (a) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) filings and recordings in respect of the Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents and (c) such consents, approvals, registrations, filings or actions the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.7 Investment Company Act . No Credit Party is required to be registered as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

8.8 True and Complete Disclosure .

 

(a) All written factual information delivered on or prior to the Closing Date (other than the (i) the Projections and (ii) estimates and information of a general economic nature or general industry nature) (the “ Information ”) concerning the Acquired Assets prepared by or on behalf of the foregoing or their representatives and made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken as a whole, was true and correct in all material respects, as of the Closing Date and did not, taken as a whole, contain any untrue statement of a material fact as of the Closing Date or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, taken as a whole, not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made.

 

(b) The Projections (i) have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date thereof (it being understood that actual results may vary materially from the Projections), as of the date such Projections were furnished to the Lenders (with respect to any such Projections provided prior to the Closing Date) and as of the Closing Date and (ii) as of the Closing Date, have not been modified in any material respect by the Borrower.

 

(c) As of the Closing Date, to the knowledge of the Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered, on or prior to the Closing Date, to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all material respects.

 

8.9 Tax Matters . Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Credit Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns required to be filed, and have paid all Taxes payable by it (including in their capacity as a withholding agent), except those that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

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8.10 Compliance with ERISA .

 

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 8.10(a) or as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Pension Plan maintained by a Credit Party or ERISA Affiliate is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder and other federal or state laws.

 

(b) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred during the six (6) year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) neither any Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iii) neither any Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (iv) neither any Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section 8.10(b) , as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c) With respect to each Pension Plan, the adjusted funding target attainment percentage as determined by the applicable Pension Plan’s Enrolled Actuary under Sections 436(j) and 430(d)(2) of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance promulgated thereunder (“AFTAP”), would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to a Pension Plan that is, or is expected to be, in at-risk status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code) in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.11 Subsidiaries . Schedule 8.11 lists each Subsidiary of the Borrower (and the direct and indirect ownership interest of the Borrower therein), in each case existing on the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions). Each Guarantor, Material Subsidiary and Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions) has been so designated on Schedule 8.11 .

 

8.12 Intellectual Property . The Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries own or have obtained valid rights to use all intellectual property, free from any burdensome restrictions, that to the knowledge of the Borrower is reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to obtain any such rights would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.13 Environmental Laws . Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Credit Parties and each of their respective Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) neither the Credit Parties nor any of their respective Subsidiaries have received written notice of any Environmental Claim; (iii) neither the Credit Parties nor any of their respective Subsidiaries are conducting or have been ordered by a Governmental Authority to conduct any investigation, removal, remedial or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law related to Hazardous Materials contamination at any location; and (iv) neither the Credit Parties nor any of their respective Subsidiaries, to their knowledge, have treated, stored, transported, released or disposed or arranged for disposal or transport for disposal of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from any currently or formerly owned, leased or operated facility in a manner that would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability of the Credit Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries under Environmental Law.

 

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8.14 Properties .

 

(a) Assuming that all applicable Governmental Authorities have granted approvals, made recordations and taken such other actions as are necessary in connection with the Transactions and any assignments made in connection therewith, except as set forth on Schedule 8.14 hereto or in an exhibit to any Reserve Report Certificate delivered hereunder, each Credit Party has good and defensible title to the Borrowing Base Properties evaluated in the most recently delivered Reserve Report (other than those (i) Disposed of since delivery of such Reserve Report, (ii) leases that have expired in accordance with their terms and (iii) with title defects disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent), and valid title to all its material personal properties, in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 10.2 , except in each case where the failure to have such title would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. After giving effect to the Liens permitted by Section 10.2 , the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary specified as the owner owns the working interests and net revenue interests attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests as such working interests and net revenue interests are reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report, and the ownership of such properties shall not in any material respect obligate the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to bear the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operations of each such property in an amount in excess of the working interest of each property set forth in the most recently delivered Reserve Report that is not offset by a corresponding proportionate increase in the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s net revenue interest in such property.

 

(b) All material leases and agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect, except to the extent that any such failure to be valid or subsisting would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c) The rights and properties presently owned, leased or licensed by the Credit Parties including all easements and rights of way, include all rights and properties necessary to permit the Credit Parties to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted, except to the extent any failure to have any such rights or properties would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d) All of the properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their businesses are in good working condition and are maintained in accordance with prudent business standards, except to the extent any failure to satisfy the foregoing would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.15 Solvency . On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

8.16 Security Documents . The Security Documents create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien or security interest in the respective Collateral described therein as security for the Obligations to the extent that a legal, valid, binding and enforceable Lien or security interest in such Collateral may be created under any applicable Requirement of Law, which Lien or security interest, upon the filing of financing statements, recordation of the Mortgages or the obtaining of possession or “control,” in each case, as applicable, with respect to the relevant Collateral as required under the applicable UCC or applicable local law, will constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Borrower and each other Credit Party thereunder in such Collateral, in each case prior and superior (except as otherwise provided for in the relevant Security Document) in right to any other Person (other than Permitted Liens), in each case to the extent that a security interest may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the applicable UCC, recordation of the Mortgages under applicable local law or by obtaining possession or “control.”

 

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8.17 Gas Imbalances, Prepayments . On the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 8.17 , on a net basis, there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments exceeding 2.5 Bcfe of Hydrocarbon volumes (stated on a gas equivalent basis) in the aggregate, with respect to the Credit Parties’ Oil and Gas Properties that would require any Credit Party to deliver Hydrocarbons either generally or produced from their Borrowing Base Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor.

 

8.18 Marketing of Production . On the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 8.18 , no material agreements exist (which are not cancelable on sixty (60) days’ notice or less without penalty or detriment) for the sale of production of the Credit Parties’ Hydrocarbons at a fixed non-index price (including calls on, or other rights to purchase, production, whether or not the same are currently being exercised) that (i) represent in respect of such agreements 2.5% or more of the Borrower’s average monthly production of Hydrocarbon volumes and (ii) have a maturity or expiry date of longer than six (6) months from the Closing Date.

 

8.19 Financial Statements .

 

(a) The annual financial statements delivered as part of the Closing Date Financials and, on and after the first date of delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 9.1(a) , the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(a) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of (x) Royal Resources L.P. and its Subsidiaries or, as applicable, (y) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in each case as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except for customary year-end adjustments and the absence of complete footnotes and as otherwise expressly noted therein.

 

(b) The interim financial statements delivered as part of the Closing Date Financials and, on and after the first date of delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 9.1(b) , the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(b) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of (x) Royal Resources L.P. and its Subsidiaries or, as applicable, (y) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in each case as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

 

(c) Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.20 OFAC; USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA .

 

(a) To the extent applicable, each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended, Sanctions Laws, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended and other anti-corruption laws, and (ii) the USA PATRIOT Act. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties, any director, officer, employee, agent or controlled affiliate of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is currently the subject of any Sanctions, nor is the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in any country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive Sanctions.

 

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(b) No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, indirectly, by the Borrower (i) in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or (ii) for the purpose of financing any activities or business (x) of or with any Person that, at the time of such financing, is the subject of any Sanctions or (y) in any country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive Sanctions.

 

8.21 Hedge Agreements . Schedule 8.21 sets forth, as of the Closing Date, a true and complete list of all material commodity Hedge Agreements of each Credit Party, the terms thereof relating to the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes, the net mark to market value thereof, all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied) and the counterparty to each such agreement.

 

8.22 [Reserved] .

 

8.23 No Default . No Default, Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency has occurred and is continuing.

 

8.24 Insurance . The properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are insured in the manner contemplated by Section 9.3 .

 

SECTION 9.    Affirmative Covenants

 

The Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter, until Payment in Full has occurred:

 

9.1 Information Covenants . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):

 

(a) Annual Financial Statements . Within ninety (90) days after the end of each such fiscal year (or 120 days in the case of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018), the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, if different, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows (or, in lieu of such audited financial statements of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, a reconciliation, reflecting such financial information for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on the other hand, reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements) prepared in accordance with GAAP, and, except with respect to such reconciliation, certified by independent certified public accountants whose opinion shall not be materially qualified with a scope of audit or “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification or exception (other than an emphasis of matter paragraph) (other than with respect to, or resulting from, (x) the occurrence of an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness or (y) any prospective or actual default in the Financial Performance Covenants). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 9.1(a) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower or (B) the Borrower’s (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, filing of a Form 10-K with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A)  and (B) , (i) to the extent such information relates to a Parent Entity, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent Entity and its consolidated Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under the first sentence of this Section 9.1(a) , such materials are accompanied by an opinion of independent certified public accountants whose opinion shall not be materially qualified with a scope of audit or “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification or exception (other than an emphasis of matter paragraph) (other than with respect to, or resulting from, (x) the occurrence of an upcoming maturity date of any Indebtedness or (y) any prospective or actual default in the Financial Performance Covenants).

 

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(b) Quarterly Financial Statements . With respect to each of the first three quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of the Borrower, on or before the date that is sixty (60) days after the end of each such quarterly accounting period (or, in the case of the fiscal quarters ending on September 30, 2018, March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, ninety (90) days), the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and, if different, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case as at the end of such quarterly period and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows, and, beginning with the financial statements for the quarterly period ending September 30, 2019, setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the related periods in the prior fiscal year or, in the case of such consolidated balance sheet, for the last day of such periods in the prior fiscal year (or, in lieu of such unaudited financial statements of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, a reconciliation reflecting such financial information for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, on the other hand, reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements), all of which shall be certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows, of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 9.1(b) may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower or (B) the Borrower’s (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), as applicable, Form 10-Q filed with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A)  and (B) , to the extent such information relates to a parent of the Borrower, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other.

 

(c) Officer’s Certificates . Not later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Section 9.1(a) and Section 9.1(b) , a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to the effect that no Default or Event of Default exists or, if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof, which certificate shall set forth (i) beginning with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2018, the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries were in compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be, and (ii) set forth any change in the identity of the Restricted Subsidiaries, Guarantors and Unrestricted Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be, from the Restricted Subsidiaries, Guarantors and Unrestricted Subsidiaries, respectively, provided to the Lenders on the Closing Date or the most recent fiscal year or period, as the case may be.

 

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(d) Notices . Promptly after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries obtains actual knowledge thereof, notice of (i) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, which notice shall specify the nature thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) any litigation or governmental proceeding pending against the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to be determined adversely and, if so determined, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) the occurrence of any ERISA Event or similar event with respect to a Foreign Plan, in each case, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iv) the issuance of, or the making of any payment (other than scheduled amortization or scheduled interest payments) in respect of, any Pari Debt.

 

(e) Environmental Matters . Promptly after obtaining actual knowledge of any one or more of the following environmental matters, unless such environmental matters would not, individually, or when aggregated with all other such matters, be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, notice of:

 

(i) any Environmental Claim brought, filed or threatened in writing against any Credit Party; and

 

(ii) the actual release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material on, at, under or from any facility owned or leased by a Credit Party in violation of Environmental Laws or as would reasonably be expected to result in liability under Environmental Laws or the conduct of any investigation, or any removal, remedial or other corrective action under Environmental Laws in response to the actual or alleged presence, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material on, at, under or from any facility owned or leased by a Credit Party.

 

All such notices shall describe in reasonable detail the nature of the claim, investigation, removal or remedial action.

 

(f) Other Information . With reasonable promptness, but subject to the limitations set forth in the last sentences of Section 9.2(a) and Section 13.6 , such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and the financial condition of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request in writing from time to time.

 

(g) Budget . Within 105 days after the end of each fiscal year (beginning with (and 120 days in the case of) the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018) of the Borrower, a reasonably detailed consolidated budget for the following fiscal year as customarily prepared by management of the Borrower (including a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow and projected income and a summary of the material underlying assumptions applicable thereto) (collectively, the “ Budget ”), which Budget shall in each case be accompanied by a certificate of an Authorized Officer stating that such Budget has been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such Budget, it being understood that actual results may vary from such Budget and that such variations may be material.

 

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(h) Title . Within thirty (30) days following the Closing Date ( provided that such timeline may be extended with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)), satisfactory title information (including customary title opinions, information or reports or other documents) consistent with usual and customary standards for the geographic regions in which the Borrowing Base Properties acquired on the Closing Date are located with respect to not less than 85% of the PV-9 value of the Borrowing Base Properties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver such satisfactory title information with respect to at least 85% of the PV-9 value of the Borrowing Base Properties on the Closing Date.

 

It is understood that documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 9.1(a) through (h) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 13.2 , (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks, DebtDomain or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent) or (iii) on which such documents are transmitted by electronic mail to the Administrative Agent; provided that: (i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents delivered pursuant to Sections 9.1(a) , 9.1(b) , 9.1(c) and 9.1(f) to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

9.2 Books, Records and Inspections .

 

(a) The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain books of record and account that permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b) The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit designated representatives of the Administrative Agent and designated representatives of the Majority Lenders (as accompanied by the Administrative Agent) to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its financial and operating records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, and independent public accountants (subject to such accountants’ customary policies and procedures), all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 9.2(b) and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year and only one (1) such time shall be at the Borrower’s expense; provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any representative of the Majority Lenders (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.2(b) , none of the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter that (i) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by any Requirement of Law or (iii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work-product.

 

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9.3 Maintenance of Insurance .

 

(a) The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, at all times maintain in full force and effect, pursuant to self-insurance arrangements or with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) are financially sound and reputable at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, insurance in at least such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance which the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) is reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business) and against at least such risks (and with such risk retentions) as the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of management of the Borrower) is reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business; and will furnish to the Administrative Agent, upon written request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried. The Secured Parties shall be the additional insureds on any such liability insurance as their interests may appear and, if property insurance is obtained, the Collateral Agent shall be the loss payee under any such property insurance; provided that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Secured Parties will provide any proceeds of such property insurance to the Borrower.

 

(b) With respect to each Mortgaged Property, obtain flood insurance in such total amount as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may from time to time reasonably require, if at any time the area in which any material improvements included as Collateral and located on any land subject to a Mortgage is designated a “flood hazard area” in any Flood Insurance Rate Map published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency), and otherwise comply with the National Flood Insurance Program as set forth in the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended from time to time. Following the Closing Date, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent annual renewals of each flood insurance policy or annual renewals of each force-placed flood insurance policy, as applicable. In connection with any amendment to this Agreement pursuant to which any increase, extension, or renewal of Loans is contemplated, the Borrower shall cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent for any Mortgaged Property with respect to which buildings or mobile homes are included as Collateral, a completed “life of the loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination, duly executed and acknowledged by the appropriate Credit Parties, and evidence of flood insurance, as applicable.

 

9.4 Payment of Taxes . The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy its obligations in respect of all Tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (i) the amount or validity thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP (or in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, the comparable accounting principles in the relevant jurisdiction) or (ii) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  

 

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9.5 Preservation of Existence, Etc . The Borrower will do, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, corporate rights and authority, except to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided , however , that the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction permitted under Section 10.3 , 10.4 or 10.5 .

 

9.6 Compliance with Requirements of Law . The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property, except if the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.7 [Reserved] .

 

9.8 Maintenance of Properties . The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, except in each case, where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (it being understood that this Section 9.8 shall not restrict any transaction otherwise permitted by Section 10.3 , 10.4 or 10.5 ):

 

(a) operate its Oil and Gas Properties and other material properties or cause such Oil and Gas Properties and other material properties to be operated in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable Contractual Requirements and all applicable Requirements of Law, including applicable proration requirements and Environmental Laws;

 

(b) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and preserve, maintain and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of its material Oil and Gas Properties consisting of equipment, machinery and facilities; and

 

(c) to the extent a Credit Party is not the operator of any property, the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the operator to operate such property in accordance with customary industry practices.

 

9.9 Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrower will conduct, and cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $10,000,000 with any of its Affiliates (other than the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) on terms that are substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as it would obtain at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate, as determined by the board of directors or managers of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in good faith; provided that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:

 

(a) the consummation of the Transactions, including the payment of Transaction Expenses;

 

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(b) the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any Parent Entity thereof) to any officer, director, employee or consultant of any of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Sponsor (or any Parent Entity thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(c) equity issuances, repurchases, retirements, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements of Equity Interests by the Borrower (or any direct or indirect Parent Entity thereof) permitted under Section 10.6 ;

 

(d) [reserved];

 

(e) loans, advances and other transactions between or among the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any joint venture (regardless of the form of legal entity) in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has invested (and which Subsidiary or joint venture would not be an Affiliate of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, but for the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s ownership of Equity Interests in such joint venture or such Subsidiary) to the extent permitted under Section 10 ;

 

(f) employment and severance arrangements and health, disability and similar insurance or benefit plans between the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Subsidiaries and their respective future, current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants (including management and employee benefit plans or agreements, subscription agreements or similar agreements pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with future, current or former employees, officers, directors or consultants and equity option or incentive plans and other compensation arrangements) in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise approved by the board of directors or managers of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof);

 

(g) any one or more agreements in respect of payments of monitoring, consulting, management, transaction, advisory or similar fees to the Sponsor that are approved by the majority of the members of the board of directors or managers of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), in good faith, and payments pursuant thereto which shall consist of (i) so long as no Event of Default under Sections 11.1 , 11.3 (but only as a result of the default in the due performance of any covenant contained in Section 9.6 ) or 11.5 has occurred and is continuing, the payment of management, monitoring, consulting, transaction, termination and advisory fees pursuant to the Investor Management Agreement and related indemnities and reasonable expenses; (ii) any deferred management fees (to the extent such fees were within such amount described in the foregoing subclause (i) originally); and (iii) transaction fees in an amount not to exceed 1.0% of the total enterprise value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of any Permitted Acquisition or Investment; provided that, if any such payment pursuant to subclauses (i) and (ii) is not permitted to be paid as a result of an Event of Default under Section 11.1 , such payment shall accrue and may be payable when no Event of Default under Section 11.1 is continuing;

 

(h) transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on the Closing Date and to the extent involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1,000,000 individually, set forth on Schedule 9.9 or any amendment thereto or arrangement similar thereto to the extent such amendment or arrangement is not adverse, taken as a whole, to the Lenders in any material respect (as determined by the Borrower in good faith);

 

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(i) Restricted Payments, redemptions, repurchases and other actions permitted under Section 10.6 ;

 

(j) without duplicating any payments made pursuant to Section 9.9(g) above, payments (including reimbursement of fees and expenses) by the Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, whether or not consummated), which payments are approved by the majority of the members of the board of directors or managers or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors or managers of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), in good faith;

 

(k) any issuance of Equity Interests or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities, Equity Interests or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity options and equity ownership plans approved by the board of directors or board of managers of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof);

 

(l) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with prudent business practice followed by companies in the Oil and Gas Business;

 

(m) sales or conveyances of net profits interests or other royalty interests for cash at Fair Market Value allowed under Section 10.4 ;

 

(n) the issuance, sale or transfer of Equity Interests of the Borrower to any Parent Entity in connection with capital contributions by such Parent Entity to the Borrower;

 

(o) any transaction in respect of which the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter addressed to the board of directors or managers of the Borrower from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally-recognized standing that is in the good faith determination of the Borrower qualified to render such letter, which letter states that such transaction is (i) fair, from a financial point of view, to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) on terms, taken as a whole, that are no less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate;

 

(p) [reserved];

 

(q) customary agreements and arrangements with oil and gas royalty trusts and master limited partnership agreements that comply with the affiliate transaction provisions of such royalty trust or master limited partnership agreement;

 

(r) payments and distributions by any Parent Entity (and any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Subsidiaries to the extent such payments are permitted under Sections 10.6(f)(i) and (v) ;

 

(s) [reserved];

 

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(t) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, future, current or former directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity;

 

(u) Investments permitted under Section 10.5 (other than Sections 10.5(h) , (k) , (m) , (q) , (w) and (y) thereof);

 

(v) [reserved];

 

(w)   [reserved];

 

(x) transactions with customers, clients, joint venture partners, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement that are fair to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Borrower, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

 

(y) [reserved];

 

(z) transactions between the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that is an Affiliate solely because a director of such Person is also a director of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Borrower or such direct or indirect parent, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

 

(aa)   [reserved];

 

(bb) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to officers, directors, employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower in good faith;

 

(cc)   [reserved];

 

(dd) any lease entered into between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee and any Affiliate of the Borrower, as lessor, which is approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors in good faith or, any lease entered into between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, and any Affiliate of the Borrower, as lessor, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(ee)   [reserved];

 

(ff)   [reserved];

 

(gg) Permitted Intercompany Activities;

 

(hh) the formation and maintenance of any consolidated group or subgroup for tax, accounting or cash pooling or management purposes in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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(ii) a joint venture which would constitute a transaction with an Affiliate solely as a result of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owning an equity interest or otherwise controlling such joint venture or similar entity.

 

9.10 Compliance with Environmental Laws . The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, comply, and take all commercially reasonable actions to cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain, maintain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and, in each case to the extent the Credit Parties or Subsidiaries are required by Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, remedial or other corrective action necessary to address Hazardous Materials at any property or facility in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws.

 

9.11 Additional Guarantors, Grantors and Collateral .

 

(a) Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Guarantee or the Security Documents, the Borrower and Falcon GP, as applicable, will cause (i) any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition) and (ii) any Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower or Falcon GP, as applicable, that ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case within forty-five (45) days from the date of such formation, acquisition or cessation, as applicable (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) to (A) execute (x) a supplement to the Guarantee, substantially in the form of Exhibit I thereto, in order to become a Guarantor, (y) a supplement to the Collateral Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit I thereto, in order to become a grantor and a pledgor thereunder and (z) a counterpart to the Intercompany Note, (B) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, within forty-five (45) days after such request (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of an opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, of counsel for the Credit Parties reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to such matters set forth in this Section 9.11 as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, and (C) as promptly as practicable after the request therefor by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent with respect to each Mortgaged Property, (i) any existing title reports, (ii) abstracts or (iii)environmental assessment reports, to the extent available and in the possession or control of the Credit Parties or their respective Subsidiaries; provided, however, that there shall be no obligation to deliver to the Administrative Agent any existing environmental assessment report whose disclosure to the Administrative Agent would require the consent of a Person other than the Credit Parties or one of their respective Subsidiaries, where, despite the commercially reasonable efforts of the Credit Parties or their respective Subsidiaries to obtain such consent, such consent cannot be obtained.

 

(b) Subject to any applicable limitations set forth in the Collateral Agreement, the Borrower and Falcon GP will pledge, and, if applicable, will cause each Subsidiary Guarantor (or Person required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 9.11(a) ) to pledge, to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, (i) all of the Equity Interests (other than any Excluded Equity Interests) of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower, Falcon GP or any Credit Party (or Person required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 9.11(a)) , in each case, formed or otherwise purchased or acquired after the Closing Date, pursuant to supplements to the Collateral Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I , thereto and (ii) except with respect to intercompany Indebtedness, all evidences of Indebtedness for borrowed money in a principal amount in excess of $7,500,000 (individually) that is owing to the Borrower or any Guarantor (or Person required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 9.11(a) ), in each case pursuant to supplements to the Collateral Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I thereto.

 

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(c) [Reserved].

 

(d) In connection with each redetermination (but not any adjustment) of the Borrowing Base, the Borrower shall review the applicable Reserve Report, if any, and the list of current Mortgaged Properties (as described in Section 9.14(c) ), to ascertain whether the PV-9 of the Mortgaged Properties (calculated at the time of redetermination) meets the Collateral Coverage Minimum after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, Dispositions and production. In the event that the PV-9 of the Mortgaged Properties (calculated at the time of redetermination) does not meet the Collateral Coverage Minimum, then the Borrower shall, and shall cause the Credit Parties to, grant, within seventy-five (75) days of delivery of the certificate required under Section 9.14(c) (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), to the Collateral Agent as security for the Obligations a Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 10.2 ) on additional Oil and Gas Properties not already subject to a Lien of the Security Documents such that, after giving effect thereto, the PV-9 of the Mortgaged Properties (calculated at the time of redetermination) meets the Collateral Coverage Minimum. All such Liens will be created and perfected by and in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents, including, if applicable, any additional Mortgages. In order to comply with the foregoing, if any Restricted Subsidiary places a Lien on its property and such Restricted Subsidiary is not a Guarantor, then it shall become a Guarantor and comply with the provisions of Sections 9.11(a) and (b) .

 

(e) Without limitation of clause (a) , (b) or (d) above, substantially simultaneously with the delivery of any mortgage or deed of trust on any Oil and Gas Property for the benefit of any other secured party and securing Indebtedness that is subject to any Customary Intercreditor Agreement, the Borrower shall, or shall cause the relevant Credit Party to, grant to the Collateral Agent as security for the Obligations a Lien on such Oil and Gas Property. All such Liens will be created and perfected by and in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents, including, if applicable, any additional Mortgages. In order to comply with the foregoing, if any Restricted Subsidiary places a Lien on its property and such Subsidiary is not a Guarantor, then it shall become a Guarantor and comply with the provisions of Sections 9.11(a) and (b) .

 

9.12 Use of Proceeds . The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans made (i) on the Closing Date and any Letters of Credit in accordance with the second recital of this Agreement and (ii) after the Closing Date (a) for the acquisition, development and exploration of oil and gas properties, (b) to provide for the working capital needs of the Borrower and its subsidiaries and (c) for other general corporate purposes (in each case, as permitted by the Credit Documents).

 

9.13 Further Assurances .

 

(a) Subject to the applicable limitations set forth in the Security Documents, unless otherwise provided hereunder, the Borrower and Falcon GP will, and will cause each other Credit Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, assignments of as-extracted collateral arising from the Borrowing Base Properties, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents) that the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity and priority of the security interests created or intended to be created by the applicable Security Documents, all at the expense of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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(b) [Reserved].

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Collateral Agent and the Borrower reasonably determine in writing that the cost of creating or perfecting any Lien on any property is excessive in relation to the benefits afforded to the Lenders thereby, then such property may be excluded from the Collateral for all purposes of the Credit Documents. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Collateral Agreement, or any other Credit Document, (i) the Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for or waivers of the requirements of the creation or perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title opinions or other title information, legal opinions, appraisals, flood insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Credit Parties on such date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that perfection or obtaining of such items is not required by law or cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the other Credit Documents, (ii) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to this Agreement and the Security Documents shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Security Documents and, to the extent appropriate in any applicable jurisdiction, as otherwise agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may make such modifications to the Security Documents, and execute and/or consent to such easements, covenants, rights of way or similar instruments (and Administrative Agent may agree to subordinate the lien of any mortgage to any such easement, covenant, right of way or similar instrument or record or may agree to recognize any tenant pursuant to an agreement in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), as are reasonable or necessary and otherwise permitted by this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

 

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.13 or anything in this Agreement or any other Credit Document to the contrary: (A) Liens required to be granted from time to time shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Agreement and the other Credit Documents and, to the extent appropriate in any applicable jurisdictions, as agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower; (B) the Collateral shall not include any Excluded Assets; (C) except as provided in Section 9.17 hereof, no deposit account control agreement, securities account control agreement, commodity account control agreement or other control agreements or control arrangements shall be required with respect to any deposit account, securities account, commodity account or other asset specifically requiring perfection through control agreements; and (D) no actions in any jurisdiction outside of the United States or that are necessary to comply with any Requirement of Law of any jurisdiction outside of the United States shall be required in order to create any security interest in assets located, titled, registered or filed outside of the United States or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that there shall be no collateral agreements, security agreements, pledge agreements, or share charge (or mortgage) agreements governed under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States; provided that nothing in this Section 9.13 or any other provision of the Credit Documents shall affect or impair the Borrower’s obligation to meet the Collateral Coverage Minimum).

 

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9.14 Reserve Reports .

 

(a) On or before October 1, 2018 and each March 1 and September 1 of each year thereafter, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent a Reserve Report evaluating, as of the immediately preceding December 31 and June 30, the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and the Credit Parties located within the geographic boundaries of the United States of America and other applicable Oil and Gas Properties of the Credit Parties that the Borrower desires to have included in any calculation of the Borrowing Base. Each Reserve Report as of (i) December 31 shall be prepared by one or more Approved Petroleum Engineers and (ii) June 30 shall, at the sole election of the Borrower, (x) be audited by one or more Approved Petroleum Engineers or (y) be prepared by or under the supervision of the chief engineer of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

(b) In the event of an Interim Redetermination, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent a Reserve Report prepared by one or more Approved Petroleum Engineers or prepared under the supervision of the chief engineer of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary. For any Interim Redetermination pursuant to Section 2.14(b) , the Borrower shall provide such Reserve Report with an “as of” date as required by the Administrative Agent, as soon as possible, but in any event no later than forty-five (45) days, in the case of any Interim Redetermination requested by the Borrower, or sixty (60) days, in the case of any Interim Redetermination requested by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, following the receipt of such request.

 

(c) With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent a Reserve Report Certificate from an Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying that in all material respects:

 

(i) in the case of Reserve Reports prepared by or under the supervision of the chief engineer of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than December 31 Reserve Reports), such Reserve Report has been prepared, except as otherwise specified therein, in accordance with the procedures used in the immediately preceding December 31 Reserve Report or the Initial Reserve Report, if no December 31 Reserve Report has been delivered;

 

(ii) as of the last Business Day of the most recently ended fiscal year or period, as applicable, a true and complete list of all material commodity Hedge Agreements of the Borrower and each Credit Party, the material terms thereof (in respect of the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark-to-market value thereof (as of the last Business Day of such fiscal year or period, as applicable and for which a mark-to-market value is reasonably available);

 

(iii) for each calendar month during the then current fiscal year to date, the volume of production of Hydrocarbons and sales attributable to production of Hydrocarbons (and the prices at which such sales were made and the revenues derived from such sales) for each such calendar month from the Borrowing Base Properties, and setting forth the related ad valorem, severance and production taxes and lease operating expenses attributable thereto for each such calendar month;

 

(iv) the information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information delivered in connection therewith is true and correct in all material respects;

 

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(v) assuming that all applicable Governmental Authorities have granted approvals, made recordations and taken such other actions as are necessary in connection with the Transactions and any assignments made in connection therewith, except as set forth in an exhibit to such certificate, the Borrower or another Credit Party has good and defensible title to the Borrowing Base Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report (other than those (w) to be acquired in connection with an acquisition, (x) Disposed of since delivery of such Reserve Report as permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, (y) leases that have expired in accordance with their terms and (z) with title defects disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent) and such Borrowing Base Properties are free (or will be at the time of the acquisition thereof) of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 10.2 ;

 

(vi) except as set forth on an exhibit to such certificate, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments in excess of the volume specified in Section 8.17 with respect to the Credit Parties’ Oil and Gas Property evaluated in such Reserve Report that would require the Borrower or any other Credit Party to deliver Hydrocarbons either generally or produced from such Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor;

 

(vii) none of the Borrowing Base Properties have been Disposed of since the date of the last Borrowing Base determination except those Borrowing Base Properties listed on such certificate as having been Disposed of; and

 

(viii)     the certificate shall also attach, as schedules thereto, a list of (1) all material marketing agreements (which are not cancellable on sixty (60) days’ notice or less without penalty or detriment) entered into subsequent to the later of the Closing Date and the most recently delivered Reserve Report for the sale of production of the Credit Parties’ Hydrocarbons at a fixed non-index price (including calls on, or other parties rights to purchase, production, whether or not the same are currently being exercised) that represent in respect of such agreements 2.5% or more of the Credit Parties’ average monthly production of Hydrocarbon volumes and that have a maturity date or expiry date of longer than six (6) months from the last day of such fiscal year or period, as applicable and (2) all Borrowing Base Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that are Collateral and demonstrating compliance with (calculated at the time of delivery of such Reserve Report) the Collateral Coverage Minimum.

 

9.15 Change in Business . The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not fundamentally and substantively alter the character of their business, taken as a whole, from (i) the business conducted by them on the Closing Date or (ii) any other business reasonably related, complementary, incidental, synergistic or ancillary thereto (including Industry Investments) or reasonable extensions thereof.

 

9.16 Title Information . On or before the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of each Reserve Report required by Section 9.14(a) following the Closing Date, the Borrower will deliver title information (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) with respect to the Borrowing Base Properties consistent with usual and customary standards for the geographic regions in which the Borrowing Base Properties are located, taking into account the size, scope and number of leases and wells of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as is required to demonstrate satisfactory title on 85% of the PV-9 value of the Borrowing Base Properties included in the most recent Reserve Report.

 

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9.17 Deposit Account, Securities Account and Commodity Account Control Agreements . The Borrower will, and will cause each Guarantor to, in connection with any Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account, in each case, other than (x) any Excluded Account for so long as it is an Excluded Account (a) held or maintained on the Closing Date by the Borrower or any such Guarantor, promptly but in any event within sixty (60) days of the Closing Date (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion), enter into and deliver to the Collateral Agent a deposit account control agreement (a “ Deposit Account Control Agreement ”), securities account control agreement (a “ Securities Account Control Agreement ”) or commodity account control agreement (a “ Commodity Account Control Agreement ”), as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the account bank, securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, as applicable, for any such Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account and (b) established on or after the Closing Date by the Borrower or any such Guarantor, promptly but in any event within sixty (60) days of the establishment of such Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) enter into and deliver to the Collateral Agent a Deposit Account Control Agreement, Securities Account Control Agreement or Commodity Account Control Agreement, as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the account bank, securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, as applicable, for any such Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account; provided that the aggregate daily maximum balance for all such bank accounts excluded pursuant to this clause (b) on any day shall not exceed $10,000,000. After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may give instructions directing the disposition of funds credited to any Controlled Account and/or withhold any withdrawal rights from the Borrower or any Guarantor with respect to funds credited to any Controlled Account.

 

9.18 Minimum Hedged Volumes . At any time that the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any Test Period is greater than 2.50 to 1.00, the Borrower and/or other Credit Parties shall, within 45 days subsequent to the date the compliance certificate for calculating the Leverage Ratio Covenant is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(c) ), enter into (and thereafter maintain for so long as the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio set forth in the most recently delivered compliance certificate calculating such Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is greater than 2.50 to 1.00) Hedge Agreements in respect of Hydrocarbons entered into not for speculative purposes the notional volumes for which (when aggregated with other commodity Hedge Agreements then in effect, other than puts, floors and basis differential swaps on volumes already hedged pursuant to other Hedge Agreements) are no less than, as of the date the compliance certificate for calculating the Leverage Ratio Covenant is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(c) , for each of the 4 consecutive six-month periods that follow such date of delivery, 50% of the reasonably anticipated Hydrocarbon production in respect of crude oil and natural gas from the Credit Parties’ total Proved Developed Producing Reserves (as forecast based upon the Initial Reserve Report or the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section 9.14(a) , as applicable); provided that with respect to any Test Period (the “ Subsequent Test Period ”), if the Borrower and/or the other Credit Parties have entered into Hedge Agreements pursuant to this Section 9.18 for the immediately preceding Test Period (the “ Preceding Test Period ”) and the most recently delivered Reserve Report available for the Subsequent Test Period is the same one upon which the Preceding Test Period’s volumes were based, then the Borrower and/or the other Credit Parties shall not be obligated to enter into additional Hedge Agreements with respect to such Subsequent Test Period pursuant to this Section 9.18 .

 

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9.19 Post-Closing Covenants . Except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, the Borrower shall, and shall cause each of the other Credit Parties to, deliver each of the documents, instruments and agreements and take each of the actions set forth on Schedule 9.19 within the time periods set forth therein (or such longer time periods as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion).

 

SECTION 10.     Negative Covenants.

 

The Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter, until Payment in Full has occurred:

 

10.1 Limitation on Indebtedness . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness other than the following:

 

(a) Indebtedness arising under the Credit Documents (including pursuant to Sections 2.16 and 2.17 );

 

(b) [reserved];

 

(c) [reserved];

 

(d) Indebtedness of (i) the Borrower or any Guarantor owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing by a Credit Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, to the extent permitted by Requirements of Law and not giving rise to material adverse tax consequences shall be subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to the Intercompany Note, (ii) any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor owing to any other Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor and (iii) to the extent permitted by Section 10.5 , any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor owing to the Borrower or any Guarantor;

 

(e) Indebtedness in respect of any bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees, letters of credit, warehouse receipts or similar instruments entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practice (including in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims); provided that any reimbursement obligations in respect thereof are reimbursed within thirty (30) days following the incurrence thereof;

 

(f) subject to compliance with Section 10.5 , Guarantee Obligations incurred by (i) Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or other Restricted Subsidiaries that is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement (except that a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party may not, by virtue of this Section 10.1(f) , guarantee Indebtedness that such Restricted Subsidiary could not otherwise itself incur under this Section 10.1 ) and (ii) the Borrower in respect of Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement; provided that (A) if the Indebtedness being guaranteed under this Section 10.1(f) is subordinated to the Obligations, such Guarantee Obligations shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness and (B) no guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness under clauses (a) , (c) , (i) , (k) , (l) or (q) of this Section 10.1 or other Junior Debt shall be permitted unless such Restricted Subsidiary shall have also provided a guarantee of the Obligations substantially on the terms set forth in the Guarantee;

 

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(g) Guarantee Obligations (i) incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of (or to) suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors, licensees or sublicensees or (ii) otherwise constituting Investments permitted by Sections 10.5(d) , (g) , (h) , (i), (j) , (q) , (r) , (s) and (t) ;

 

(h) (i) Indebtedness (including Indebtedness arising under Capitalized Leases) incurred prior to or within 365 days following the acquisition, construction, lease, repair, replacement, expansion or improvement of assets (real or personal, and whether through the direct purchase of property or the Equity Interests of a Person owning such property) to finance the acquisition, construction, lease, repair, replacement, expansion, or improvement of such assets (for the avoidance of doubt, the purchase date for any asset shall be the later of the date of completion of installation and the beginning of the full productive use of such asset); (ii) Indebtedness arising under Capitalized Leases, other than (A) Capitalized Leases in effect on the Closing Date and (B) Capitalized Leases entered into pursuant to subclause (i)  above; and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness issued or incurred to Refinance any such Indebtedness; provided , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by subclauses (i) , (ii) and (iii) of this Section 10.1(h) shall not exceed at any time outstanding the greater of $20,000,000 and 3.5% of Consolidated Total Assets;

 

(i) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 10.1 and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness issued or incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

 

(j) Indebtedness in respect of Hedge Agreements, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.10 ;

 

(k) Indebtedness of the Borrower (including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness issued or incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness) (x) incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment permitted under Section 10.5 or (y) assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment permitted under Section 10.5 so long as, in the case of Indebtedness assumed pursuant to clause (y) hereof, such Indebtedness is not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment; provided that (A) immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment and the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants on a Pro Forma Basis and (B) (I) in the case of any such Indebtedness secured by a Lien that is junior to the Lien securing the Obligations, the Borrowing Base shall be adjusted to the extent required by Section 2.14(e) , (II) in the case of any such Indebtedness that is Pari Debt, the Borrower shall make any mandatory prepayment required in connection therewith pursuant to Section 5.2(b)(iii) and (III) in the case of any such secured Indebtedness assumed pursuant to clause (y) hereof, the holders of such Indebtedness have no recourse to property other than the property so acquired and the property so acquired shall not constitute Borrowing Base Properties; provided, further that in the case of Indebtedness incurred or assumed pursuant to clauses (x) and (y) hereof or any applicable Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, any such Indebtedness shall have a maturity date that is after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred or assumed and have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facility; provided still further , that the requirements of this Section 10.1(k) shall not apply to any Indebtedness of the type that could have been incurred under Section 10.1(h) ;

 

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(l) (i) Pari Debt (including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness issued or incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness); provided that any such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 10.1(l) (x) shall have a maturity date that is after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is secured and have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Facility and (y) shall not include remedies or defaults which are based on the Borrowing Base and (ii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto;

 

(m) Indebtedness arising from Permitted Intercompany Activities to the extent constituting an Investment permitted by Section 10.5 ;

 

(n) Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary or of a Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding at any time pursuant to this Section 10.1(n) shall not at the time of incurrence thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto and the use of proceeds thereof on a Pro Forma Basis exceed the greater of (i) $15,000,000 and (ii) 3.0% of Consolidated Total Assets (measured as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness based upon internally available financial statements); provided , further , that no Credit Party’s assets are used to secure any such Indebtedness and no Credit Party guarantees such Indebtedness;

 

(o) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations, and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guaranties or instruments related thereto, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practice, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practice;

 

(p) (i) other additional Indebtedness, provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding at any time pursuant to this Section 10.1(p) shall not at the time of incurrence thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto and the use of proceeds thereof on a Pro Forma Basis exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and 3.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (measured as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness based upon the financial statements most recently available prior to such date) and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness issued or incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

 

(q) Indebtedness in respect of (i) Permitted Additional Debt; provided that (x) immediately after giving effect to the incurrence or issuance thereof and the use of proceeds therefrom, (A) the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Financial Performance Covenants on a Pro Forma Basis, (B) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (C) no Borrowing Base Deficiency shall result therefrom and (y) the Borrowing Base shall be adjusted to the extent required by Section 2.14(e) , and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness issued or incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness;

 

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(r) Cash Management Obligations, Cash Management Services and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearing house arrangements, employees’ credit or purchase cards, overdraft protections and similar arrangements;

 

(s) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services;

 

(t) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations (including earn-outs), in each case assumed or entered into in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisitions, other Investments permitted by Section 10.5 and the Disposition of any business, assets or Equity Interests not prohibited hereunder;

 

(u) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of obligations to pay insurance premiums;

 

(v) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of the Borrower or, to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries any direct or indirect parent thereof and the Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practice;

 

(w)   Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by the Borrower or any Guarantor to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees (or their respective spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) permitted by Section 10.6 ;

 

(x) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with the Transactions, Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investment permitted hereunder;

 

(y) Indebtedness associated with bonds or surety obligations required by Requirements of Law or by Governmental Authorities in connection with the operation of Oil and Gas Properties in the ordinary course of business;

 

(z) [reserved];

 

(aa)   Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any joint venture (regardless of the form of legal entity) that is not a Subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the Cash Management Services (including with respect to intercompany self-insurance arrangements) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(bb) Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or Guarantee Obligations in respect of the Indebtedness of, joint ventures (regardless of the form of legal entity) that are not Subsidiaries in principal amount, when aggregated with the outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (aa) , not to exceed, at the time of incurrence thereof, the greater of $10,000,000 and 2.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (measured as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness based on the financial statements most recently available prior to such date);

 

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(cc)   (i) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower on or after the Closing Date from the issuance and sale of its Equity Interests or in connection with the contribution of cash to the capital of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock, Cure Amounts and amounts that serve to increase the Applicable Equity Amount); provided that such Indebtedness is incurred within 180 days after such contribution to the Borrower is made; provided further that such net cash proceeds shall not increase the Applicable Equity Amount and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any such Indebtedness;

 

(dd) Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit, in a principal amount not to exceed the face amount of such Letter of Credit; and

 

(ee)   all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges, and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a)  through (dd)  above.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 10.1 , in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) at any time, whether at the time of incurrence or issuance or upon the application of all or a portion of the proceeds thereof or subsequently, meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in Section 10.1(a) through (ee) above, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, will classify and may subsequently reclassify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any one or more of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 10.1(a) through (ee) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in such of the above clauses as determined by the Borrower at such time. The Borrower will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (ee) of Section 10.1 above.

 

The accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness of the same class, accretion or amortization of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, will, in each case, not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 10.1 . The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, as applicable, being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Borrower dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

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10.2 Limitation on Liens . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any property or assets of any kind (real or personal, tangible or intangible) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

 

(a) Liens arising under the Credit Documents to secure the Obligations (including Liens in respect of any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application or Liens contemplated by Section 3.7 ) or permitted in respect of any Mortgaged Property by the terms of the applicable Mortgage;

 

(b) Permitted Liens;

 

(c) (x) Liens (including liens arising under Capitalized Leases to secure obligations under any Capitalized Lease) securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 10.1(h) ; provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within 365 days after the acquisition, lease, repair, replacement, construction, expansion or improvement (as applicable) financed thereby, (ii) other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, such Liens do not at any time encumber any property, except for replacements thereof and accessions and additions to such property and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for accessions and additions to such assets, replacements and products thereof and customary security deposits) other than the assets subject to, or acquired, constructed, repaired, replaced or improved with the proceeds of, such Indebtedness; provided that in each case individual financings provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings provided by such lender (and its Affiliates) and (y) Liens on the assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and which assets do not constitute Collateral securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is permitted pursuant to Section 10.1 ;

 

(d) Liens existing on the date hereof; provided that any Lien securing Indebtedness in excess of $1,000,000 individually or in the aggregate (when taken together with all other Liens securing obligations outstanding in reliance on this clause (d)  that are not listed on Schedule 10.2(d) ) shall only be permitted to the extent such Lien is listed on Schedule 10.2(d) or would otherwise be permitted under this Section 10.2 ;

 

(e) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted by this Section 10.2 ; provided, however , that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same type of property that secured the original Indebtedness ( plus improvements on and accessions to such property) (or upon or in after-acquired property (i) that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or (ii) if the terms of such Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property (it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition)), (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the applicable Indebtedness at the time the original Lien became a Lien permitted hereunder, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement and (z) on the date of the incurrence of the Indebtedness secured by such Liens, the grantors of any such Liens shall comprise only the same Persons or a subset of such Persons that were the grantors of the Liens securing the debt being refinanced, refunded, extended, renewed or replaced;

 

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(f) Liens existing on the assets of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary, or existing on assets acquired (other than Liens on the Equity Interests of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary), pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted by Section 10.5 ; provided that (1) if the Liens on such assets secure Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 10.1(k) , (2) such Liens attach at all times only to the same assets (or upon or in after-acquired property that is (i) affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, (ii) after-acquired property subject to a Lien securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.1(k) , the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after-acquired property (it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition) and (iii) the proceeds and products thereof) that such Liens attached to, and to the extent such Liens secure Indebtedness, secure only the same Indebtedness (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness) that such Liens secured, immediately prior to such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment and (3) if the Liens on such assets secure Indebtedness and attach to any Collateral, such Liens are Junior Liens and the representative of the holders of such Indebtedness becomes party to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Representative” (as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

 

(g) Liens on the Equity Interests of any Person and the assets of such Person, in each case, that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted by Section 10.5 , or the assets of such a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, to secure Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(k) ; provided that such Liens attach at all times only to the Equity Interests or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries;

 

(h) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations (i) of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in favor of a Credit Party and (ii) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party in favor of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party;

 

(i) Liens (i) of a collecting bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of setoff) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institution’s general terms and conditions;

 

(j) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 10.5 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a transaction permitted under Section 10.4 , in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

 

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(k) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business permitted by this Agreement;

 

(l) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 10.5 ;

 

(m) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(n) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(o) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement;

 

(p) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

(q) Liens in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that such Liens attach at all times only to Oil and Gas Properties from which the Production Payments and Reserve Sales have been conveyed;

 

(r) the prior right of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(s) agreements to subordinate any interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any accounts receivable or other proceeds arising from inventory consigned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(t) [reserved];

 

(u) Liens securing any Indebtedness permitted by Sections 10.1(f) (solely and to the same extent that the Indebtedness guaranteed by such Guarantee Obligations is permitted to be subject to a Lien hereunder), (n) (as long as such Liens attach only to assets of Foreign Subsidiaries and Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors), (o) , (q) ( provided that such Liens are Junior Liens on the Collateral and subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), (r) (as long as such Liens attach only to cash and securities and securities held by the relevant Cash Management Bank) and (y) ;

 

(v) Liens arising pursuant to Section 107(l) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9607(l), or other Environmental Law, unless such Lien (i) by action of the lienholder, or by operation of law, takes priority over any Liens arising under the Credit Documents on the property upon which it is a Lien, or (ii) materially impairs the use of the property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such property is held;

 

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(w)   Liens of not more than $15,000,000 on deposits securing Hedging Obligations in respect of Hedge Agreements with any Persons other than Hedge Banks that were entered into in compliance with Section 10.10 ;

 

(x) Liens on Equity Interests in a joint venture securing obligations of such joint venture so long as the assets of such joint venture do not constitute Collateral;

 

(y) Liens on cash or Permitted Investments held by a trustee under any indenture or other debt agreement issued in escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the release thereof, or under any indenture or other debt agreement pursuant to customary discharge, redemption or defeasance provisions, in each case solely to the extent the relevant release, discharge, redemption or defeasance would be permitted hereunder;

 

(z) additional Liens on property not constituting Borrowing Base Properties securing obligations not in excess of $15,000,000 outstanding at any time;

 

(aa)   Junior Liens on Collateral so long as the outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby, when aggregated with the outstanding principal amount of other obligations secured by Liens permitted under this clause (aa) , at the time of the incurrence thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto and the use of proceeds thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, does not exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and 1.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (measured as of the date on which such Lien or the Indebtedness secured is incurred based upon the financial statements most recently available prior to such date); and

 

(bb) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.1(l) or, to the extent constituting Pari Debt, Section 10.1(k) ; provided that the representative of the holders of each such Indebtedness becomes party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if any Indebtedness is outstanding that is secured by a Lien that is not pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations (including on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis), the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Senior Representative” (as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

 

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10.3 Limitation on Fundamental Changes . Except as permitted by Section 10.4 or 10.5, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Dispose of, all or substantially all its business units, assets or other properties, except that:

 

(a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower; provided that (i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person (and the Borrower shall remain an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia) or, in the case of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Borrower, the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (the Borrower or such Person, as the case may be, being herein referred to as the “ Successor Borrower ”), (ii) the Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iii) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or would result from such consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, (iv) such merger, amalgamation or consolidation does not adversely affect the Collateral in any material respect, (v) if such merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves the Borrower and a Person that, prior to the consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower (A) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by a supplement to the Guarantee confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (B) each Subsidiary grantor and each Subsidiary pledgor, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by a supplement to the Credit Documents confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (C) if requested by the Administrative Agent, each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or unless the Successor Borrower is the Borrower, shall have by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (D) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and any supplements to the Credit Documents preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Security Documents and as to the matters of the nature referred to in Section 6(c) , (E) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel shall be required to be provided to the effect that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation does not violate this Agreement or any other Credit Document and as to such other matters regarding the Successor Borrower and the Credit Documents as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request; provided , further , that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement and (F) such merger, amalgamation or consolidation shall comply with all the conditions set forth in the definition of the term “Permitted Acquisition” or is otherwise permitted under Section 10.5 ; (vi) the Administrative Agent shall have received at least five (5) days prior to the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation all documentation and other information about such Subsidiary or other Person required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act that has been requested by the Administrative Agent; and (vii) such Subsidiary or other Person shall have executed a customary joinder to any then-existing Customary Intercreditor Agreement;

 

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(b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into any one or more Subsidiaries of the Borrower; provided that (i) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, (A) a Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (B) the Borrower shall take all steps necessary to cause the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Restricted Subsidiary) to become a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) in the case of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving one or more Guarantors, unless otherwise permitted by Section 10.5 , a Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation (if other than a Guarantor) shall execute a supplement to the Guarantee, the Collateral Agreement and any applicable Mortgage, and a joinder to the Intercompany Note and any then-existing Customary Intercreditor Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in order for the surviving Person to become a Guarantor, and pledgor, mortgagor and grantor of Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties and to acknowledge and agree to the terms of the Intercompany Note and any then-existing Customary Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation or would result from the consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, (iv) if such merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves a Subsidiary and a Person that, prior to the consummation of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, (A) the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Leverage Ratio Covenant on a Pro Forma Basis immediately after giving effect to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, (B) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate stating that such merger, amalgamation or consolidation and such supplements to any Credit Document preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority of the Liens under the Collateral Agreement and (C) such merger, amalgamation or consolidation shall comply with all the conditions set forth in the definition of the term “Permitted Acquisition” or is otherwise permitted under Section 10.5 ; and (v) the Administrative Agent shall have received at least five (5) days prior to the date of such merger, amalgamation or consolidation all documentation and other information about such Subsidiary or other Person required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act that has been requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

 

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may (i) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) Dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower, a Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

(d) any Subsidiary Guarantor may (i) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Subsidiary which is not a Guarantor or Dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to any other Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor so long as after giving effect to such transaction the Collateral Coverage Minimum would be satisfied and the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 9.11 on a Pro Forma Basis; provided that if such Subsidiary Guarantor is not the surviving entity, such merger, amalgamation or consolidation shall be deemed to be, and any such Disposition shall be, an “Investment” and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.5 and (iii) Dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or any other Guarantor;

 

(e) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if (i) the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (ii) to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary is a Credit Party, any assets or business of such Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise Disposed of or transferred in accordance with Section 10.4 or  10.5 , in the case of any such business, discontinued, shall be transferred to, or otherwise owned or conducted by, a Credit Party after giving effect to such liquidation or dissolution;

 

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(f) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate the Transactions;

 

(g) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate a merger, dissolution, liquidation, amalgamation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 10.4 or an Investment permitted by Section 10.5 ; and

 

(h) any merger the sole purpose of which is to reincorporate or reorganize a Credit Party in another jurisdiction in the United States shall be permitted as long as such merger does not adversely affect the value of the Collateral in any material respect and the surviving entity assumes all Obligations of the applicable Credit Parties under the Credit Documents and delivers any applicable information requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

10.4 Limitation on Sale of Assets . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, (x) convey, sell, lease, sell and leaseback, assign, transfer (including any Production Payments and Reserve Sales) or otherwise dispose (each of the foregoing a “ Disposition ”) of any of its property, business or assets (including receivables and leasehold interests), whether now owned or hereafter acquired or (y) sell to any Person (other than the Borrower or a Guarantor) any shares owned by it of any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests, except that:

 

(a) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may Dispose of (i) inventory and other goods held for sale, including Hydrocarbons, obsolete, worn out, used or surplus equipment, vehicles and other assets (other than accounts receivable) in the ordinary course of business and (ii) Permitted Investments;

 

(b) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may Dispose of any Borrowing Base Properties (or of any Subsidiary owning Borrowing Base Properties) for Fair Market Value so long as no Borrowing Base Deficiency would result therefrom (unless the net cash proceeds of such Disposition are sufficient, together with Unrestricted Cash, to eliminate any Borrowing Base Deficiency that would result therefrom); provided , that if the sum of (x) the Swap PV of terminated and/or off-setting positions in respect of commodity hedge positions (whether evidenced by a floor, put or Hedge Agreement) upon which the Lenders relied in determining the Borrowing Base (after taking into account any other Hedge Agreement executed (a) contemporaneously with the taking of such actions or (b) subsequent to the last redetermination of the Borrowing Base) plus (y) the aggregate PV-9 value of all such Borrowing Base Properties Disposed of (after giving effect to any concurrent acquisitions of and other investments in Oil and Gas Properties by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to which the Borrower has delivered a Reserve Report in accordance with Section 9.14(b)), in each case, since the later of (A) the most recent Scheduled Redetermination Date and (B) the last adjustment of the Borrowing Base made pursuant to Section 2.14(f) exceeds 7.5%) of the then-effective Borrowing Base, then no later than two (2) Business Days after the date of consummation of any such Disposition, the Borrower shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent of such Disposition and the Borrowing Base Properties so Disposed and the Borrowing Base may be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.14(f) ;

 

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(c) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may Dispose of property or assets to the Borrower or to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Credit Party (i) the transferee thereof is a Credit Party or (ii) such transaction is permitted under Section 10.5 ;

 

(d) the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary may effect any transaction permitted by Section 10.2 10.3 (other than Section 10.3(g) ), 10.5 (other than Section 10.5(w) ) or 10.6 ;

 

(e) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may lease, sublease, license or sublicense real, personal or intellectual property in the ordinary course of business; provided that, with respect to intellectual property, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries receives (or retains) a license or other ownership rights to use such intellectual property;

 

(f) Dispositions (including like-kind exchanges) of property (other than Borrowing Base Properties) to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

 

(g) Farm-Out Agreements with respect to undeveloped acreage to which no Proved Reserves are attributable and assignments in connection with such Farm-Out Agreements;

 

(h) Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures (regardless of the form of legal entity) to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

 

(i) [reserved];

 

(j) transfers of property subject to a Casualty Event or in connection with any condemnation proceeding with respect to Collateral;

 

(k) Dispositions or discounts without recourse of accounts receivable in true sale transactions (i) in connection with the collection or compromise thereof or (ii) to the extent the proceeds thereof are used to prepay any Loans then outstanding;

 

(l) the unwinding or termination of any Hedge Agreement (subject to the terms of Section 2.14(f) );

 

(m) Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties or any interest therein, or the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary or of any Minority Investment owning Oil and Gas Properties, that are not Borrowing Base Properties and other assets not included in the Borrowing Base, in each case, subject to the mandatory prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section 5.2(b)(ii);

 

(n) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or sale of Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary which owns an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as such Restricted Subsidiary owns no assets other than the Equity Interests of such Unrestricted Subsidiary);

 

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(o) any swap of assets in exchange for services or assets of the same type in the ordinary course of business of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower;

 

(p) [reserved];

 

(q) Disposition of any asset between or among the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries as a substantially concurrent interim Disposition in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 10.3 , or in connection with an Investment otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 10.5 or a Disposition otherwise permitted pursuant to clauses (a)  through (p) above; and

 

(r) the lapse or abandonment in the ordinary course of business of any registrations or applications for registration of any immaterial intellectual property rights.

 

To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 10.4 to any Person other than a Credit Party, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Credit Documents, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, upon the certification by the Borrower that such Disposition is permitted by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing at Borrower’s sole cost and expense.

 

10.5 Limitation on Investments . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, to (i) purchase or acquire (including pursuant to any merger, consolidation or amalgamation with a person that is not a Wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or amalgamation) any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any other Person, (ii) make any loans or advances to or guarantees of the Indebtedness of any other Person, or (iii) purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) (x) all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or (y) assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person (each, an “ Investment ”), except:

 

(a) extensions of trade credit and purchases of assets and services (including purchases of inventory, supplies and materials) in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b) Investments in assets that constituted Permitted Investments at the time such Investments were made;

 

(c) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes (including employee payroll advances), (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof; provided that, to the extent such loans and advances are made in cash, the amount of such loans and advances used to acquire such Equity Interests shall be contributed to the Borrower in cash) and (iii) for purposes not described in the foregoing subclauses (i) and (ii) ; provided that the aggregate principal amount outstanding pursuant to subclause (iii)  shall not exceed $5,000,000;

 

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(d) (i) Investments existing on, or made pursuant to commitments in existence on, the Closing Date as set forth on Schedule 10.5(d) , (ii) Investments existing on the Closing Date of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in any other Subsidiary and (iii) any extensions, modifications, replacements, renewals or reinvestments thereof, so long as the amount of any Investment made pursuant to this clause (d) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment as of the Closing Date (other than (a) pursuant to an increase as required by the terms of any such Investment as in existence on the Closing Date or (b) as otherwise permitted under this Section 10.5 );

 

(e) any Investment acquired by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries: (i) in exchange for any other Investment, accounts receivable or endorsements for collection or deposit held by the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary in each case in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable (including any trade creditor or customer), (ii) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons, (iii) as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default or (iv) as a result of the settlement, compromise or resolution of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;

 

(f) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower or a Parent Entity;

 

(g) Investments (i) by the Borrower in any Guarantor or by any Guarantor in the Borrower, (ii) by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor in the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that Investments by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor in the Borrower or any Guarantor shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Loans, and (iii) by the Borrower or any Guarantor in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor; provided, that the aggregate amount outstanding pursuant to this Section 10.5(g)(iii) at the time such Investment is made, would not exceed the sum of (A) the greater of $10,000,000 and 2.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (measured as of the date such Investment is made based upon the financial statements most recently available prior to such date), (B) the Applicable Equity Amount at such time and (C) to the extent not otherwise included in the determination of the Applicable Equity Amount, an amount equal to any repayments, interest, returns, profits, distributions, income and similar amounts actually received in cash in respect of any such Investment described in this Section 10.5(g)(iii) (it being understood that to the extent any Investment made pursuant to this Section 10.5(g)(iii) was made by using the Applicable Equity Amount, then the amounts referred to in clause (C) shall, to the extent of the original usage of the Applicable Equity Amount, be deemed to reconstitute such amounts);

 

(h) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(i) Investments, valued at the Fair Market Value (determined by the Borrower acting in good faith) of such Investment at the time each such Investment is made, in an aggregate amount outstanding pursuant to this Section 10.5(i) not to exceed the sum of (A) the greater of (1) $20,000,000 and (2) 3.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (measured as of the date such Investment is made based upon the financial statements most recently available prior to such date) plus (B) the Applicable Equity Amount at such time plus (C) to the extent not otherwise included in the determination of the Applicable Equity Amount, an amount equal to any repayments, interest, returns, profits, distributions, income and similar amounts actually received in cash in respect of any such Investment (which amount shall not exceed the amount of such Investment valued at the Fair Market Value of such Investment at the time such Investment was made) (it being understood that to the extent any Investment made pursuant to this Section 10.5(i) was made by using the Applicable Equity Amount, then the amounts referred to in the clause (C) shall, to the extent of the original usage of the Applicable Equity Amount, as applicable, be deemed to reconstitute such amounts);

 

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(j) Investments made at any such time during which, immediately after giving effect to the making of any such Investment on a Pro Forma Basis, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) Liquidity is not less than 10.0% of the then effective Borrowing Base, (iii) no Borrowing Base Deficiency exists and (iv) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00;

 

(k) Investments constituting promissory notes and other non-cash proceeds of Dispositions of assets to the extent permitted by Section 10.4 or any other disposition of assets not constituting a Disposition;

 

(l) Investments made to repurchase or retire Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof owned by the Sponsor or its Affiliates or any employee or any stock ownership plan or key employee stock ownership plan of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof);

 

(m) Investments consisting of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 10.6 (other than Section 10.6(c) and Section 10.6(f)(viii) );

 

(n) loans and advances to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of, Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to such parent in accordance with Section 10.6(b) , (f) or (i);

 

(o) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;

 

(p) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices or industry practice;

 

(q) advances of payroll payments to employees, consultants or independent contractors or other advances of salaries or compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(r) guarantee obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(s) Investments held by a Person acquired (including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation) after the Closing Date otherwise in accordance with this Section 10.5 to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

 

(t) Investments in Industry Investments and in interests in additional Oil and Gas Properties and field gathering systems, gas processing plants and pipeline systems and any related infrastructure to any thereof related thereto or Investments related to Farm-Out Agreements, Farm-In Agreements, joint operating, joint venture, joint development or other area of mutual interest agreements, other similar industry investments, gathering systems, pipelines or other similar oil and gas exploration and production business arrangements whether through direct ownership or ownership through a joint venture or similar arrangement;

 

(u) to the extent constituting Investments, the Transactions;

 

(v) Investments in Hedge Agreements permitted by each of Section 10.1 and Section 10.10 ;

 

(w) Investments (excluding loans and advances made in lieu of Restricted Payments pursuant to and limited by Section 10.5(n) above) consisting of Indebtedness, fundamental changes, Dispositions and payments permitted under Sections 10.1 (other than Sections 10.1(d)(iii) and (g) (ii) ), 10.3 (other than Sections 10.3(a) , (c) and (g) ), 10.4 (other than Section 10.4(d) ) and 10.7 ;

 

(x) in the case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, Investments consisting of intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll over or extension of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business; provided that, in the case of any such Indebtedness owing by the Borrower or a Guarantor to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness shall, to the extent permitted by Requirements of Law and not giving rise to material adverse tax consequences, be subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to the Intercompany Note; provided further that in the case of any such Indebtedness owing by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to the Borrower or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness shall be evidenced by the Intercompany Note pledged in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Collateral Agreement;

 

(y) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits under clauses (d) and (e) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and clauses (j) , (o) , (w) and (y) of Section 10.2 ;

 

(z) advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(aa)   Investments consisting of licensing of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(bb) Investments made in the ordinary course of business in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contacts and loans or advances made to distributors in the ordinary course of business;

 

(cc)   Investments made by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party to the extent that such Investments are financed with the proceeds received by such Restricted Subsidiary from an Investment in such Restricted Subsidiary permitted by this Agreement;

 

(dd) Investments consisting of the contribution of Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary or FSHCO to any other Foreign Subsidiary or FSHCO;

 

(ee)   Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this Section 10.2(ee) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of marketable securities (until such proceeds are converted to cash equivalents) not to exceed the greater of (1) $10,000,000 and (2) 2.0% of Consolidated Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); and

 

(ff)   any Investment constituting a Disposition or transfer of any asset between or among the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries as a substantially concurrent interim Disposition or transfer in connection with an Investment otherwise permitted pursuant to clauses (a) through (ee) above or in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 10.3 or in connection with a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 10.4 .

 

10.6 Limitation on Restricted Payments . The Borrower will not directly or indirectly pay any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of its Equity Interests (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Qualified Equity Interests) or redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value any of its Equity Interests or the Equity Interests of any Parent Entity (other than through the issuance of additional Qualified Equity Interests), or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration (except in connection with an Investment permitted under Section 10.5 ) any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Parent Entity, now or hereafter outstanding (all of the foregoing, “ Restricted Payments ”); except that:

 

(a) the Borrower may (or may pay Restricted Payments to permit any Parent Entity thereof to) redeem in whole or in part any of its or a Parent Entity’s Equity Interests in exchange for another class of its (or such parent’s) Equity Interests or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests; provided that such new Equity Interests contain terms and provisions at least as advantageous to the Lenders in all material respects to their interests as those contained in the Equity Interests redeemed thereby, and the Borrower may pay Restricted Payments to any Parent Entity payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock not otherwise permitted by Section 10.1 ) of the Borrower;

 

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(b) the Borrower may (or may make Restricted Payments to permit any Parent Entity thereof to) redeem, acquire, retire or repurchase shares of its (or such Parent Entity’s) Equity Interests held by any future, present or former officer, manager, consultant, director or employee (or their respective Affiliates, estates, spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees, distributees or immediate family members) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity thereof, in connection with the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise in accordance with any equity option or equity appreciation rights plan, any management, director and/or employee equity ownership, benefit or incentive plan or agreement, equity subscription plan, employment termination agreement or any other employment agreements or equity holders’ agreement; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made under this clause (b) shall not exceed (A) $10,000,000 in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $20,000,000 in any calendar year), plus (B) all net cash proceeds obtained by or contributed to the Borrower during such calendar year from the sales of Equity Interests to other future, present or former officers, consultants, employees, directors and managers in connection with any permitted compensation and incentive arrangements plus (C) all net cash proceeds obtained from any key-man life insurance policies received during such calendar year plus (D) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to members of management, directors or consultants of any Parent Entity, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests; notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (B) , (C) and (D) above in any calendar year and provided , further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), of the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary, any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of this Agreement;

 

(c) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower may make Investments permitted by Section 10.5 (other than Sections 10.5(l) , 10.5(m) , (n) and (w) );

 

(d) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower may consummate transactions expressly permitted by Section 10.3 ;

 

(e) the Borrower may repurchase Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any Parent Entity thereof) upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represents all or a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

(f) the Borrower may:

 

(i) with respect to any taxable period (x) for which the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries are members of a consolidated, combined, affiliated, unitary or similar income tax group for U.S. federal and/or applicable state or local income Tax purposes of which any Parent Entity is the common parent, or (y) for which the Borrower is a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is wholly owned (directly or indirectly) by a Parent Entity that is classified as a C corporation for U.S. federal and/or applicable state or local income Tax purposes, make and pay Restricted Payments the proceeds of which will be used to pay (or to make Restricted Payments to allow any Parent Entity to pay) any U.S. federal, state and/or local income Taxes in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Taxes that the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, would have paid for such taxable period had the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, been a stand-alone corporate taxpayer or a stand-alone corporate group; provided that distributions pursuant to this clause (i) in respect of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be permitted only to the extent that cash distributions were made by such Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for such purpose;

 

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(ii) without duplication of any amounts distributed under clause (i) above and with respect to any taxable period ending after the Closing Date for which the Borrower is a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (other than a partnership or disregarded entity described in clause (i)(y) above), make and pay Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect owners in amounts necessary to permit each such owner to pay its U.S. federal, state and/or local income Taxes (including any estimated Taxes payable) (as applicable) attributable to its direct or indirect ownership of the Borrower and its subsidiaries with respect to such taxable period in an aggregate amount not to exceed the total U.S. federal net taxable income allocated to the direct or indirect owners for such taxable period (ignoring (A) any special basis adjustment under Section 743 of the Code with respect to any such owner and (B) any income, gain, loss or deduction under Section 704(c) of the Code with respect to any such owner), multiplied by 50 percent;

 

(iii) the proceeds of which shall be used to allow any Parent Entity to pay its operating costs and expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting and other professional costs and expenses) to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(iv) the proceeds of which shall be used by such Parent Entities to pay Restricted Payments contemplated by Section 10.6(b) ;

 

(v) the proceeds of which shall be used to make Restricted Payments to allow any Parent Entity to pay fees and expenses related to any equity issuance or offering or debt issuance, incurrence or offering, Disposition or acquisition or investment transaction not relating to any other portfolio company of any Parent Entity permitted by this Agreement, whether or not consummated;

 

(vi) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay fees and expenses (including real and personal property Taxes, and franchise, excise or similar taxes) required to maintain its corporate existence or good standing under applicable law, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, employees and consultants of any Parent Entity, and any payroll, social security or similar taxes thereof, to the extent such fees, expenses, salaries, bonuses, other benefits and indemnities are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(vii) in the form of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock not otherwise permitted by Section 10.1 ); and

 

(viii)     to finance Permitted Acquisitions and other Investments or other acquisitions in each case otherwise permitted to be made under Section 10.5 if made by the Borrower; provided , that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment or other acquisition, (B) such direct or indirect parent company shall, promptly following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the capital of the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the merger, amalgamation, consolidation, or sale of the Person formed or acquired into the Borrower or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not prohibited by Section 10.3 ) in order to consummate such Investment or other acquisition, (C) such direct or indirect parent company and its Affiliates (other than the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) receives no consideration or other payment in connection with such transaction except to the extent the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary could have given such consideration or made such payment in compliance herewith, (D) any property received by the Borrower shall not increase the Applicable Equity Amount and (E) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment shall be deemed to be made by Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 10.5 for the purposes of calculating compliance with the baskets thereunder;

 

(g) the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries may (i) pay cash in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted under Section 10.5 and (ii) so long as, immediately after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) no Borrowing Base Deficiency exists, honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;

 

(h) the Borrower may pay any dividends or distributions within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the other clauses of this Section 10.6 ;

 

(i) so long as, immediately after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) Liquidity is not less than ten percent (10.0%) of the then effective Borrowing Base, (iii) no Borrowing Base Deficiency exists and (iv) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00, the Borrower may declare and pay additional Restricted Payments without limit in cash or otherwise to the holders of its or any Parent Entity’s Equity Interests; provided , that, in the case of any Restricted Payment in the form of assets other than cash, no such Restricted Payment shall be made if a Borrowing Base Deficiency would result from an adjustment to the Borrowing Base resulting from such Restricted Payment (unless the Borrower shall have cash on hand sufficient to eliminate any such potential Borrowing Base Deficiency and shall, in accordance with the terms hereof, promptly cure such Borrowing Base Deficiency);

 

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(j) the Borrower may consummate the Transactions (and pay fees and expenses in connection therewith on or following the Closing Date), and make payments described in Section 9.9(a) , (f) , (g) , (h) , (j) and (l) (subject to the conditions set out therein);

 

(k) payments made or expected to be made by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of required withholding or similar non-U.S. Taxes with respect to any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant and any repurchases of Equity Interests in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options;

 

(l) payments and distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole that complies with the terms of this Agreement;

 

(m) so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may declare and pay Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Applicable Equity Amount at the time such Restricted Payment is paid;

 

(n) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of Equity Interests of, or Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or a Restricted Subsidiary that owns an Unrestricted Subsidiary); provided that such Restricted Subsidiary owns no assets other than Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries the primary assets of which are cash and/or Permitted Investments); and

 

(o) [reserved]; and

 

(p) to pay interest and/or principal (including AHYDO “catch-up payments”) on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash as common equity (or other equity reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent); provided that (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness shall increase Consolidated Total Debt on a dollar-for-dollar basis, (ii) all interest expense relating to such Indebtedness shall (x) reduce Consolidated Net Income and (y) increase Consolidated Interest Expense, in each case on a dollar-for-dollar basis, and (iii) such contribution of equity shall be disregarded for all purposes hereunder.

 

10.7 Limitations on Debt Payments and Amendments .

 

(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, prepay, repurchase or redeem or otherwise defease prior to its scheduled maturity any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to or payment priority or is secured by a Lien that is junior to the Liens securing the Obligations (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof to the extent constituting Junior Debt) (such other Indebtedness or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, “ Junior Debt ”) (for the avoidance of doubt, it being understood that payments of regularly-scheduled cash interest in respect of Junior Debt and any AHYDO payments shall be permitted unless expressly prohibited by the terms of the documents governing such subordination); provided , however , that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may prepay, repurchase, redeem or defease prior to its scheduled maturity any Junior Debt (i) in exchange for or with the proceeds of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) by converting or exchanging any Junior Debt to Qualified Equity Interests of any Parent Entity, (iii) so long as, immediately after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, (A) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (B) Liquidity is not less than 10.0% of the then effective Borrowing Base, (C) no Borrowing Base Deficiency exists and (D) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00, (iv) so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Applicable Equity Amount or (v) owed to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not prohibited by the subordination provisions contained in the Intercompany Note; provided , further , that, after giving effect to any adjustment of the Borrowing Base made pursuant to Section 2.14(f) and any repayment of the Loans required in connection therewith, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may make mandatory prepayments in respect of any Junior Debt with the proceeds of the disposition of any assets that have been pledged to secure such Junior Debt;

 

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(b) The Borrower will not, without the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), amend or modify the terms of any Junior Debt, other than amendments or modifications that (A) would not be materially adverse to the Lenders, taken as a whole (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), (B) otherwise comply with the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” that may be incurred to Refinance any such Indebtedness, (C) would have the effect of converting any Junior Debt to Qualified Equity Interests of a Parent Entity or (D) to the extent such amendment or modification would not have been prohibited under this Agreement at the time such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, Junior Debt or documentation was first issued, incurred or entered into, as applicable; and

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 10.7 shall prohibit (i) the repayment or prepayment of intercompany subordinated Indebtedness owed among the Borrower and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in either case, unless an Event of Default pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.5 has occurred and is continuing and the Borrower has received a notice from the Collateral Agent instructing it not to make or permit the Borrower and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries to make any such repayment or prepayment, or (ii) substantially concurrent transfers of credit positions in connection with intercompany debt restructurings so long as such Indebtedness is permitted by Section 10.1 after giving effect to such transfer.

 

(d) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, prepay, repurchase or redeem or otherwise defease prior to its scheduled maturity any Pari Debt (for the avoidance of doubt, it being understood that payments of regularly-scheduled cash interest and amortization of principal in respect of Pari Debt shall be permitted hereunder unless prohibited by the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement) other than in connection with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in respect thereof; provided , however , that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may prepay, repurchase, redeem or defease prior to its scheduled maturity any Pari Debt so long as, immediately after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, (A) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (B) no Borrowing Base Deficiency exists.

 

10.8 Negative Pledge Agreements . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Guarantors to, enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Requirement (other than this Agreement or any other Credit Document) that limits the ability of the Borrower or any Guarantor to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Secured Parties with respect to the Obligations or under the Credit Documents; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to each of the following Contractual Requirements that:

 

(a) (i) exist on the Closing Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 10.8 ) are listed on Schedule 10.8 and (ii) to the extent Contractual Requirements permitted by subclause (i)  are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness or other obligations, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness or obligation so long as such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not expand the scope of such Contractual Requirement;

 

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(b) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such Contractual Requirements were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

(c) represent Indebtedness permitted under Section 10.1 of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor so long as such Contractual Requirement applies only to such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries;

 

(d) arise pursuant to agreements entered into with respect to any sale, transfer, lease or other Disposition permitted by Section 10.4 and applicable solely to assets under such sale, transfer, lease or other Disposition;

 

(e) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements permitted by Section 10.5 and applicable to joint ventures or otherwise arise in agreements which restrict the Disposition or distribution of assets or property subject to oil and gas leases, joint operating agreements, joint exploration and/or development agreements, participation agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the oil and gas exploration and development business and customary provisions in any Agreement of the type described in the definition of “Industry Investments” entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto;

 

(g) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(h) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i) restrict the use of cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(j) [reserved];

 

(k) exist under any documentation governing any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness but only to the extent such Contractual Requirement is not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the Contractual Requirement in the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

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(l) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligation;

 

(m) are included in any agreement relating to any Lien, so long as (i) such Lien is permitted under Section 10.2(b) , (c) , (f) or, so long as such Lien does not attach to Collateral, (g ) and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien and (ii) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 10.8 ;

 

(n) are restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 10.1 or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, to the extent such restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the restrictions contained in the Credit Documents as determined by the Borrower in good faith;

 

(o) are restrictions regarding licenses or sublicenses by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business (in which case such restriction shall relate only to such intellectual property);

 

(p) [reserved];

 

(q) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Sections 10.2 and 10.5 and limited to such cash or deposit; and

 

(r) are encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (q) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower’s board of directors, no more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

 

10.9 Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on its Equity Interests or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits or transfer any property to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary except (in each case) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(a) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date, including pursuant to the Credit Documents and any Hedging Obligations in effect on the Closing Date;

 

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(b) [reserved];

 

(c) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and obligations under any Capitalized Lease that impose restrictions on transferring the property so acquired;

 

(d) [reserved];

 

(e) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, or that is assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case that is in existence at the time of such transaction (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired or designated;

 

(f) [reserved];

 

(g) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.1(p) and (q) as it relates to the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(h) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i) other Indebtedness of Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Closing Date pursuant to Sections 10.1(k) , (l) , (p) and (q) so long as either (A) the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness are no less favorable to the Borrower, taken as a whole, as determined by the board of directors of the Borrower in good faith, than the provisions contained in this Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date or (B) any such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness does not prohibit (except upon a default or an event of default thereunder) the payment of dividends in an amount sufficient, as determined by the board of directors of the Borrower in good faith, to impair the ability of the Borrower to make scheduled payments of cash interest on the Loans when due;

 

(j) customary provisions in joint venture agreements or agreements governing property held with a common owner and other similar agreements or arrangements relating solely to such joint venture or property or are otherwise customary encumbrances or restrictions imposed pursuant to any agreement of the type described in the definition of “Industry Investments” entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses or similar agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l) any agreements entered into with respect to any sale, transfer, lease or other Disposition permitted by Section 10.4 and applicable solely to assets under such sale, transfer, lease or other Disposition; and

 

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(m) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a)  through (l) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower’s board of directors, no more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

 

10.10   Hedge Agreements . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Hedge Agreements with any Person other than:

 

(a) Hedge Agreements in respect of Hydrocarbons entered into not for speculative purposes the net notional volumes for which (when aggregated with other commodity Hedge Agreements then in effect, other than puts, floors and basis differential swaps on volumes already hedged pursuant to other Hedge Agreements) do not exceed, as of the date the latest hedging transaction is entered into under a Hedge Agreement, 85% of the reasonably anticipated Hydrocarbon production from the Credit Parties’ total Proved Reserves (as forecast based upon the Initial Reserve Report or the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section 9.14(a) , as applicable) for the sixty (60) month period from the date of creation of such hedging arrangement (the “ Ongoing Hedges ”). In addition to the Ongoing Hedges, in connection with a proposed or pending acquisition of Oil and Gas Properties (a “ Proposed Acquisition ”), the Credit Parties may also enter into incremental hedging contracts with respect to the Credit Parties’ reasonably anticipated projected production from the total Proved Reserves of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as forecast based upon the most recent Reserve Report having notional volumes not in excess of 15% of the Credit Parties’ existing projected production prior to the consummation of such Proposed Acquisition (such that the aggregate shall not be more than 100% of the reasonably anticipated projected production prior to the consummation of such Proposed Acquisition) for a period not exceeding thirty-six (36) months from the date such hedging arrangement is created during the period between (i) the date on which such Credit Party signs a definitive acquisition agreement in connection with a Proposed Acquisition and (ii) the earliest of (A) the date of consummation of such Proposed Acquisition, (B) the date of termination of such Proposed Acquisition and (C) ninety (90) days after the date of execution of such definitive acquisition agreement (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion). However, all such incremental hedging contracts entered into with respect to a Proposed Acquisition must be terminated or unwound within ninety (90) days following the date of termination of such Proposed Acquisition. It is understood that commodity Hedge Agreements which may, from time to time, “hedge” the same volumes of commodity risk but different elements of commodity risk thereof, including where one or more such Hedge Agreements partially offset one or more other such Hedge Agreements, shall not be aggregated together when calculating the foregoing limitations on notional volumes.

 

(b) Other Hedge Agreements (other than any Hedge Agreements in respect of equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions) entered into not for speculative purposes.

 

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(c) It is understood that for purposes of this Section 10.10 , the following Hedge Agreements shall be deemed not to be speculative or entered into for speculative purposes: (i) any commodity Hedge Agreement intended, at inception of execution, to hedge or manage any of the risks related to existing and or forecasted Hydrocarbon production of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not contracted) and (ii) any Hedge Agreement intended, at inception of execution, (A) to hedge or manage the interest rate exposure associated with any debt securities, debt facilities or leases (existing or forecasted) of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, (B) for foreign exchange or currency exchange management, (C) to manage commodity portfolio exposure associated with changes in interest rates or (D) to hedge any exposure that the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries may have to counterparties under other Hedge Agreements such that the combination of such Hedge Agreements is not speculative taken as a whole.

 

(d) For purposes of entering into or maintaining Ongoing Hedges under Section 10.10(a) , forecasts of reasonably projected Hydrocarbon production volumes and reasonably anticipated Hydrocarbon production from the Credit Parties’ total Proved Reserves based upon the Initial Reserve Report or the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section 9.14(a) , as applicable, shall be revised to account for any increase or decrease therein anticipated because of information obtained by Borrower or any other Credit Party subsequent to the publication of such Reserve Report including the Borrower’s or any other Credit Party’s internal forecasts of production decline rates for existing wells and additions to or deletions from anticipated future production from new wells and acquisitions coming on stream or failing to come on stream.

 

10.11   Financial Covenants .

 

(a) Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio . The Borrower will not permit the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the Test Period ending on December 31, 2018 and as of the last day of any Test Period ending thereafter to be greater than 4.00 to 1.00.

 

(b) Current Ratio . The Borrower will not permit the Current Ratio as of the last day of the fiscal quarter ending on or after December 31, 2018 to be less than 1.00 to 1.00.

 

10.12   Accounting Changes . The Borrower shall not make any change in its fiscal year; provided , however , that the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.

 

10.13   Foreign Operations . From and after the date hereof, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, acquire or make any other expenditures (whether such expenditure is capital, operating or otherwise) in or related to any Oil and Gas Properties not located within the geographical boundaries of the United States or form or acquire any Foreign Subsidiary.

 

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SECTION 11.     Events of Default

 

Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any of the following specified events (each an “ Event of Default ”):

 

11.1 Payments . The Borrower shall (a) default in the payment when due of any principal of the Loans or (b) default, and such default shall continue for five or more days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or any Unpaid Drawings, fees or of any other amounts owing hereunder or under any other Credit Document (other than any amount referred to in clause (a)  above).

 

11.2 Representations, Etc . Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by any Credit Party herein or in any other Credit Document or any certificate delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to be untrue in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made.

 

11.3 Covenants . Any Credit Party shall:

 

(a) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 9.1(d)(i) , 9.5 (solely with respect to the Borrower), 9.9 , 9.15 or  Section 10 ; or

 

(b) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in Section 11.1 or 11.2 or clause (a) of this Section 11.3 ) contained in this Agreement or any Security Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice thereof by the Borrower from the Administrative Agent.

 

11.4 Default Under Other Agreements .

 

(a) The Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any payment with respect to any Material Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness described in Section 11.1 ) beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument of agreement under which such Indebtedness was created or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist (other than (1) with respect to indebtedness in respect of any Hedge Agreements, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Hedge Agreements, (2) any event requiring prepayment pursuant to customary asset sale or change of control provisions and (3) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a Disposition (including as a result of Casualty Event) of the property or assets securing such indebtedness permitted under this Agreement), the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, any such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, unless, in the case of each of the foregoing, such holder or holders shall have (or through its or their trustee or agent on its or their behalf) waived such default in a writing to the Borrower, or

 

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(b) Without limiting the provisions of clause (a) above, any such default under any such Material Indebtedness shall cause such Material Indebtedness to be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a mandatory prepayment (and (i) with respect to Indebtedness consisting of any Hedge Agreements, other than due to a termination event or equivalent event pursuant to the terms of such Hedge Agreements, (ii) other than pursuant to customary asset sale or change of control provisions and (iii) other than secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a Disposition (including as a result of Casualty Event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness permitted under this Agreement) prior to the stated maturity thereof.

 

11.5 Bankruptcy, Etc . The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case, proceeding or action concerning itself under (a) Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy” or any other applicable insolvency, debtor relief, or debt adjustment law; or (b) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, any domestic or foreign law relating to bankruptcy, judicial management, insolvency, reorganization, administration or relief of debtors in effect in its jurisdiction of incorporation, in each case as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto (collectively, the “ Bankruptcy Code ”); or an involuntary case, proceeding or action is commenced against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and the petition is not dismissed or stayed within sixty (60) days after commencement of the case, proceeding or action, the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary consents to the institution of such case, proceeding or action prior to such 60-day period, or any order of relief or other order approving any such case, proceeding or action is entered; or a custodian (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code), receiver, receiver manager, trustee, conservator, liquidator, examiner, rehabilitator, administrator, or similar person is appointed for, or takes charge of, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or all or any substantial portion of the property or business thereof; or the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary suffers any appointment of any custodian, receiver, receiver manager, trustee, conservator, liquidator, examiner, rehabilitator, administrator, or the like for it or any substantial part of its property or business to continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days; or the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors.

 

11.6 ERISA . (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which, when taken together with all other ERISA Events, has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Credit Party under Title IV of ERISA in an aggregate amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its Withdrawal Liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan and a Material Adverse Effect could reasonably be expected to result, or (iii) a termination, withdrawal or noncompliance with applicable law or plan terms or termination, withdrawal or other event similar to an ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Plan that, when taken together with other such events, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

11.7 Guarantee . The Guarantee or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof) or any Guarantor or any other Credit Party shall assert in writing that any such Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee are not to be in effect or are not to be legal, valid and binding obligations (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof).

 

11.8 Security Documents . The Mortgage or any other Security Document or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force or effect (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof), or any grantor under any other Security Document or any other Credit Party shall assert in writing that any grantor’s obligations under the Collateral Agreement, the Mortgage or any other Security Document are not in effect or not legal, valid and binding obligations (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof).

 

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11.9 Judgments . One or more monetary judgments or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries involving a liability of $30,000,000 or more in the aggregate for all such judgments and decrees for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance provided by a carrier not disputing coverage), which judgments or decrees are not discharged or effectively waived or stayed for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days.

 

11.10   Change of Control . A Change of Control shall have occurred.

 

11.11   Intercreditor Agreements . (i) Any of the Obligations of the Credit Parties under the Credit Documents for any reason shall cease to be (x) “Senior Debt,” “Senior Indebtedness,” “Guarantor Senior Debt” or “Senior Secured Financing” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any document governing Junior Debt, (y) “Controlling Senior Obligations,” “Initial Credit Agreement Obligations” or “Senior Obligations” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (z) “First Lien Credit Agreement Obligations” or “Senior Obligations” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (ii) the subordination provisions set forth in any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other document governing Junior Debt, or the pari passu provisions of any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement in favor of the Secured Parties shall, in whole or in part, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against the holders of such Junior Debt or parties to (or purported to be bound by) the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, if applicable.

 

Then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default shall then be continuing, the Administrative Agent may with the consent of and, upon the written request of the Majority Lenders, shall, by written notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against the Borrower or any other Credit Party, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement ( provided that, if an Event of Default specified in Section 11.5 shall occur with respect to the Borrower, the result that would occur upon the giving of written notice by the Administrative Agent as specified in clauses (a) , (b) and (c) below shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice): (a) declare the Total Commitment and Swingline Commitment terminated, whereupon the Commitment of each Lender and the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, shall forthwith terminate immediately and any fees theretofore accrued shall forthwith become due and payable without any other notice of any kind, (b) declare the principal of and any accrued interest and fees in respect of any or all Loans and any or all Obligations owing hereunder and thereunder to be, whereupon the same shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower, and/or (c) demand cash collateral in respect of any outstanding Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 3.7(b) in an amount equal to the aggregate Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit issued and then outstanding. In addition, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders will have all other rights and remedies available at law and equity.

 

11.12   Application of Proceeds . Any amount received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent from any Credit Party (or from proceeds of any Collateral) following any acceleration of the Obligations under this Agreement or any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower under Section 11.5 shall, subject to the terms of any applicable Customary Intercreditor Agreement, be applied:

 

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel payable under Section 12.7 and amounts payable under Article II ) payable to the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent in such Person’s capacity as such;

 

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Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (including fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel payable under Section 12.7 ) arising under the Credit Documents and amounts payable under Article II , ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans and Unpaid Drawings, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

Fourth , (i) to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, the Unpaid Drawings and Obligations then owing under Secured Hedge Agreements and the Secured Cash Management Agreements and (ii) to Cash Collateralize that portion of Letters of Credit Outstanding comprising the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.7 , ratably among the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, the Hedge Banks, the Approved Counterparties and the Cash Management Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; provided that (x) any such amounts applied pursuant to the foregoing clause (ii) shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the applicable Issuing Bank to Cash Collateralize such Letters of Credit Outstanding, (y) subject to Section 3.7 , amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to this clause Fourth shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur and (z) upon the expiration of any Letter of Credit, the pro rata share of Cash Collateral attributable to such expired Letter of Credit shall be distributed in accordance with this clause Fourth ;

 

Fifth , to the payment of all other Obligations of the Credit Parties owing under or in respect of the Credit Documents that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

 

Last , the balance, if any, after Payment in Full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Requirements of Law.

 

Subject to Section 3.7 , amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts received from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.

 

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11.13   Equity Cure .

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11 or in any Credit Document, in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the Leverage Ratio Covenant, then (A) until the expiration of the tenth Business Day subsequent to the date the compliance certificate for calculating the Leverage Ratio Covenant is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 9.1(c) (the “ Cure Deadline ”), the Borrower shall have the right to cure such failure (the “ Cure Right ”) by receiving cash proceeds (which cash proceeds shall be received no earlier than the first day of the applicable fiscal quarter for which there is a failure to comply with the Leverage Ratio Covenant) from an issuance of Qualified Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) for cash as a cash capital contribution (or from any other contribution of cash to capital or issuance or sale of any other Equity Interests on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), and upon receipt by the Borrower of such cash proceeds (such cash amount being referred to as the “ Cure Amount ”) pursuant to the exercise of such Cure Right, the Leverage Ratio Covenant shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustments:

 

(i) Consolidated EBITDAX shall be increased, solely for the purpose of determining the existence of an Event of Default resulting from a breach of the Leverage Ratio Covenant with respect to any Test Period that includes the fiscal quarter for which the Cure Right was exercised and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount;

 

(ii) Consolidated Total Debt for such Test Period shall be decreased solely to the extent proceeds of the Cure Amount, if any, are actually applied to prepay any Indebtedness ( provided that any such Indebtedness so prepaid shall be a permanent repayment of such Indebtedness and termination of commitments thereunder) included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt and any cash proceeds shall not be “netted” for purposes of ratio calculations with respect to any four fiscal quarter period in which the fiscal quarter period in which such equity cure has been made is included; and

 

(iii) if, after giving effect to the foregoing recalculations, the Borrower shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the Leverage Ratio Covenant, the Borrower shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the Leverage Ratio Covenant as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of the Leverage Ratio Covenant that had occurred shall be deemed cured for the purposes of this Agreement; provided that (A) in each period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters there shall be at least two (2) fiscal quarters in which no Cure Right is exercised, (B) Cure Rights shall not be exercised more than five times during the term of this Agreement, (C) each Cure Amount shall be no greater than the amount required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the Leverage Ratio Covenant above (such amount, the “ Necessary Cure Amount ”); provided that if the Cure Right is exercised prior to the date financial statements are required to be delivered for such fiscal quarter, then the Cure Amount shall be equal to the amount reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith that is required for purposes of complying with the Leverage Ratio Covenant for such fiscal quarter (such amount, the “ Expected Cure Amount ”), (D) in respect of the fiscal quarter in which such Cure Right was exercised and for each Test Period that includes such fiscal quarter, all Cure Amounts shall be disregarded for the purposes of any financial ratio determination under the Credit Documents other than for determining compliance with the Leverage Ratio Covenant and (E) no Lender or Issuing Bank shall be required to make any extension of credit hereunder during the ten (10) Business Day period referred to above, unless the Borrower shall have received the Cure Amount; and

 

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(iv) upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of written notice, on or prior to the Cure Deadline, that the Borrower intends to exercise the Cure Right in respect of a fiscal quarter, the Lenders shall not be permitted to accelerate Loans held by them or to exercise remedies against the Collateral on the basis of a failure to comply with the requirements of the Leverage Ratio Covenant, unless such failure is not cured pursuant to the exercise of the Cure Right on or prior to the Cure Deadline.

 

(b) Expected Cure Amount . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent that the Expected Cure Amount is (i) greater than the Necessary Cure Amount, then such difference may be used for the purposes of determining the Applicable Equity Amount and (ii) less than the Necessary Cure Amount, then not later than the applicable Cure Deadline, the Borrower must receive cash proceeds from issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) or a cash capital contribution, which cash proceeds received by Borrower shall be equal to the shortfall between such Expected Cure Amount and such Necessary Cure Amount.

 

SECTION 12.     The Agents

 

12.1 Appointment .

 

(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Administrative Agent as the agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Section 12 (other than Section 12.1(c) with respect to the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, and Sections 12.9 , 12.11 , 12.12 and the last sentence of Section 12.4 with respect to the Borrower) are solely for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as third party beneficiary of any such provision. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Credit Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent.

 

(b) The Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Collateral Agent as the agent with respect to the Collateral, and each of the Administrative Agent, each Swingline Lender, each Lender and each Issuing Bank irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Credit Document or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent.

 

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(c) The Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, in its capacity as such, shall not have any obligations, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement but shall be entitled to all benefits of this Section 12 .

 

12.2 Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may each execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents by or through agents, sub-agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact (each, a “ Subagent ”) and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties; provided, however , that no such Subagent shall be authorized to take any action with respect to any Collateral unless and except to the extent expressly authorized in writing by the Administrative Agent. If any Subagent, or successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Subagent, to the extent permitted by law, shall automatically vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Subagent. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any Subagents selected by it.

 

12.3 Exculpatory Provisions . No Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates shall be (a) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document (except for its or such Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein) or (b) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders or any participant for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any of the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Credit Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by such Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Credit Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Security Documents or for any failure of the Borrower or any other Credit Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent shall be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof. The Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Credit Party.

 

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12.4 Reliance by Agents . The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or instruction believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the Lender specified in the Register with respect to any amount owing hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Credit Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Majority Lenders as it deems appropriate and/or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents in accordance with a request of the Majority Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans; provided that the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action or refuse to take any action where, in its opinion or in the opinion of its counsel, the taking or refusal to take such action may expose it to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable Requirements of Law. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 6 and Section 7 on the Closing Date, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

12.5 Notice of Default . Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, has received notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, it shall give notice thereof to the Lenders and the Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Majority Lenders; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders except to the extent that this Agreement requires that such action be taken only with the approval or consent of the Majority Lenders, the Required Lenders, each individual lender or adversely affected Lender, as applicable.

 

12.6 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Other Lenders . Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent to any Lender, any Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank. Each Lender, each Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank represents to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and each other Credit Party and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and any other Credit Party. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, assets, operations, properties, financial condition, prospects or creditworthiness of the Borrower or any other Credit Party that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates.

 

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12.7 Indemnification . The Lenders severally agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, each in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Credit Parties and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), ratably according to their respective portions of the Commitments or Loans, as applicable, outstanding in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought (or, if indemnification is sought after Payment in Full, ratably in accordance with their respective portions of the Total Exposure in effect immediately prior to such date on which Payment in Full occurred), from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided that no Lender shall be liable to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s, as applicable, gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided , further , that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Credit Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 12.7 . In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time occur (including at any time following the payment of the Loans), this Section 12.7 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by such Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice rendered in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Credit Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that such Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Borrower’s continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto. If any indemnity furnished to any Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of such Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, such Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished; provided , in no event shall this sentence require any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement in excess of such Lender’s pro rata portion thereof; and provided further , this sentence shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section 12.7 shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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12.8 Agents in Its Individual Capacities . Each Agent and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower and any other Credit Party as though such Agent were not an Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents. With respect to the Loans made by it, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include each Agent in its individual capacity.

 

12.9 Successor Agents . Each of the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Swingline Lender, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent, any Swingline Lender and/or Collateral Agent becomes a Defaulting Lender, then such Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender or Collateral Agent, may be removed as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, at the reasonable request of the Borrower upon ten (10) days’ notice to the Lenders. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, the Majority Lenders shall have the right, subject to the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) so long as no Default under Section 11.1 or 11.5 is continuing, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in New York. If, in the case of a resignation of a retiring Agent, no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above ( provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by such Agent on behalf of the Lenders or Issuing Banks under and Credit Documents, the retiring Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Agent is appointed) and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the retiring Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and Issuing Bank directly, until such time as the Majority Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this Section 12.9 ). Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, hereunder, and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Majority Lenders may request, in order to continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Security Documents, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 12.9 ). After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, the provisions of this Section 12 (including Section 12.7 ) and Section 13.5 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its Subagents and their respective Agent-Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Agent was acting as an Agent.

 

Any resignation of any Person as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 12.9 shall also constitute its resignation as Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Bank, (b) the retiring Issuing Bank shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, and (c) the successor Issuing Bank shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring Issuing Bank to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Issuing Bank with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

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12.10   Withholding Tax . To the extent required by any applicable Requirement of Law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding tax. If the IRS or any authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective), such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by any applicable Credit Party and without limiting the obligation of any applicable Credit Party to do so) fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, including penalties, additions to Tax and interest, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses, allocated staff costs and any out of pocket expenses. In addition, each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent for (i) any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any applicable Credit Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of any applicable Credit Party to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Credit Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Credit Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 12.10 . For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 12.10 , the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and any Swingline Lender.

 

12.11   Security Documents and Collateral Agent under Security Documents and Guarantee . Each Secured Party hereby further authorizes the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, on behalf of and for the benefit of Secured Parties, to be the agent for and representative of the Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral and the Security Documents. Subject to Section 13.1 , without further written consent or authorization from any Secured Party, the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, may take such action and execute and deliver any such instruments, documents and agreements necessary or desirable to evidence and confirm the release of any Guarantor or Collateral pursuant to Section 13.17 . The Lenders and the Issuing Banks (including in their capacities as potential Cash Management Banks and potential Hedge Banks) irrevocably agree that (x) the Collateral Agent is authorized and the Collateral Agent agrees it shall (for the benefit of Borrower), without any further consent of any Lender, enter into or amend any Customary Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness that is permitted to be secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is permitted under this Agreement, in each case for the purpose of adding the holders of such Indebtedness (or their representative) as a party thereto and otherwise causing such Indebtedness to be subject thereto (it being understood that any such amendment, amendment and restatement or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing and with any material modifications to be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), (y) the Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as to whether any such other Liens are permitted and (z) any Customary Intercreditor Agreement referred to in clause (x) above, entered into by the Collateral Agent, shall be binding on the Secured Parties. Furthermore, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (including in their capacities as potential Cash Management Bank and potential Hedge Banks) hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent under any Credit Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by clause (j) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and clauses (c) , (g), (j)(i) , (o) , (p) , (w) and (y) of Section 10.2 or otherwise permitted to be senior to the Liens of Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent on such property; provided that prior to any such request, the Borrower shall have in each case delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying that such subordination is permitted under this Agreement.

 

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12.12   Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee . Anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower, the Agents and each Secured Party hereby agree that (a) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Guarantee, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Security Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent, and (b) in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Collateral Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Majority Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other disposition.

 

12.13   Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim . In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding, constituting an Event of Default under Section 11.5 , the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid hereunder or under any other Credit Document in respect of the Loans and all other Indebtedness that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel, to the extent due under Section 13.5 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, to the extent due under Section 13.5 .

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Indebtedness or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

12.14   Certain ERISA Matters .

 

(a) Each Lender (for purposes of this Section 12.14 , all references to “Lender” or “Lenders” shall be deemed to include any Issuing Bank) (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

 

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable and the conditions are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

 

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

 

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(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

 

SECTION 13.     Miscellaneous.

 

13.1 Amendments, Waivers and Releases .

 

(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor any other Credit Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof, may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.1 . The Majority Lenders may, or, with the written consent of the Majority Lenders, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent shall, from time to time, (a) enter into with the relevant Credit Party or Credit Parties written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Credit Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Credit Parties hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive in writing, on such terms and conditions as the Majority Lenders or the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided , however , that each such waiver and each such amendment, supplement or modification shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided , further , that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall (i) forgive or reduce any portion of any Loan or reduce the stated rate (it being understood that only the consent of the Majority Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or amend Section 2.8(c) ), or forgive or reduce any portion, or extend the date for the payment (including the Maturity Date), of any principal, interest or fee payable hereunder (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates and any change due to a change in the Borrowing Base or Available Commitment), or extend the final expiration date of any Lender’s Commitment ( provided that (1) any Lender, upon the request of the Borrower, may extend the final expiration date of its Commitment without the consent of any other Lender, including the Majority Lenders, and (2) it is being understood that waivers or modifications of conditions precedent, covenants, Defaults or Events of Default shall not constitute an increase of the Commitments of any Lender) or extend the final expiration date of any Letter of Credit beyond the L/C Maturity Date, or increase the amount of the Commitment of any Lender ( provided that, any Lender, upon the request of the Borrower, may increase the amount of its Commitment without the consent of any other Lender, including the Majority Lenders), or make any Loan, interest, fee or other amount payable in any currency other than Dollars, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (ii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 13.1 in a manner that would reduce the voting rights of any Lender, or reduce the percentages specified in the definitions of the terms “Majority Lenders” or “Required Lenders” (it being understood that, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Majority Lenders and Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Loans and Commitments are included on the Closing Date), consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document to which it is a party (except as permitted pursuant to Section 10.3 ), in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (iii) amend the provisions of Section 11.12 or any analogous provision of any Security Document, in a manner that would by its terms alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the prior written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (iv) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 12 without the written consent of the then-current Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as applicable, or any other former or current Agent to whom Section 12 then applies in a manner that directly and adversely affects such Person, or (v) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 3 with respect to any Letter of Credit without the written consent of each Issuing Bank to whom Section 3 then applies in a manner that directly and adversely affects such Person, or (vi) amend, modify or waive any provisions hereof relating to Swingline Loans without the written consent of the Swingline Lender, or (vii) release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guarantees (except as expressly permitted by the Guarantee or this Agreement) without the prior written consent of each Lender, or (viii) release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Security Documents (except as expressly permitted by the Security Documents or this Agreement) without the prior written consent of each Lender, or (ix) amend Section 2.9 so as to permit Interest Period intervals greater than six (6) months without regard to availability to Lenders, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, or (x) increase the Borrowing Base or waive a condition in or modify in any manner adverse to a Lender in Section 6.2 without the written consent of each Lender (subject to Section 13.1(b) in the case of a Defaulting Lender) or decrease or maintain the Borrowing Base without the written consent of the Required Lenders or otherwise modify Section 2.14(b) , (c) , (d) , (e) , (f) , or (l) if such modification would have the effect of increasing the Borrowing Base without the written consent of each Lender (other than Defaulting Lenders); provided that a Scheduled Redetermination may be postponed by, and an automatic reduction in the Borrowing Base may be waived by, the Required Lenders; provided , further , that this clause (x) shall not apply (or be deemed to apply) to any waiver, consent, amendment or other modification that directly or indirectly reduces the amount of, or waives the implementation of, any provision that would otherwise reduce the Borrowing Base, or (xi) affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, any Agent under this Agreement or any other Credit Document without the prior written consent of such Agent. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the affected Lenders and shall be binding upon the Borrower, such Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the affected Loans. In the case of any waiver, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; it being understood that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. In connection with the foregoing provisions, the Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligations to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of such Lender whose consent is required hereunder.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender and no such amendment, waiver or consent shall disproportionately adversely affect such Defaulting Lender without its consent as compared to other Lenders (it being understood that any Commitments or Loans held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for a vote of the Lenders hereunder requiring any consent of the Lenders).

 

(c) Without the consent of any Lender or Issuing Bank, the Credit Parties and the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may (in their respective sole discretion, or shall, to the extent required by any Credit Document) enter into any amendment, modification or waiver of any Credit Document, or enter into any new agreement or instrument, to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or as required by local law to give effect to, or protect any security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property or so that the security interests therein comply with applicable law or this Agreement or in each case to otherwise enhance the rights or benefits of any Lender under any Credit Document.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment, modification or supplement to any Customary Intercreditor Agreement, any subordination agreement or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement or in any document pertaining to any Indebtedness permitted hereby that is permitted to be secured by the Collateral (i) that is for the purpose of adding the holders of such secured or subordinated Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Agreement (or, in each case, a representative with respect thereto), as parties thereto, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such Customary Intercreditor Agreement, such subordination agreement or such other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing and provided that such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect (taken as a whole), to the interests of the Lenders) or (ii) that is expressly contemplated by any Customary Intercreditor Agreement, any subordination agreement or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement or in any document pertaining to any Indebtedness permitted hereby that is permitted to be secured by the Collateral or (iii) otherwise, with respect to any material amendments, modifications or supplements, to the extent such amendment, modification or supplement is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided , further , that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Majority Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (a) to add one or more additional credit or debt facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents with the Loans and the Commitments and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit or debt facilities in any determination of the Majority Lenders and the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Lenders prior to such inclusion.

 

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(f) In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 2.14 hereof, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders providing the Replacement Loans (as defined below) to permit the refinancing of all outstanding Loans of any Class (“ Replaced Loans ”) with replacement loans (“ Replacement Loans ”) hereunder; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of such Replaced Loans, plus accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties thereon and reasonable fees, expenses, original issue discount and upfront fees associated with such Replacement Loans, (ii) the All-In Yield with respect to such Replacement Loans shall not be higher than the All-In Yield for such Replaced Loans immediately prior to such refinancing unless the maturity of the Replacement Loans is at least one year later than the maturity of the Replaced Loans and (iii) all other terms applicable to such Replacement Loans shall be substantially identical to, or less favorable to the Lenders providing such Replacement Loans than, those applicable to such Replaced Loans, except to the extent necessary to provide for covenants and other terms applicable to any period after the Latest Maturity Date of the Loans in effect immediately prior to such refinancing. Each amendment to this Agreement providing for Replacement Loans may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to effect the provisions of this paragraph, and for the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph shall supersede any other provisions in this Section 13.1 to the contrary.

 

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, technical and conforming modifications to the Credit Documents (including any exhibit, schedule or other attachment) may be made with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (i) if such modifications are not adverse in any material respect to the Lenders, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks (in which case, the consent of the Swingline Lender and Issuing Banks shall be required) or (ii) to the extent necessary (A) to integrate any Incremental Increase or Extended Commitment contemplated by Sections 2.16 and 2.17 or (B) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency so long as, in each case with respect to this clause (B) , the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks shall have received at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Majority Lenders stating that the Majority Lenders object to such amendment.

 

13.2 Notices . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(a) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 13.2 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and

 

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(b) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks.

 

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii)(A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, three (3) Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail, when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.3 , 2.6 , 2.9 , 4.2 and 5.1 shall not be effective until received.

 

13.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies . No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Requirements of Law.

 

13.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Credit Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans hereunder. Such representations and warranties shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements, Secured Cash Management Agreements or contingent indemnification obligations, in any such case, not then due and payable).

 

13.5 Payment of Expenses; Indemnification .

 

(a) The Borrower agrees (i) if the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and the other Agents and the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication and execution of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs, which shall be limited to Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and one local counsel as reasonably necessary in any relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole (and solely in the case of an actual conflict of interest, one additional counsel and (if reasonably necessary) one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to the affected Indemnitees similarly situated) and (ii) after the Closing Date, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Credit Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, and including all respective Attorney Costs, which shall be limited to Attorney Costs of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders taken as a whole and one local counsel as reasonably necessary in any relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole and solely in the case of an actual conflict of interest, one additional counsel and (if reasonably necessary) one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to the affected Indemnitees similarly situated). The agreements in this Section 13.5 shall survive the repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 13.5 shall be paid within thirty (30) days after written demand therefor (together with backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request); provided that, with respect to the Closing Date, all amounts due under this Section 13.5 shall be paid on the Closing Date solely to the extent invoiced to the Borrower within two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. If any Credit Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Credit Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Credit Party by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

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(b) The Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent, Lender, Issuing Bank, Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, Agent-Related Party and their Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, advisors and other representatives of the foregoing (collectively the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs but limited in the case of legal fees and expenses to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole (and solely in the case of an actual conflict of interest, one additional counsel to the affected Indemnitees, taken as a whole) and (if reasonably necessary) one local counsel, in any relevant material jurisdiction) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (i) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Credit Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) any Commitment, Letter of Credit, or Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged Environmental Claim regarding, or liability or obligation (whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise) of the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary under or relating to any Environmental Law or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) (a “ Proceeding ”) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto or whether or not such Proceeding is brought by the Borrower or any other Person and, in each case, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee (all of the foregoing, collectively, the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, losses, damages, claims or out-of-pocket expenses resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any of its Related Indemnified Persons, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) a material breach of any obligations under any Credit Document by such Indemnitee or of any of its Related Indemnified Persons, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) any dispute solely among Indemnitees other than any claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as an administrative agent or collateral agent or arranger or any similar role under this Agreement and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of the Borrower, the Sponsor or any of their Affiliates (as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement (except for direct (as opposed to indirect, special, punitive or consequential) damages resulting from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment, of such Indemnitee), nor shall any Indemnitee, Agent-Related Parties, Credit Party or any Subsidiary have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date) (other than, in the case of any Credit Party, in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party, or which are included in a third-party claim, and for any out-of-pocket expenses related thereto). In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 13.5 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Credit Party, any Subsidiary of any Credit Party, its directors, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Credit Documents are consummated. All amounts due under this Section 13.5 shall be paid within thirty (30) days after written demand therefor (together with backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request); provided , however , that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund such amount to the extent that there is a final judicial determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification rights with respect to such payment pursuant to the express terms of this Section 13.5 . The agreements in this Section 13.5 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 13.5(b) shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, prepayments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements arising from any non-Tax claims.

 

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13.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments .

 

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of each Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) except as expressly permitted by Section 10.3 , the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 13.6 . Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of each Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in clause (c)  of this Section 13.6 ) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Agent-Related Parties and each other Person entitled to indemnification under Section 13.5 ) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 13.6(b)(ii) below, any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees (other than the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates, any natural person, any Disqualified Institution, or any Defaulting Lender) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans (including participations in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of:

 

(A)   the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required (x) for an assignment to an existing Lender and their Affiliates of similar credit worthiness and (y) for an assignment if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor has occurred and is continuing; and

 

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(B)   the Administrative Agent, each Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank (in each case, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A)   except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $5,000,000, unless each of the Borrower, each Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents (which consents shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 with respect to the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary has occurred and is continuing;

 

(B)   each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

 

(C)   the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment and the Administrative Agent shall enter the relevant information in the Register pursuant to clause (b)(iv) of this Section 13.6 ; and

 

(D)   the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and applicable Tax forms (including those described in Sections 5.4(d) , (e) , (h) and (i) , as applicable).

 

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to clause (b)(iv) of this Section 13.6 , from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10 , 2.11 , 3.11 , 5.4 and 13.5 ). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 13.6 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with clause (c)  of this Section 13.6 .

 

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(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders (including any SPVs that provide all or any part of a Loan pursuant to Section 13.6(g) hereof), and the Commitments of, and principal amount (and stated interest amounts) of the Loans and L/C Obligations and any payment made by each Issuing Bank under any applicable Letter of Credit owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). Further, the Register shall contain the name and address of the Administrative Agent and the lending office through which each such Person acts under this Agreement. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Collateral Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Swingline Lender and, solely with respect to itself, each other Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in clause (b)  of this Section 13.6 (unless waived) and any written consent to such assignment required by clause (b)  of this Section 13.6 , the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register.

 

(c) (i) Any Lender may, with the prior written consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), sell participations to one or more banks or other entities other than any Defaulting Lender, any Disqualified Institution (to the extent that the list of Disqualified Institutions has been made available to all Lenders, it being agreed that as of the date hereof, the Administrative Agent has made the list of Disqualified Institutions available to all Lenders), the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or their respective Affiliates or natural persons (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required (x) for any sale to an existing Lender and their Affiliates of similar credit worthiness and (y) for a sale if an Event of Default under Section 11.1 or Section 11.5 with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor has occurred and is continuing; provided further that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in clause (i) or (ii)  of the second proviso of the second sentence of Section 13.1(a) that affects such Participant, provided that the Participant shall have no right to consent to any modification to the percentages specified in the definitions of the terms “Majority Lenders” or “Required Lenders”. Subject to clause (c)(ii)  of this Section 13.6 , the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10 , 2.11 , 3.11 and 5.4 to the same extent as if it were a Lender (subject to the limitations and requirements of those Sections and Sections 2.12 and 13.7 ) and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 13.6) . To the extent permitted by Requirements of Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 13.8(b) as though it were a Lender; provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 13.8(a) as though it were a Lender.

 

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(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.10 , 2.11 , 3.11 or 5.4 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent or except to the extent the entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation; provided that the Participant shall be subject to the provisions in Section 2.12 as if it were an assignee under clauses (a)  and (b) of this Section 13.6 . Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest amounts) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “ Participant Register ”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and each party hereto shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. No Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Credit Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

 

(d) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, any Swingline Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender, and this Section 13.6 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. In order to facilitate such pledge or assignment or for any other reason, the Borrower hereby agrees that, upon request of any Lender at any time and from time to time after the Borrower has made its initial borrowing hereunder, the Borrower shall provide to such Lender, at the Borrower’s own expense, a promissory note, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 or H-2 , as the case may be, evidencing the Loans and Swingline Loans, respectively, owing to such Lender.

 

(e) Subject to Section 13.16 , the Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose to any Participant, secured creditor of such Lender or assignee (each, a “ Transferee ”) and any prospective Transferee any and all financial information in such Lender’s possession concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates that has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement or that has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Affiliates in connection with such Lender’s credit evaluation of the Borrower and its Affiliates prior to becoming a party to this Agreement.

 

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(f) The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “ Granting Lender ”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (a “ SPV ”), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPV to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPV elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPV hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPV shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPV, it shall not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPV any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any state thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 13.6 , any SPV may (A) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrower and Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPV to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (B) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPV. This Section 13.6(g) may not be amended without the written consent of the SPV. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, subject to the following sentence, each SPV shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10 , 2.11 , 3.11 and 5.4 to the same extent as if it were a Lender (subject to the limitations and requirements of Sections 2.10 , 2.11 , 3.11 and 5.4 as though it were a Lender, and Sections 2.12 and 13.7) , and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (b)  of this Section 13.6 ). Notwithstanding the prior sentence, an SPV shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.10 , 2.11 , 3.11 or 5.4 than its Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive absent the grant to such SPV, unless such grant to such SPV is made with the Borrowers’ prior written consent.

 

(h) Any request for consent of the Borrower pursuant to Section 13.6(b)(i)(A) or 13.6(c) and related communications shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent simultaneously to the following Persons:

 

(i) with respect to any request for consent in respect of any assignment or participation relating to Commitments or Loans, to (A) any recipient that is an employee of the Borrower, as designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower from time to time (if any) and (B) the chief financial officer of the Borrower or any other Responsible Officer designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time; and

 

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(ii)   in addition to the Persons set forth in clause (i) above and prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, with respect to any request for consent in respect of any assignment or participation relating to Commitments or Loans, to an employee of the Sponsor designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Sponsor from time to time.

 

(i) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (a) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or participant or prospective Lender or participant is a Disqualified Institution or (b) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Institution.

 

(j) If any Loans or Commitments are assigned or participated (x) to a Disqualified Institution or (y) without complying with the notice requirement under Section 13.6(h) , then: (a) the Borrower may (i) terminate any commitment of such person and prepay any applicable outstanding Loans at a price equal to the lesser of par and the amount such Person paid to acquire such Loans or Commitments, without premium, penalty, prepayment fee or breakage, and/or (ii) require such person to assign its rights and obligations to one or more eligible Lenders at the price indicated above (which assignment shall not be subject to any processing and recordation fee), (b) no such Person shall receive any information or reporting provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (c) for purposes of voting, any Loans and Commitments held by such Person shall be deemed not to be outstanding, and such Person shall have no voting or consent rights with respect to “Required Lender” or class votes or consents, (d) for purposes of any matter requiring the vote or consent of each Lender affected by any amendment or waiver, such person shall be deemed to have voted or consented to approve such amendment or waiver if a majority of the affected class so approves, and (e) such person shall not be entitled to any expense reimbursement or indemnification rights and shall be treated in all other respects as a Defaulting Lender; it being understood and agreed that the foregoing provisions shall only apply to a Disqualified Institution and not to any assignee of such Disqualified Institution that becomes a Lender so long as such assignee is not a Disqualified Institution or an affiliate thereof.

 

13.7 Replacements of Lenders under Certain Circumstances .

 

(a) In the event that any Lender (i) requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.10 , 3.11 or 5.4 (other than Section 5.4(b) ), (ii) is affected in the manner described in Section 2.10(a)(iii) and as a result thereof any of the actions described in such Section is required to be taken or (iii) becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to replace such Lender or terminate the Commitment of such Lender; provided that, (x) in the case of a replacement, (A) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (B) the replacement bank or institution shall purchase, at par, all Loans and the Borrower shall pay all other amounts (other than any disputed amounts), pursuant to Section 2.10 , 3.11 or 5.4 , as the case may be owing to such replaced Lender prior to the date of replacement, (C) the replacement bank or institution, if not already a Lender, and the terms and conditions of such replacement, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank (except to the extent such Swingline Lender or Issuing Banks is, or is an Affiliate of, the Lender being replaced) and (D) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.6(b) ( provided that the Borrower shall be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee referred to therein as long as the replacement Lender pays such fee) and (y) in the case of a termination, repay all Obligations (including amounts (other than any disputed amounts), owing pursuant to Section 2.10, 3.11 or 5.4, as the case may be) owing to such Lender as of such termination date (and, in the case of an Issuing Bank, cancel or backstop on terms reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank any Letters of Credit issued by it).

 

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(b) If any Lender (such Lender, a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”) (i) failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination that pursuant to the terms of Section 13.1 requires the consent of all of the Lenders affected or the Required Lenders and with respect to which the Majority Lenders shall have granted their consent or (ii) is a Non-Consenting Lender that is an Extending Lender, then the Borrower shall have the right (unless such Non-Consenting Lender grants such consent or approves such Proposed Borrowing Base and provided that no Event of Default pursuant to Section 11.1 or  11.5 shall have occurred and be continuing) (x) to replace such Non-Consenting Lender by requiring such Non-Consenting Lender to assign its Loans and its Commitments hereunder to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank (except to the extent such Swingline Lender or Issuing Banks is, or is an Affiliate of, the Lender being replaced) or (y) terminate the Commitment of such Lender; provided that, (x) in the case of a replacement, (i) all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Non-Consenting Lender being replaced (other than principal and interest) shall be paid in full to such Non-Consenting Lender concurrently with such assignment, (ii) the replacement Lender shall purchase the foregoing by paying to such Non-Consenting Lender a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Non-Consenting Lender shall otherwise comply with Section 13.6 ( provided that the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee referred to therein as long as the replacement Lender pays such fee) and (y) in the case of a termination, all Obligations owing to such Non-Consenting Lender shall be paid in full concurrently with such termination.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) each party hereto agrees that any assignment pursuant to the terms of this Section 13.7 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, each Issuing Bank and the assignee and that the Lender making such assignment need not be a party thereto and (ii) no termination of Commitments may be made pursuant to this Section 13.7 unless the Letter of Credit Exposure and Swingline Exposure of the terminated Lender is cash collateralized on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender.

 

(d) Any such Lender replacement or Commitment termination pursuant to this Section 13.7 shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender.

 

13.8 Adjustments; Set-off .

 

(a) If any Lender (a “ Benefited Lender ”) shall at any time receive any payment in respect of any principal of or interest on all or part of the Loans made by it, or the participations in Letter of Credit Obligations held by it, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 11.5 , or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender entitled thereto, if any, in respect of such other Lender’s Loans, or interest thereon, such Benefited Lender shall (i) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (ii) purchase for cash at face value from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of each such other Lender’s Loans, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably in accordance with the aggregate principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them; provided , however , that (A) if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest and (B) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (1) any payment made by the Borrower or any other Credit Party pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (2) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans, Commitments or participations in Drawings to any assignee or participant or (3) any disproportionate payment obtained by a Lender as a result of the extension by Lenders of the maturity date or expiration date of some but not all Loans or Commitments or any increase in the Applicable Margin in respect of Loans or Commitments of Lenders that have consented to any such extension. Each Credit Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under Requirements of Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Credit Party rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Credit Party in the amount of such participation.

 

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(b) After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Requirements of Law, each Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower hereunder or under any Credit Document (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower (and the Credit Parties, if applicable) and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

 

13.9 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission, i.e. a “pdf” or a “tif”), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

13.11   Integration . This Agreement and the other Credit Documents represent the agreement of the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Borrower, the Guarantors, any Agent nor any Lender relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Credit Documents.

 

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13.12   GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; provided , however , that (a) whether the Acquisition has been consummated as contemplated by the Contribution Agreement and (b) whether the Specified Purchase Agreement Representations are accurate and whether as a result of any inaccuracy thereof the Borrower has the right to terminate its obligations under the Contribution Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard to conflict of laws principles that would result in the application of laws of another jurisdiction.

 

13.13   Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers . Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, in each case located in New York County, and appellate courts from any thereof; provided that nothing contained herein or in any other Credit Document will prevent any Lender, the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent from bringing any action to enforce any award or judgment or exercise any right under the Credit Documents or against any Collateral or any other property of any Credit Party in any other forum in which jurisdiction can be established;

 

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding shall be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Person at its address set forth on Schedule 13.2 at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant to Section 13.2 ;

 

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by Requirements of Law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction;

 

(e) without limitation of Sections 12.7 and 13.5 , waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 13.13 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (other than, in the case of any Credit Party, in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party, or which are included in a third-party claim, and for any out-of-pocket expenses related thereto); and

 

(f) agrees that a final judgment in any action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

 

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13.14   Acknowledgments . The Borrower hereby acknowledges that:

 

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents;

 

(b) (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Credit Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and the other Credit Parties, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the other Agents on the other hand, and the Borrower and the other Credit Parties are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Credit Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each of the Administrative Agent, other Agents and the Lenders, is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary for any of the Borrower, any other Credit Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, equity holders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) neither the Administrative Agent, any other Agent, the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, nor any Lender has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower or any other Credit Party with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Credit Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or any other Agent, any Lead Arranger, or any Lender has advised or is currently advising any of the Borrower, the other Credit Parties or their respective Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Administrative Agent, any Agent, the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner or any Lender has any obligation to any of the Borrower, the other Credit Parties or their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, each other Agent and each of its Affiliates and each Lender and its Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its respective Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, any other Agent or any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) none of the Administrative Agent, any Agent or any Lender has provided and none will provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Credit Document) and the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. The Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and each Agent with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty; and

 

(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Credit Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Borrower, on the one hand, and any Lender, on the other hand.

 

13.15   WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL . THE BORROWER, EACH AGENT, EACH ISSUING BANK AND EACH LENDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

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13.16   Confidentiality . The Administrative Agent, each other Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Swingline Lender and each other Lender shall hold all information not marked as “public information” and furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such Lender’s evaluation of whether to become a Lender hereunder or obtained by such Lender, any Swingline Lender, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or such other Agent pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement (“ Confidential Information ”), confidential in accordance with its customary procedure for handling confidential information of this nature and in any event may make disclosure to any other Lender hereto and (a) to its Affiliates and its Affiliates’ employees, legal counsel, independent auditors and other experts or agents (collectively, the “ Representatives ”) who need to know such information in connection with the Transactions and are informed of the confidential nature of such information (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Person; provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (c) to the extent required by applicable Requirements of Law or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; provided , that the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (d) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Section 13.16 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Borrower), to any pledgee referred to in Section 13.6(d) , counterparty to a Hedge Agreement, credit insurer, eligible assignee of or participant in, or any prospective eligible assignee of or participant in any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 13.6 , provided that the disclosure of any such Confidential Information to any Lenders or eligible assignees or participants shall be made subject to the acknowledgement and acceptance by such Lender, eligible assignee or participant that such Confidential Information is being disseminated on a confidential basis (on substantially the terms set forth in this Section 13.16 or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Borrower) in accordance with the standard processes of the Administrative Agent or customary market standards for dissemination of such type of Confidential Information; (e) with the prior written consent of the Borrower; (f) to the extent such Confidential Information becomes public other than by reason of disclosure by such Person in breach of this Agreement; provided that unless prohibited by applicable Requirements of Law, each Lender, the Administrative Agent, any Swingline Lender, any Issuing Bank and each other Agent shall endeavor to notify the Borrower (without any liability for a failure to so notify the Borrower) of any request made to such Lender, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or such other Agent, as applicable, by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with an examination of the financial condition of such Lender by such governmental agency) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure of such information; provided further that in no event shall any Lender, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any other Agent be obligated or required to return any materials furnished by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (g) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any information relating to Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries received by it from such Lender) or to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar organization; or (h) to the extent such Confidential Information is independently developed by or was in the prior possession of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates so long as not based on information obtained in a manner that would violate this Section 13.16 ; provided that no disclosure shall be made to any Disqualified Institution. In addition, each Lender, the Administrative Agent and each other Agent may provide Confidential Information to prospective Transferees or to any pledgee referred to in Section 13.6 or to prospective direct or indirect contractual counterparties in Hedge Agreements to be entered into in connection with Loans made hereunder as long as such Person is advised of and agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 13.16 or confidentiality provisions at least as restrictive as those set forth in the Section 13.16 . “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry.

 

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Each Lender acknowledges that information furnished to it pursuant to this Agreement or the other Credit Documents may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates and their related parties or their respective securities, and confirms that it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and that it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with those procedures and applicable law, including federal and state securities laws.

 

All information, including requests for waivers and amendments, furnished by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to, or in the course of administering, this Agreement or the other Credit Documents will be syndicate-level information, which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates and their related parties or their respective securities. Accordingly, each Lender represents to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it has identified in its Administrative Questionnaire a credit contact who may receive information that may contain material non-public information in accordance with its compliance procedures and applicable law, including federal and state securities laws.

 

13.17   Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations .

 

(a) The Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Credit Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released (i) in full, as set forth in clause (b) below, (ii) upon the Disposition of such Collateral (including as part of or in connection with any other Disposition permitted hereunder) to any Person other than another Credit Party, to the extent such Disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the Liens encumbering such Collateral and held by each other creditor party to any Customary Intercreditor Agreement are required to be released pursuant to the relevant intercreditor agreement (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Credit Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) upon any Collateral becoming an Excluded Equity Interest, an Excluded Asset or becoming owned by an Excluded Subsidiary or (in the case of Collateral constituting cash) becoming subject to Liens pursuant to clauses (d) and (e) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” or becoming subject to any Lien permitted pursuant to Sections 10.2(g) , (j) , (i) , (o) , (p) , (w) and (y) , in each case, except in connection with a transaction prohibited hereunder, (iv) to the extent such Collateral is comprised of property leased to a Credit Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease, (v) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Lenders (or such other percentage of the Lenders whose consent may be required in accordance with Section 13.1 ), (vi) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Guarantor, upon the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guarantee in accordance with the second succeeding sentence or Section 5(g) of the Guarantee and (vii) as required by the Collateral Agent to effect any Disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Credit Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Credit Parties, including the proceeds of any Disposition, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Documents. Additionally, the Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Guarantors shall be released from the Guarantees upon consummation of any transaction permitted hereunder resulting in such Subsidiary ceasing to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise becoming an Excluded Subsidiary. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Credit Document relating to any such Collateral or Guarantor shall no longer be deemed to be repeated. In connection with any release hereunder, the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall promptly take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Borrower and at the Borrower’s expense in connection with the release of any Liens created by any Credit Document in respect of such Subsidiary, property or asset.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any other Credit Document, when Payment in Full has occurred (subject to any (i) Hedging Obligations in respect of any Secured Hedge Agreements, (ii) Cash Management Obligations in respect of any Secured Cash Management Agreements and (iii) any contingent or indemnification obligations not then due and payable), upon request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Secured Party) take such actions as shall be required to release its security interest in all Collateral, and to release all obligations under any Credit Document, whether or not on the date of such release there may be any (i) Hedging Obligations in respect of any Secured Hedge Agreements, (ii) Cash Management Obligations in respect of any Secured Cash Management Agreements and (iii) any contingent or indemnification obligations not then due and payable. Any such release of Obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such Obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

 

13.18   USA PATRIOT Act . The Agents and each Lender hereby notify the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Agent and such Lender to identify each Credit Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.

 

13.19   Payments Set Aside . To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent or any Lender, or any Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect.

 

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13.20   Reinstatement . This Agreement shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

13.21   Disposition of Proceeds . The Security Documents contain an assignment by the Borrower and/or the Guarantors unto and in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders of all of the Borrower’s or each Guarantor’s interest in and to their as-extracted collateral in the form of production and all proceeds attributable thereto which may be produced from or allocated to the Mortgaged Property. The Security Documents further provide in general for the application of such proceeds to the satisfaction of the Obligations described therein and secured thereby. Notwithstanding the assignment contained in such Security Documents, until the occurrence of an Event of Default, (a) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree that they will neither notify the purchaser or purchasers of such production nor take any other action to cause such proceeds to be remitted to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, but the Lenders will instead permit such proceeds to be paid to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (b) the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to take such actions as may be necessary to cause such proceeds to be paid to the Borrower and/or such Subsidiaries.

 

13.22   Collateral Matters; Hedge Agreements . The benefit of the Security Documents and of the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Collateral securing the Obligations shall also extend to and be available on a pro rata basis pursuant to terms agreed upon in the Credit Documents to any Person (a) under any Secured Hedge Agreement, in each case, after giving effect to all netting arrangements relating to such Hedge Agreements or (b) under any Secured Cash Management Agreement. No Person shall have any voting rights under any Credit Document solely as a result of the existence of obligations owed to it under any such Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement.

 

13.23   Agency of the Borrower for the Other Credit Parties . Each of the other Credit Parties hereby appoints the Borrower as its agent for all purposes relevant to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, including the giving and receipt of notices and the execution and delivery of all documents, instruments and certificates contemplated herein and therein and all modifications hereto and thereto.

 

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13.24   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions .

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender that is an EEA Financial Institution arising under any Credit Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto to any Lender that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Credit Document; or

 

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

[Signature Pages Follow.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

  FALCON MINERALS OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, LP, as the Borrower
   
  By: Falcon Minerals GP, LLC, its general partner

 

  By: /s/Jeffrey F. Brotman
    Name:  Jeffrey F. Brotman
    Title:  Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal
                 Officer and Secretary

 

[Signature page to RBL Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  CITIBANK, N.A., as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent
     
  By: /s/ Jeff Ard
    Name:  Jeff Ard
    Title:  Vice President
     
  CITIBANK, N.A., as a Swing Line Lender, an Issuing Bank and a Lender
     
  By: Jeff Ard
    Name:  Jeff Ard
    Title:  Vice President

 

[Signature page to RBL Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Theresa M. Benson
    Name:  Theresa M. Benson
    Title:  Authorized Officer

 

[Signature page to RBL Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Kristan Spivey
    Name:  Kristan Spivey
    Title:  Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature page to RBL Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  ING CAPITAL LLC,
   as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Juli Bieser
    Name:  Juli Bieser
    Title:  Managing Director
     
  By: /s/ Josh Strong
    Name:  Josh Strong
    Title:  Director

 

[Signature page to RBL Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH,
  as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Leila Zomorrodian
    Name:  Leila Zomorrodian
    Title:  Director
     
  By: /s/ Vikram Nath
    Name:  Vikram Nath
    Title:  Director

 

[Signature page to RBL Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of            , 20            , by and between Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and (“ Indemnitee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations;

 

WHEREAS , the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Charter ”) and the Bylaws (the “ Bylaws ”) of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“ DGCL ”). The Charter, Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement and reimbursement rights;

 

WHEREAS , the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS , the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS , it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities;

 

WHEREAS , this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS , Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as an officer or director, advisor or in another capacity without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

1. SERVICES TO THE COMPANY . In consideration of the Company’s covenants and obligations hereunder, Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director, advisor, key employee or any other capacity of the Company, as applicable, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or retained or until Indemnitee tenders Indemnitee’s resignation or until Indemnitee is removed. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, officer, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as provided in Section 17. This Agreement, however, shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.

 

2. DEFINITIONS . As used in this Agreement:

 

(a) References to “ agent ” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b) The terms “ Beneficial Owner ” and “ Beneficial Ownership ” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below) as in effect on the date hereof.

 

(c) A “ Change in Control ” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

(i) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Other than Osprey Sponsor, LLC, or an affiliate of Osprey Sponsor, LLC, any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person (as defined below) results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors (as defined below) and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;

 

(ii) Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on the date hereof or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the “ Continuing Directors ”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “ Business Combination ”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries (as defined below)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) other than an affiliate of Osprey Sponsor, LLC, no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination;

 

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(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than factoring the Company’s current receivables or escrows due (or, if such stockholder approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or

 

(v) Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or any successor rule) (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

(d) “ Corporate Status ” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise (as defined below) which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(e) “ Delaware Court ” shall mean the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.

 

(f) “ Disinterested Director ” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(g) “ Enterprise ” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.

 

(h) “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(i) “ Expenses ” shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding (as defined below), including reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. “Expenses” also shall include expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding (as defined below), including without limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. “Expenses,” however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(j) References to “ fines ” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “ serving at the request of the Company ” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “ not opposed to the best interests of the Company ” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

(k) “ Independent Counsel ” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporation law and that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding (as defined below) giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

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(l) The term “ Person ” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiaries (as defined below) of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(m) The term “ Proceeding ” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative or related nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by Indemnitee or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

 

(n) The term “ Subsidiary ,” with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.

 

3. INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

4. INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, to be held harmless or to exoneration.

 

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5. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness or deponent in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee was or is not a party or threatened to be made a party, Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

7. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD HARMLESS AND EXONERATION RIGHTS.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, except for Section 27, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights shall be available under this Section 7(a) on account of Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.

 

(b) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, 5 or 7(a), except for Section 27, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

 

8. CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY .

 

(a) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee. 

 

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(b) The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

 

(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

 

9. EXCLUSIONS . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, except for Section 27, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, advance of expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a) for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise;

 

(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or

 

(c) except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(f)-(g) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, advance of expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law. Indemnitee shall seek payments or advances from the Company only to the extent that such payments or advances are unavailable from any insurance policy of the Company covering Indemnitee.

 

10. ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM .

 

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, except for Section 27, and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall pay the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. To the fullest extent required by applicable law, such payments of Expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon the Company’s receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay the advanced amounts to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Charter, the Bylaws, applicable law or otherwise. This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, advance of expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

(c) The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

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11. PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION .

 

(a) Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding, claim, issue or matter therein which may be subject to indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.

 

(b) Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

12. PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION .

 

(a) A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, (iii) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if such directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (iv) by vote of the stockholders. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Delaware Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as

Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

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(c) The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

13. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS .

 

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, manager, or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

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14. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE .

 

(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made in accordance with this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court to such indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.

 

(c) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).

 

(d) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(f) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee: (i) to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Charter or the Bylaws now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith).

 

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(g) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under Delaware law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or advances, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate or advance for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requests indemnification, to be held harmless, exonerated, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

15. SECURITY . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except for Section 27, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

 

16. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION .

 

(a) The rights of Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any Proceeding (regardless of when such Proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) or claim, issue or matter therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Charter, the Bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b) The DGCL and the Bylaws permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (“ Indemnification Arrangements ”) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against Indemnitee or incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the DGCL, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.

 

(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managers, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, managers, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

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(d) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27, (i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior to the Company’s satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall perform fully its obligations under this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification, advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the Company.

 

17. DURATION OF AGREEMENT . All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not Indemnitee is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.

 

18. SEVERABILITY . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

19. ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT .

 

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.

 

(b) Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter or Bylaws as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

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(c) The indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

 

(d) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

20. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

21. NOTICES . All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.

 

(b) If to the Company, to:

 

Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp.
1845 Walnut Street, 10 th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attention: Jeffrey Brotman

 

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to

 

Ledgewood PC

2001 Market Street, Suite 3400

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attn: Mark Rosenstein, Esq.

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.

 

12

 

 

22. APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the parties hereby agree that the mailing of process and other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided by Section 21 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

 

23. IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

24. MISCELLANEOUS . Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

25. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS . No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.

 

26. ADDITIONAL ACTS . If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.

 

27. WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT . Indemnitee hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a “ Claim ”) in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering for the benefit of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

13

 

 

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

 

  OSPREY ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
    Name: Jeffrey F. Brotman
    Title: Chief Financial Officer,
Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
     
  INDEMNITEE
     
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:    
    Address:

 

[Signature Page to Indemnity Agreement]

 

14

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

FALCON MINERALS OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, LP.

 

 

 

 

 

Dated as of August 23, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS.  SUCH UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

  Page
Article I. DEFINITIONS 2
Article II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS 15
Section 2.01   Formation of Partnership 15
Section 2.02   Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement 15
Section 2.03   Name 16
Section 2.04   Purpose 16
Section 2.05   Principal Office; Registered Office 16
Section 2.06   Term 16
Section 2.07   No Joint Venture 16
   
Article III. PARTNERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION 16
Section 3.01   Partners 16
Section 3.02   Units 17
Section 3.03   Corporation Contribution and Royal Contribution 17
Section 3.04   Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units 18
Section 3.05   Repurchases or Redemptions 19
Section 3.06   Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units 20
Section 3.07   Negative Capital Accounts 20
Section 3.08   No Withdrawal 20
Section 3.09   Loans From Partners 20
Section 3.10   Tax Treatment of Corporate Stock Option Plans and Equity Plans 21
Section 3.11   Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan 22
   
Article IV. DISTRIBUTIONS 23
Section 4.01   Distributions 23
Section 4.02   Restricted Distributions 23
   
Article V. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS 23
Section 5.01   Capital Accounts 23
Section 5.02   Book Allocations 25
Section 5.03   Regulatory and Special Allocations 25
Section 5.04   Tax Allocations 26
Section 5.05   Withholding; Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Partner 28
   
Article VI. MANAGEMENT 29
Section 6.01   Authority of General Partner 29
Section 6.02   Actions of the General Partner 30
Section 6.03   Transfer and Withdrawal of General Partner 30
Section 6.04   Transactions Between Partnership and General Partner 31
Section 6.05   Reimbursement for Expenses 31
Section 6.06   Delegation of Authority 31
Section 6.07   Limitation of Liability of the General Partner 32
Section 6.08   Investment Company Act 33
Section 6.09   Outside Activities of the Corporation and the General Partner 33
Section 6.10   Standard of Care 33

 

 

 

   
Article VII. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF PARTNERS 34
Section 7.01   Limitation of Liability and Duties of Partners; Investment Opportunities 34
Section 7.02   Lack of Authority 35
Section 7.03   No Right of Partition 35
Section 7.04   Indemnification 35
Section 7.05   Limited Partners’ Right to Act 36
Section 7.06   Inspection Rights 37
   
Article VIII. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS 37
Section 8.01   Records and Accounting 37
Section 8.02   Fiscal Year 37
Section 8.03   Reports 37
   
Article IX. TAX MATTERS 38
Section 9.01   Preparation of Tax Returns 38
Section 9.02   Tax Elections 38
Section 9.03   Tax Controversies 38
   
Article X. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS 39
Section 10.01   Transfers by Partners 39
Section 10.02   Permitted Transfers 39
Section 10.03   Restricted Units Legend 40
Section 10.04   Transfer 40
Section 10.05   Assignee’s Rights 41
Section 10.06   Assignor’s Rights and Obligations 41
Section 10.07   Overriding Provisions 42
   
Article XI. REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS 43
Section 11.01   Redemption Right of a Limited Partner 43
Section 11.02   Contribution of the Corporation 46
Section 11.03   Exchange Right of the Corporation 46
Section 11.04   Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation 46
Section 11.05   Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right 47
Section 11.06   Tax Treatment 47
   
Article XII. ADMISSION OF LIMITED PARTNERS 47
Section 12.01   Substituted Limited Partners 47
Section 12.02   Additional Limited Partners 47

 

 

 

 

Article XIII. WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS 48
Section 13.01   Withdrawal and Resignation of Limited Partners 48
   
Article XIV. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION 48
Section 14.01   Dissolution 48
Section 14.02   Liquidation and Termination 48
Section 14.03   Deferment; Distribution in Kind 49
Section 14.04   Cancellation of Certificate 49
Section 14.05   Reasonable Time for Winding Up 50
Section 14.06   Return of Capital 50
   
Article XV. VALUATION 50
Section 15.01   Determination 50
Section 15.02   Dispute Resolution 50
   
Article XVI. GENERAL PROVISIONS 51
Section 16.01   Power of Attorney 51
Section 16.02   Confidentiality 51
Section 16.03   Amendments 52
Section 16.04   Title to Partnership Assets. 52
Section 16.05   Addresses and Notices 53
Section 16.06   Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries 53
Section 16.07   Creditors 5 3
Section 16.08   Waiver 5 3
Section 16.09   Counterparts 53
Section 16.10   Applicable Law 53
Section 16.11   Severability 53
Section 16.12   Further Action 54
Section 16.13   Delivery by Electronic Transmission 54
Section 16.14   Right of Offset 54
Section 16.15   Effectiveness 54
Section 16.16   Entire Agreement 54
Section 16.17   Remedies 54
Section 16.18   Descriptive Headings; Interpretation 55

 

Schedules

Schedule 1 – Initial Schedule of Limited Partners

 

Exhibits

Exhibit A – Form of Joinder Agreement

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
FALCON MINERALS OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, LP

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (this “ Agreement ”) of Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), dated as of August 23, 2018, is adopted, executed and agreed to by and among Falcon Minerals GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the sole general partner of the Partnership, and each of the Limited Partners (as defined herein) set forth on the signature pages hereto.

 

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed as a limited partnership pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware Act (as defined herein) by filing a Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “ Certificate ”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 31, 2018; and

 

WHEREAS, prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Partnership was named “Osprey Minerals Operating Partnership, LP”;

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner, as the sole general partner of the Partnership, entered into an Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of May 31, 2018 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to but excluding the date hereof, together with all schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto, the “ Initial Limited Partnership Agreement ”), with Falcon Energy Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and formerly named Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. (the “ Corporation ”), as the sole limited partner of the Partnership;

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation entered into a Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2018 (the “ Contribution Agreement ”), by and among Royal Resources L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Royal LP ”), Royal Resources GP L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“ Royal GP ”, and collectively with Royal LP, “ Royal ”), Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ NRAC ”), Hooks Ranch Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Hooks Holdings ”), DGK ORRI Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ DGK Holdings ”), DGK ORRI GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ DGK GP ”), Hooks Holding Company GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Hooks GP ”, and collectively with NRAC, Hooks Holdings, DGK Holdings and DGK GP, the “ Royal Contributors ” and each a “ Royal Contributor ”), and the Corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Contribution Agreement provides that, at the Closing, the Corporation shall contribute to the Partnership, as a capital contribution, cash as set forth in the Contribution Agreement in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership to the Corporation of (a) a number of Common Units (as defined below) equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (as defined below) outstanding at the Closing after the consummation of the Transactions (as defined below) and (b) a number of Warrants (as defined below) equal to the number of Corporation Warrants (as defined below) outstanding at the Closing after the consummation of the Transactions (such contribution, the “ Corporation Contribution ”);

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, the Contribution Agreement further provides that, at the Closing, (a) Hooks Holdings will contribute to the Partnership 100% of the limited partnership interests of VickiCristina, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ VickiCristina ”, and such interests, the “ VickiCristina Interests ”), (b) Hooks GP will contribute to the Partnership (or another Subsidiary of the Corporation designated by the Corporation) 100% of the general partnership interests of VickiCristina (such interests, the “ VickiCristina GP Interests ”), (c) DGK Holdings will contribute to the Partnership 100% of the limited partnership interests of DGK ORRI Company, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ DGK ”, and such interests, the “ DGK Interests ”), (d) DGK GP will contribute to the Partnership (or another Subsidiary of the Corporation designated by the Corporation) 100% of the general partnership interests of DGK (such interests, the “ DGK GP Interests ”), and (e) NRAC will contribute to the Partnership (i) 100% of the limited partnership interests of Noble EF DLG LP, a Texas limited partnership (“ DLG ”, and such interests, the “ DLG Interests ”), (ii) 100% of the membership interests of Noble EF DLG GP LLC, a Texas limited liability company and sole general partner of DLG (“ DLG GP ”, and such interests, the “ DLG GP Interests ”), (iii) 100% of the limited partnership interests of Noble EF LP, a Texas limited partnership (“ EF ”, and such interests, the “ EF Interests ”), (iv) 100% of the membership interests of Noble EF GP LLC, a Texas limited liability company and sole general partner of EF (“ EF GP ”, and such interests, the “ EF GP Interests ”), (v) 100% of the Class A limited partnership interests of Noble Marcellus LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Marcellus ”, and such interests, the “ Marcellus Interests ”), and (vi) 100% of the membership interests of Noble Marcellus GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and sole general partner of Marcellus (“ Marcellus GP ”, and such interests, the “ Marcellus GP Interests ”), in each of cases (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) in exchange for a combination of Common Units and cash as set forth in the Contribution Agreement (such contribution, the “ Royal Contribution ”); and

 

WHEREAS, the parties are entering into this Agreement to amend and restate the Initial Limited Partnership Agreement effective as of the Effective Time to reflect (a) the change in name of the Partnership to “Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP”; (b) the Corporation Contribution and the Royal Contribution and the admission of the Royal Contributors as Limited Partners and (c) the rights and obligations of the Partners that are enumerated and agreed upon in the terms of this Agreement effective as of the Effective Time, at which time the Initial Limited Partnership Agreement shall be superseded entirely by this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, rights and obligations set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which each Partner (as defined herein) hereby acknowledges and confesses, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I.
DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall be applied to the terms used in this Agreement for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary.

 

Additional Limited Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.02 .

 

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Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means, with respect to the Capital Account of any Partner as of the end of any Taxable Year, the amount by which the balance in such Capital Account is less than zero. For this purpose, such Partner’s Capital Account balance shall be:

 

(a) reduced for any items described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6); and

 

(b) increased for any amount such Partner is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Partnership pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (relating to partner liabilities to a partnership) or 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) (relating to minimum gain).

 

Adjusted Taxable Income ” shall mean, for a Fiscal Year, Fiscal Quarter or other Fiscal Period, the total federal taxable income allocated by the Partnership to all Partners for such Fiscal Year, Fiscal Quarter or other Fiscal Period; provided, that such taxable income shall be computed by not taking into account (i) any special basis adjustment under Section 743 of the Code with respect to any Partner resulting from an election by the Partnership under Section 754 of the Code and (ii) any income, gain, loss or deduction under Section 704(c) of the Code with respect to any Partner.

 

Admission Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.06 .

 

Affiliate ” (and, with a correlative meaning, “ Affiliated ”) means, with respect to a specified Person, each other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. As used in this definition and the definition of Majority Partners, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract or other agreement).

 

Aggregate Tax Distribution Amount ” shall mean, for each Fiscal Year or Fiscal Quarter of the Partnership, an amount equal to the product of (i) the Partnership’s Adjusted Taxable Income for the portion of the Fiscal Year ending on the last day of such Fiscal Year or Fiscal Quarter, as applicable, and (ii) the Tax Rate.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Appraisers ” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.02 .

 

Assignee ” means a Person to whom a Limited Partner Interest has been transferred but who has not become a Limited Partner pursuant to Article XII .

 

Base Rate ” means, on any date, a variable rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.

 

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Black-Out Period ” means any “black-out” or similar period under the Corporation’s policies covering trading in the Corporation’s securities to which the applicable Redeemed Partner is subject, which period restricts the ability of such Redeemed Partner to immediately resell shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered to such Redeemed Partner in connection with a Share Settlement.

 

Blackstone Funds ” means the private equity funds, parallel investment entities and/or alternative investment entities owned, managed or controlled by Blackstone Management Partners, L.L.C. or any of its Affiliates that are direct holders of equity interests in Royal LP.

 

Blackstone Parties ” means the Royal Contributors, Royal, Blackstone Management Partners, L.L.C. and any of their respective Affiliates.

 

Book Value ” means, with respect to any Partnership property, the Partnership’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, adjusted from time to time to reflect the adjustments required or permitted by Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)-(g) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s); provided , that if any noncompensatory options (including the Warrants) are outstanding upon the occurrence of any adjustment described herein, the Partnership shall adjust the Book Values of its properties in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(1) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2).

 

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

 

Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Partner in accordance with Section 5.01 .

 

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the amount of any cash, cash equivalents, promissory obligations or the Fair Market Value of other property that such Partner contributes (or is deemed to contribute) to the Partnership pursuant to Article III hereof.

 

Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Change of Control Transaction ” means (a) a sale of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets determined on a consolidated basis, (b) a sale of a majority of the Partnership’s outstanding Units (other than (i) to the Corporation or (ii) in connection with a Redemption or Direct Exchange in accordance with Article XI ) or (c) a sale of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any Material Subsidiary of the Partnership; in any such case, whether by merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise; provided, however , that neither (w) a transaction solely between the Partnership or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Partnership or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, on the other hand, nor (x) a transaction solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of domicile of the Partnership, nor (y) a transaction solely for the purpose of changing the form of entity of the Partnership, nor (z) a sale of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, whether by merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise, shall in each case of clauses (w), (x), (y) and (z) constitute a Change of Control Transaction.

 

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Class A Common Stock ” means the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Class C Common Stock ” means the Class C Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Closing ” means the “Closing” as defined in Section 1.1 of the Contribution Agreement.

 

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

 

Common Stock ” means all classes and series of common stock of the Corporation, including the Class A Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock.

 

Common Unit ” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Limited Partner Interests of the Limited Partners and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Common Units in this Agreement.

 

Contributed Interests ” means, collectively, the VickiCristina Interests, the VickiCristina GP Interests, the DGK Interests, the DGK GP Interests, the DLG Interests, the DLG GP Interests, the EF Interests, the EF GP Interests, the Marcellus Interests and the Marcellus GP Interests.

 

Contribution Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Contribution ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Corporate Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Corporate Charter ” means the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, which is effective substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement, together with its successors and assigns.

 

Corporation Warrants ” means the “Buyer Warrants” as defined in Section 1.1 of the Contribution Agreement.

 

Credit Agreement ” means any senior credit facility or obligation of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, as borrower, as may be subsequently amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and including any one or more refinancings or replacements thereof, in whole or in part, with any other debt facility or debt obligation).

 

Delaware Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del.L. § 17-101, et seq. , as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

 

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Depletable Property ” means each separate oil and gas property as defined in Code Section 614.

 

Depreciation ” means, for each Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction (excluding depletion) allowable for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to property for such Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period, except that (a) with respect to any such property the Book Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes and which difference is being eliminated by use of the “remedial method” pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period shall be the amount of book basis recovered for such Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d)(2), and (b) with respect to any other such property the Book Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis at the beginning of such Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period, Depreciation for such Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Book Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided , however , that if the adjusted tax basis of any property at the beginning of such Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period is zero dollars ($0.00), Depreciation with respect to such property shall be determined with reference to such beginning Book Value using any reasonable method selected by the General Partner.

 

DGK Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

DGK GP ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

DGK GP Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Direct Exchange ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(a) .

 

Discount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.05 .

 

Distributable Cash ” shall mean, as of any relevant date on which a determination is being made by the General Partner regarding a potential distribution pursuant to Section 4.01(a) , the amount of cash that could be distributed by the Partnership for such purposes in accordance with the Credit Agreement (and without otherwise violating any applicable provisions of the Credit Agreement or any other debt financing of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries).

 

Distribution ” (and, with a correlative meaning, “ Distribute ”) means each distribution made by the Partnership to a Limited Partner with respect to such Limited Partner’s Units, whether in cash, property or securities of the Partnership and whether by liquidating distribution or otherwise; provided, however , that none of the following shall be a Distribution: (a) any recapitalization that does not result in the distribution of cash or property to Limited Partners or any exchange of securities of the Partnership, and any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Units, (b) any other payment made by the Partnership to a Limited Partner in redemption of all or a portion of such Limited Partner’s Units or (c) any amounts payable pursuant to Section 6.05 .

 

DLG Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

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DLG GP Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.15 .

 

EF Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

EF GP Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Equity Plan ” means any stock or equity purchase plan, restricted stock or equity plan or other similar equity compensation plan now or hereafter adopted by the Partnership or the Corporation.

 

Equity Securities ” means (i) with respect to the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, (a) Units or other equity interests in the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including other classes or groups thereof having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established by the General Partner pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including rights, powers and/or duties senior to existing classes and groups of Units and other equity interests in the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership), (b) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into Units or other equity interests in the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership, and (c) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire Units or other equity interests in the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership and (ii) with respect to the Corporation, any and all shares, interests, participation or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, including all common stock and preferred stock, or warrants, options or other rights to acquire any of the foregoing, including any debt instrument convertible or exchangeable into any of the foregoing.

 

Event of Withdrawal ” means the expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of a Partner or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued partnership of a Partner in the Partnership. “Event of Withdrawal” shall not include an event that does not terminate the existence of such Partner under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Partner, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Limited Partner Interests of such trust that is a Limited Partner).

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Election Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(b) .

 

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset, its fair market value determined according to Article XV .

 

Fiscal Period ” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Partnership and which is permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code.

 

Fiscal Quarter ” shall mean (i) the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on quarter end, (ii) any subsequent three-month period commencing on each of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 and ending on the last date before the next such date and (iii) the period commencing on the immediately preceding January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1, as the case may be, and ending on the date on which all property is distributed to the Partners pursuant to Article XIV hereof.

 

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Fiscal Year ” means the Partnership’s annual accounting period established pursuant to Section 8.02 .

 

General Partner ” means Falcon Minerals GP, LLC (formerly named Osprey Minerals GP, LLC), a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Partnership. The General Partner, in its capacity as such, has no obligation to make Capital Contributions or right to receive Distributions under this Agreement.

 

General Partner Change of Control ” shall be deemed to have occurred if or upon:

 

(a) both the stockholders of the Corporation and the Corporate Board approve, in accordance with the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation and applicable law, the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (determined on a consolidated basis), including a sale of all of the equity interests in the Partnership, to any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than to any directly or indirectly wholly owned Subsidiary of the Corporation, and such sale, lease or transfer is consummated;

 

(b) both the stockholders of the Corporation and the Corporate Board approve, in accordance with the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation and applicable law, a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other Person, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 50.01% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Corporation or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, and such merger or consolidation is consummated; or

 

(c) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than (a) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Corporation, or (b) a corporation or other entity owned, directly or indirectly, by all of the stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of at least 50.01% of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Securities of the Corporation; provided , that the Corporate Board recommends or otherwise approves or determines that such acquisition is in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders.

 

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General Partner Interest ” means the non-economic management interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it) and includes any and all rights, powers and benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner Interest does not include any rights to Profits or Losses or any rights to receive Distributions from operations or upon the liquidation or winding-up of the Partnership.

 

Governmental Entity ” means (a) the United States of America, (b) any other sovereign nation, (c) any state, province, district, territory or other political subdivision of (a) or (b) of this definition, including any county, municipal or other local subdivision of the foregoing, or (d) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government on behalf of (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.

 

Hooks GP ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Hooks Holdings ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Indemnified Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(a) .

 

Independent Directors ” means the members of the Corporate Board who qualify as an independent director pursuant to applicable SEC Guidance and the rules of the stock exchange on which the Common Shares are traded.

 

Initial Limited Partnership Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Investment Company Act ” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

 

Joinder ” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A to this Agreement.

 

Law ” means all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of any Governmental Entity, any foreign country and each state, commonwealth, city, county, municipality, regulatory body, agency or other political subdivision thereof.

 

Limited Partner ” means, as of any date of determination, (a) each of the partners named on the Schedule of Limited Partners and (b) any Person admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner or Additional Limited Partner in accordance with Article XII , but in each case only so long as such Person is shown on the Partnership’s books and records as the owner of one or more Units.

 

Limited Partner Interest ” means the interest of a Partner in Profits, Losses and Distributions.

 

Losses ” means items of Partnership loss or deduction determined according to Section 5.01(b) .

 

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Majority Partners ” means the Limited Partners (which may include the General Partner if it is also a Limited Partner) holding a majority of the Units then outstanding; provided that, if as of any date of determination, a majority of the Units are then held by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates controlled by the Corporation, then “Majority Partners” shall mean the General Partner together with Partners holding a majority of the Units (excluding Units held by the General Partner and its controlled Affiliates) then outstanding.

 

Marcellus Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Marcellus GP Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Market Price ” means, with respect to a share of Class A Common Stock as of a specified date, the last sale price per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, or if no such sale took place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if the Class A Common Stock is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Class A Common Stock selected by the Corporate Board or, in the event that no trading price is available for the shares of Class A Common Stock, the fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock, as determined in good faith by the Corporate Board.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Partnership that, as of any date of determination, represents more than (a) 50% of the consolidated net tangible assets of the Partnership or (b) 50% of the consolidated net income of the Partnership before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

 

Maximum Redeemed Unit Amount ” means, as of the applicable date of determination, a number of Common Units held by the applicable Limited Partner that would cause the ratio of (a) (i) the number of Common Units the applicable Limited Partner is seeking to have redeemed plus (ii) the aggregate number of Common Units previously that were redeemed pursuant to a Redemption or exchanged pursuant to a Direct Exchange by such Limited Partner, its Affiliates or its Relatives divided by (b) the aggregate number of Common Units directly or indirectly legally or beneficially owned by such Limited Partner, its Affiliates and its Relatives after giving effect to the Closing and any issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Contribution Agreement, to be equal to the ratio of (x) the aggregate number of Common Units previously directly or indirectly legally or beneficially owned by the Blackstone Funds that have been redeemed pursuant to a Redemption or exchanged pursuant to a Direct Exchange as of such date divided by (y) the aggregate number of Common Units directly or indirectly legally or beneficially owned by the Blackstone Funds after giving effect to the Closing and any issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Contribution Agreement.

 

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Officer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b) .

 

Optionee ” means a Person to whom a stock option is granted under any Stock Option Plan.

 

Other Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04 .

 

Partner ” means the General Partner or any Limited Partner.

 

Partner Minimum Gain ” means “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

 

Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Partnership Employee ” means an employee of, or other service provider to, the Partnership or any Subsidiary, in each case acting in such capacity.

 

Partnership Minimum Gain ” means “partnership minimum gain” determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

 

Partnership Representative ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 .

 

Percentage Interest ” means, with respect to a Partner at a particular time, such Partner’s percentage interest in the Partnership determined by dividing such Partner’s Units by the total Units of all Partners at such time. The Percentage Interest of each Partner shall be calculated to the 4th decimal place, and the Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest shall at all times be zero.

 

Permitted Transfer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02 .

 

Person ” means an individual or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or any other organization or entity, whether or not a legal entity.

 

Pro rata ,” “ proportional ,” “ in proportion to ,” and other similar terms, means, with respect to the holder of Units, pro rata based upon the number of such Units held by such holder as compared to the total number of Units outstanding.

 

Profits ” means items of Partnership income and gain determined according to Section 5.01(b) .

 

Quarterly Tax Distribution Amount ” shall mean, for each Partner for each of the first three (3) Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year of the Partnership during the term of the Partnership, an amount equal to the product of (i) such Partner’s Percentage Interest and (ii) the excess of (x) the Aggregate Tax Distribution Amount for such Fiscal Quarter and prior Fiscal Quarters of the applicable Fiscal Year over (y) the aggregate of all prior Quarterly Tax Distribution Amounts with respect to prior Fiscal Quarters of the applicable Fiscal Year.

 

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Reclassification Event ” means any of the following: (i) any reclassification or recapitalization of Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination or any transaction subject to Section 3.04 ), (ii) any merger, consolidation or other combination involving the Corporation, or (iii) any sale, conveyance, lease, or other disposal of all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Corporation to any other Person, in each of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash, securities or other property for their shares of Common Stock.

 

Redeemed Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redeemed Units ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redeeming Persons ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(f) .

 

Redemption ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redemption Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redemption Notice Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redemption Right ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the Contributors.

 

Related Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(c) .

 

Relative ” means, with respect to any natural person: (a) such natural person’s 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.

 

Revised Partnership Audit Provisions ” shall mean Section 1101 of Title XI (Revenue Provisions Related to Tax Compliance) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, H.R. 1314, Public Law Number 114-74.

 

Royal Contributor ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Royal Entities ” means, collectively, VickiCristina, DGK, DLG, DLG GP, EF, EF GP, Marcellus and Marcellus GP.

 

Schedule of Limited Partners ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b) .

 

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SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

SEC Guidance ” means (a) any publicly available written or oral interpretations, questions and answers, guidance and forms of the SEC, (b) any oral or written comments, requirements or requests of the SEC or its staff, (c) the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and (d) any other rules, bulletins, releases, manuals and regulations of the SEC.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law.

 

Settlement Method Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b) .

 

Share Settlement ” means a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units.

 

Simulated Basis ” means, with respect to each Depletable Property, the Book Value of such property. For purposes of such computation, the Simulated Basis of each Depletable Property (including any additions to such Simulated Basis resulting from expenditures required to be capitalized in such Simulated Basis) shall be allocated to each Partner in accordance with such Partner’s relative Percentage Interest as of the time such Depletable Property (or such addition to such Simulated Basis resulting from expenditures required to be capitalized in such Simulated Basis) is acquired (or expended) by the Partnership, and shall be reallocated among the Partners in accordance with the Partners’ Percentage Interests as determined immediately following the occurrence of an event giving rise to an adjustment to the Book Value of the Partnership’s Depletable Properties pursuant to the definition of Book Value. Upon a transfer by a Partner of any Units, a portion of the Simulated Basis allocated to such Partner shall be reallocated to the transferee in accordance with the relative Percentage Interest transferred.

 

Simulated Depletion ” means, with respect to each Depletable Property, a depletion allowance computed in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles and in a manner specified in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2), using the depletion method selected by the General Partner. For purposes of computing Simulated Depletion with respect to any Depletable Property, in no event shall such allowance, in the aggregate, exceed the Simulated Basis of such Depletable Property. If the Book Value of a Depletable Property is adjusted pursuant to the definition of Book Value during a Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period, following such adjustment Simulated Depletion shall thereafter be calculated under the foregoing provisions based upon such adjusted Book Value.

 

Simulated Gain ” means the excess, if any, of the amount realized from the sale or other disposition of a Depletable Property over the Book Value of such Depletable Property and determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2).

 

Simulated Loss ” means the excess, if any, of the Book Value of a Depletable Property over the amount realized from the sale or other disposition of such Depletable Property and determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2).

 

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Sponsor Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(d) .

 

Stock Exchange ” means the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

Stock Option Plan ” means any stock option plan now or hereafter adopted by the Partnership or by the Corporation.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of the voting interests thereof are at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of the Partnership shall be given effect only at such times that the Partnership has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Partnership.

 

Substituted Limited Partner ” means a Person that is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 12.01 with all of the rights of a Limited Partner and who is shown as a Limited Partner on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

Tax Rate ” shall mean 50%.

 

Taxable Year ” means the Partnership’s accounting period for U.S. federal income tax purposes determined pursuant to Section 9.02 .

 

Trading Day ” means a day on which the Stock Exchange or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

 

Transactions ” means the “Transactions” as defined in Section 1.1 of the Contribution Agreement.

 

Transfer ” (and, with a correlative meaning, “ Transferring ”) means any sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of (whether directly or indirectly, whether with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of Law) (a) any interest (legal or beneficial) in any Equity Securities of the Partnership or (b) any equity or other interest (legal or beneficial) in any Partner if substantially all of the assets of such Partner consist solely of Units.

 

Treasury Regulations ” means the regulations promulgated under the Code and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations.

 

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Unit ” means a Limited Partner Interest of a Limited Partner or a permitted Assignee in the Partnership and shall include Common Units, but shall not include the General Partner Interest.

 

Unit Purchase ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a) .

 

Unvested Corporate Shares ” means shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to an Equity Plan that are not vested pursuant to the terms thereof or any award or similar agreement relating thereto.

 

Value ” means (a) for any Stock Option Plan, the Market Price for the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of exercise of a stock option under such Stock Option Plan and (b) for any Equity Plan other than a Stock Option Plan, the Market Price for the Trading Day immediately preceding the Vesting Date.

 

Vesting Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(c) .

 

VickiCristina Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

VickiCristina GP Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Voting Securities ” means any Equity Securities of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in matters submitted for a vote of the Corporation’s stockholders or generally in the election of the Corporate Board.

 

Warrants ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a) .

 

Year End Tax Distribution Amount ” shall mean with respect to a Partner for any Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the product of (i) such Partner’s Percentage Interest and (ii) the excess of (x) the Aggregate Tax Distribution Amount for such Fiscal Year over (y) the aggregate amount of all prior Quarterly Tax Distribution Amounts with respect to such Fiscal Year.

 

Article II.
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

 

Section 2.01 Formation of Partnership . The Partnership was formed on May 31, 2018 pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 2.02 Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement . The Partners hereby execute this Agreement for the purpose of continuing the affairs of the Partnership and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Act. The Partners hereby agree that during the term of the Partnership set forth in Section 2.06 , the rights and obligations of the Partners with respect to the Partnership will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Delaware Act. On any matter upon which this Agreement is silent, the Delaware Act shall control. No provision of this Agreement shall be in violation of the Delaware Act and, to the extent any provision of this Agreement is in violation of the Delaware Act, such provision shall be void and of no effect to the extent of such violation without affecting the validity of the other provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that where the Delaware Act provides that a provision of the Delaware Act shall apply “unless otherwise provided in a limited partnership agreement” or words of similar effect, the relevant provisions of this Agreement shall in each instance control; provided further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 15-120 of the Delaware Act shall not apply or be incorporated into this Agreement.

 

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Section 2.03 Name . The name of the Partnership shall be “Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP.” The General Partner in its sole discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time. Notification of any such change shall be given to all of the Partners and, to the extent practicable, to all of the holders of any Equity Securities then outstanding. The Partnership’s business may be conducted under its name and/or any other name or names deemed advisable by the General Partner.

 

Section 2.04 Purpose . The primary business and purpose of the Partnership shall be to engage in such activities as are permitted under the Delaware Act and determined from time to time by the General Partner in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.05 Principal Office; Registered Office . The principal office of the Partnership shall be at 1845 Walnut Street, 10th Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate. The address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be 1000 North King Street, in the City of Wilmington, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be the Corporation Guarantee and Trust Company. The General Partner may from time to time change the Partnership’s registered agent and registered office in the State of Delaware.

 

Section 2.06 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until termination and dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV .

 

Section 2.07 No Joint Venture . The Partners intend that the Partnership not be a joint venture, and that no Partner be a joint venturer of any other Partner by virtue of this Agreement, and neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Partnership or any Partner relating to the subject matter hereof shall be construed to suggest otherwise.

 

Article III.
PARTNERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 3.01 Partners .

 

(a) The Corporation previously was admitted as a Limited Partner and shall remain a Limited Partner of the Partnership and the General Partner previously was admitted as the sole general partner of the Partnership and shall remain the sole general partner of the Partnership, in each case, upon the Effective Time. At the Effective Time and concurrently with the Royal Contribution, each Royal Contributor shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner.

 

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(b) The Partnership shall maintain a schedule setting forth: (i) the name and address of each Limited Partner; (ii) the aggregate number of outstanding Units and the number and class of Units held by each Limited Partner; (iii) the aggregate amount of cash Capital Contributions that have been made by the Limited Partners with respect to their Units; and (iv) the Fair Market Value of any property other than cash contributed by the Limited Partners with respect to their Units (including, if applicable, a description and the amount of any liability assumed by the Partnership or to which contributed property is subject) (such schedule, the “ Schedule of Limited Partners ”). The applicable Schedule of Limited Partners in effect as of the Effective Time (after giving effect to the Contributions and the Unit Purchase) is set forth as Schedule 1 to this Agreement. The Schedule of Limited Partners shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit of the Partnership and all relevant information with respect to each Limited Partner. The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the Delaware Act.

 

(c) No Limited Partner shall be required or, except as approved by the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.01 and in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement, permitted to loan any money or property to the Partnership or borrow any money or property from the Partnership.

 

Section 3.02 Units . Interests in the Partnership shall be represented by Units, or such other securities of the Partnership, in each case as the General Partner may establish in its discretion in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions hereof. Immediately after the Effective Time, the Units will be comprised of a single class of Common Units. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent required pursuant to Section 3.04(a) , the General Partner may create one or more classes or series of Common Units or preferred Units solely to the extent they are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to a class of common stock of the Corporation or class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.03 Corporation Contribution and Royal Contribution.

 

(a) Corporation Contribution . Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, at the Closing and prior to giving effect to Section 3.04 , the Corporation contributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered to the Partnership cash in the aggregate amount of $382,217,254.88 in exchange for (i) 45,855,000 Common Units and (ii) warrants (the “ Warrants ”) exercisable for a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such issuance of Warrants pursuant to this Section 3.03(b) (collectively, the “ Unit Purchase ”). Each Warrant shall be treated as a “noncompensatory option” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.721-2(f) and 1.761-3(b)(2) and shall not be treated as a partnership interest pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.761-3(a) unless otherwise required pursuant to a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code (or analogous provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law).

 

(b) Royal Contribution . Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, at the Closing and prior to giving effect to Section 3.04 , each Royal Contributor contributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered to the Partnership, free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws) the Contributed Interests owned by each such Royal Contributor and, was issued the number of Common Units set forth next to each such Royal Contributor’s name on Schedule 1 , which Common Units are hereby issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time (the “ Contribution ”).

 

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Section 3.04 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.

 

(a) If at any time the Corporation issues a share of its Class A Common Stock or any other Equity Security of the Corporation (other than Class C Common Stock), (i) the Partnership shall issue to the Corporation one Common Unit (if the Corporation issues a share of Class A Common Stock), or such other Equity Security of the Partnership (if the Corporation issues Equity Securities other than Class A Common Stock) corresponding to such Equity Securities issued by the Corporation, and with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Corporation and (ii) the net proceeds received by the Corporation with respect to the issuance of the corresponding share of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Security, if any, shall be concurrently contributed by the Corporation to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution; provided , that if the Corporation elects to effect a Direct Exchange pursuant to Section 11.03 , then the Partnership shall not issue any new Common Units in connection therewith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.04(a) shall not apply to (i) (A) the issuance and distribution to holders of shares of Class A Common Stock of rights to purchase Equity Securities of the Corporation under a “poison pill” or similar shareholders rights plan or (B) the issuance under the Corporation’s Equity Plans or Stock Option Plans of any warrants, options, other rights to acquire Equity Securities of the Corporation or rights or property that may be converted into or settled in Equity Securities of the Corporation, but shall in each of the foregoing cases apply to the issuance of Equity Securities of the Corporation in connection with the exercise or settlement of such rights, warrants, options or other rights or property or (ii) the issuance of Equity Securities pursuant to any Equity Plan (other than a Stock Option Plan) that are restricted, subject to forfeiture or otherwise unvested upon issuance, but shall apply on the applicable Vesting Date with respect to such Equity Securities. Except pursuant to Article XI , (x) the Partnership may not issue any additional Common Units to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously the Corporation or such Subsidiary issues or sells an equal number of shares of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock to another Person, and (y) the Partnership may not issue any other Equity Securities of the Partnership to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the issuance of Warrants pursuant to Section 3.03(b) ) unless substantially simultaneously the Corporation or such Subsidiary issues or sells, to another Person, an equal number of shares of a new class or series of Equity Securities of the Corporation or such Subsidiary with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Partnership.

 

(b) The Partnership shall only be permitted to issue additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Partnership to the Persons and on the terms and conditions provided for in Section 3.02 , this Section 3.04 and Section 3.11 .

 

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(c) The Partnership shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding Common Units unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding Common Stock, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities. The Corporation shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding Common Stock unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding Common Units, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities. The Partnership shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of any outstanding Equity Securities of the Partnership (other than the Common Units) unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the corresponding Equity Securities of the Corporation, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities. The Corporation shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of any outstanding Equity Securities of the Corporation (other than the Common Stock) unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the corresponding Equity Securities of the Partnership, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities.

 

Section 3.05 Repurchases or Redemptions . The Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (i) any shares of Class A Common Stock unless substantially simultaneously the Partnership redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from the Corporation an equal number of Common Units for the same price per security or (ii) any other Equity Securities of the Corporation unless substantially simultaneously the Partnership redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from the Corporation an equal number of Equity Securities of the Partnership of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Corporation for the same price per security. The Partnership may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (A) any Common Units from the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously the Corporation or such Subsidiary redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock for the same price per security from holders thereof, or (B) any other Equity Securities of the Partnership from the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously the Corporation or such Subsidiary redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires for the same price per security an equal number of Equity Securities of the Corporation of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distribution upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any consideration payable by the Corporation in connection with the redemption or repurchase of any shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries consists (in whole or in part) of shares of Class A Common Stock or such other Equity Securities (including in connection with the cashless exercise of an option or warrant), then the redemption or repurchase of the corresponding Common Units or other Equity Securities of the Partnership shall be effectuated in an equivalent manner.

 

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Section 3.06 Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units.

 

(a) Units shall not be certificated unless otherwise determined by the General Partner. If the General Partner determines that one or more Units shall be certificated, each such certificate shall be signed by or in the name of the Partnership, by the Chief Executive Officer and any other officer designated by the General Partner, representing the number of Units held by such holder. Such certificate shall be in such form (and shall contain such legends) as the General Partner may determine. Any or all of such signatures on any certificate representing one or more Units may be a facsimile, engraved or printed, to the extent permitted by applicable Law. The General Partner agrees that it shall not elect to treat any Unit as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code unless thereafter all Units then outstanding are represented by one or more certificates.

 

(b) If Units are certificated, the General Partner may direct that a new certificate representing one or more Units be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Partnership alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon delivery to the General Partner of an affidavit of the owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation. The General Partner may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Partnership a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

 

(c) Upon surrender to the Partnership or the transfer agent of the Partnership, if any, of a certificate for one or more Units, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, in compliance with the provisions hereof, the Partnership shall issue a new certificate representing one or more Units to the Person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the General Partner may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, Transfer and registration of Units.

 

Section 3.07 Negative Capital Accounts . No Partner shall be required to pay to any other Partner or the Partnership any deficit or negative balance which may exist from time to time in such Partner’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Partnership).

 

Section 3.08 No Withdrawal . No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contribution or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Partnership, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.09 Loans From Partners . Loans by Partners to the Partnership shall not be considered Capital Contributions. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01(c) , the amount of any such advances shall be a debt of the Partnership to such Partner and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.

 

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Section 3.10 Tax Treatment of Corporate Stock Option Plans and Equity Plans .

 

(a) Options Granted to Persons other than Partnership Employees . If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Stock Option Plan, a stock option granted over shares of Class A Common Stock to a Person other than a Partnership Employee is duly exercised, notwithstanding the amount of the Capital Contribution actually made pursuant to Section 3.04(a) , solely for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes, the Corporation shall be deemed to have contributed to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution, in lieu of the Capital Contribution actually made and in consideration of additional Common Units, an amount equal to the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock as of the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then being issued by the Corporation in connection with the exercise of such stock option.

 

(b) Options Granted to Partnership Employees . If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Stock Option Plan, a stock option granted over shares of Class A Common Stock to a Partnership Employee is duly exercised, solely for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes, the following transactions shall be deemed to have occurred:

 

(i) The Corporation shall have sold to the Optionee, and the Optionee shall have purchased from the Corporation, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock as to which such stock option is exercised multiplied by the following: (x) the exercise price payable by the Optionee in connection with the exercise of such stock option divided by (y) the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock at the time of such exercise.

 

(ii) The Corporation shall have sold to the Partnership (or, if the Optionee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, the Corporation shall sell to such Subsidiary), and the Partnership (or such Subsidiary, as applicable) shall have purchased from the Corporation, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the excess of (x) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock as to which such stock option is being exercised over (y) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock sold pursuant to Section 3.10(b)(i) hereof. The purchase price per share of Class A Common Stock for such sale of shares of Class A Common Stock to the Partnership (or such Subsidiary) shall be the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock as of the date of exercise of such stock option.

 

(iii) The Partnership shall have transfered to the Optionee (or, if the Optionee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, the Subsidiary shall have transferred to the Optionee) at no additional cost to such Partnership Employee and as additional compensation to such Partnership Employee, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock described in Section 3.10(b)(ii) .

 

(iv) The Corporation shall have contributed any amounts deemed received by the Corporation pursuant to Section 3.10(b)(i) and any amount deemed to be received by the Partnership pursuant to Section 3.10(b)(ii) in connection with the exercise of such stock option.

 

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The transactions described in this Section 3.10(b) are intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1032-3 and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(c) Restricted Stock Granted to Partnership Employees . If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Equity Plan (other than a Stock Option Plan), any shares of Class A Common Stock are issued to a Partnership Employee (including any shares of Class A Common Stock that are subject to forfeiture in the event such Partnership Employee terminates his or her employment with the Partnership or any Subsidiary) in consideration for services performed for the Partnership or any Subsidiary, on the date (such date, the “ Vesting Date ”) that the Value of such shares is includible in taxable income of such Partnership Employee, the following events will be deemed to have occurred solely for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes: (a) the Corporation shall have sold such shares of Class A Common Stock to the Partnership (or, if such Partnership Employee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, to such Subsidiary) for a purchase price equal to the Value of such shares of Class A Common Stock, (b) the Partnership (or such Subsidiary) shall have delivered such shares of Class A Common Stock to such Partnership Employee, (c) the Corporation shall have contributed the purchase price for such shares of Class A Common Stock to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution, and (d) in the case where such Partnership Employee is an employee of a Subsidiary, the Partnership shall have contributed such amount to the capital of the Subsidiary.

 

(d) Future Stock Incentive Plans . Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain the Corporation from adopting, modifying or terminating stock incentive plans for the benefit of employees, directors or other business associates of the Corporation, the Partnership or any of their respective Affiliates. The Partners acknowledge and agree that, in the event that any such plan is adopted, modified or terminated by the Corporation, amendments to this Section 3.10 may become necessary or advisable and that any approval or consent to any such amendments requested by the Corporation shall be deemed granted by the General Partner without the requirement of any further consent or acknowledgement of any other Partner.

 

(e) Anti-dilution Adjustments. For all purposes of this Section 3.10 , the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and the corresponding number of Common Units shall be determined after giving effect to all anti-dilution or similar adjustments that are applicable, as of the date of exercise or vesting, to the option, warrant, restricted stock or other equity interest that is being exercised or becomes vested under the applicable Stock Option Plan or other Equity Plan and applicable award or grant documentation.

 

Section 3.11 Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan . Except as may otherwise be provided in this Article III , all amounts received or deemed received by the Corporation in respect of any dividend reinvestment plan, cash option purchase plan, stock incentive or other stock or subscription plan or agreement, either (a) shall be utilized by the Corporation to effect open market purchases of shares of Class A Common Stock, or (b) if the Corporation elects instead to issue new shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to such amounts, shall be contributed by the Corporation to the Partnership in exchange for additional Units. Upon such contribution, the Partnership will issue to the Corporation a number of Units equal to the number of new shares of Class A Common Stock so issued.

 

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Article IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 4.01 Distributions.

 

(a) Distributable Cash; Other Distributions . To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, Distributions to Limited Partners may be declared by the General Partner out of Distributable Cash or other funds or property legally available therefor in such amounts and on such terms (including the payment dates of such Distributions) as the General Partner shall determine using such record date as the General Partner may designate; such Distributions shall be made to the Limited Partners as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis in accordance with each Limited Partner’s Percentage Interest as of the close of business on such record date; provided, however , that the General Partner shall have the obligation to make Distributions as set forth in Section 4.01(b) and Section 14.02 ; and provided further that, notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no Distributions shall be made to any Limited Partner to the extent such Distribution would violate Section 15-309 of the Delaware Act. Promptly following the designation of a record date and the declaration of a Distribution pursuant to this Section 4.01(a) , the General Partner shall give notice to each Limited Partner of the record date, the amount and the terms of the Distribution and the payment date thereof.

 

(b) Tax Distributions . Notwithstanding Section 4.01 hereof, but subject to Section 5.05 hereof, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute to each of the Partners as promptly as practicable (and in any event within forty-five (45) days) after the end of each of the first three (3) Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year of the Partnership such Partner’s Quarterly Tax.

 

(c) Distribution Amount for such Fiscal Quarter . In addition, the Partnership shall distribute to each Partner as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days) after the end of each Fiscal Year an amount equal to such Partner’s Year End Tax Distribution Amount for such Fiscal Year.

 

Section 4.02 Restricted Distributions . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership shall not make any Distribution to any Partner on account of any Limited Partner Interest if such Distribution would violate any applicable Law or the terms of the Credit Agreement or other debt financing of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries.

 

Article V.
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

 

Section 5.01 Capital Accounts.

 

(a) The Partnership shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Partner according to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For this purpose, the Partnership may (in the discretion of the General Partner), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such Treasury Regulations to reflect a revaluation of Partnership property. The Capital Account balance of each of the Partners as of the date hereof, as adjusted in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), is its respective “Contribution Closing Capital Account Balance” set forth on the Schedule of Limited Partners.

 

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(b) The Capital Account of each Partner shall be increased by (i) the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any property contributed to the Partnership by such Partner (net of any liability secured by such contributed property that the Partnership is considered to assume or take subject to); and (ii) the amounts of Profit allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.02 and any items in the nature of income or gain that are specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.03 . The Capital Account of each Partner shall be reduced by (i) the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any property distributed to such Partner by the Partnership (net of liabilities secured by such distributed property that such Partner is considered to assume or take subject to); and (ii) the amounts of Loss allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.02 and any items in the nature of loss or deduction that are specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.03 . The Capital Account of each Partner shall otherwise be adjusted in accordance with the rules set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). If any property other than cash is distributed to a Partner, the Capital Account of such Partner shall be adjusted as if the property had instead been sold by the Partnership for a price equal to its fair market value, and the proceeds thereafter distributed to such Partner.

 

(c) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of Profit or Loss, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided, however , that:

 

(i) the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Code Section 705(a)(l)(B) or Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

(ii) if the Book Value of any Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e) or (f), the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such property;

 

(iii) items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to the disposition of Partnership property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of such property;

 

(iv) in lieu of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions (excluding depletion with respect to a Depletable Property), there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period;

 

(v) to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Code Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis);

 

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(vi) Simulated Gains with respect to Depletable Properties shall be taken into account in lieu of actual gains on such Depletable Properties; and

 

(vii) items specifically allocated under Section 5.03 shall be excluded.

 

Section 5.02 Book Allocations . After giving effect to the allocations under Section 5.03 , Profits and Losses (or items thereof) for any Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Partners pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Interests.

 

Section 5.03 Regulatory and Special Allocations .

 

(a) Partner nonrecourse deductions (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2)) attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in Partner Minimum Gain, Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Partners in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). This Section 5.03(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(b) Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated pro rata among the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests. Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), if there is a net decrease in the Partnership Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Partner shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g). This Section 5.03(b) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(c) If any Partner that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or Distribution described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, computed after the application of Section 5.03(a) and 5.03(b) but before the application of any other provision of this Article V , then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Partner in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This Section 5.03(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(d) If any Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this provision shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Agreement have been made as if Section 5.03(c) and this Section 5.03(d) were not in the Agreement.

 

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(e) If the allocation of Losses to a Partner as provided in Section 5.02 would create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, there shall be allocated to such Partner only that amount of Losses as will not create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. The Losses that would, absent the application of the preceding sentence, otherwise be allocated to such Partner shall be allocated to the other Partners in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, subject to this Section 5.03(d) .

 

(f) Profits and Losses described in Section 5.01(b) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j) and (m).

 

(g) Simulated Depletion for each Depletable Property and Simulated Loss upon the disposition of a Depletable Property shall be allocated among the Partners in proportion to their shares of the Simulated Basis in such property.

 

(h) The allocations set forth in Section 5.03(a) through and including Section 5.03(d) (the “ Regulatory Allocations ”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Treasury Regulations. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Partners intend to allocate Profit and Loss of the Partnership or make Distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article V , but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction and loss shall be reallocated among the Partners so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Partners to be in the amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations. If in any Taxable Year or other Fiscal Period there is a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain, or in Partner Minimum Gain, and application of the minimum gain chargeback requirements set forth in Section 5.03(a) or Section 5.03(b) would cause a distortion in the economic arrangement among the Partners, the Partners may, if they do not expect that the Partnership will have sufficient other income to correct such distortion, request the Internal Revenue Service to waive either or both of such minimum gain chargeback requirements. If such request is granted, this Agreement shall be applied in such instance as if it did not contain such minimum gain chargeback requirement.

 

Section 5.04 Tax Allocations .

 

(a) The income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the Partnership will be allocated, for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes, among the Partners in accordance with the allocation of such income, gains, losses, deductions and credits among the Partners for computing their Capital Accounts; provided , that if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable Law, the Partnership’s subsequent income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Partners so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.

 

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(b) Cost and percentage depletion deductions with respect to each Depletable Property shall be computed separately by the Partners rather than the Partnership. For purposes of such computations, the U.S. federal income tax basis of each Depletable Property shall be allocated to each Partner in accordance with such Partner’s Percentage Interest as of the time such Depletable Property is acquired by the Partnership, and shall be reallocated among the Partners in accordance with such Partner’s Percentage Interest as determined immediately following the occurrence of an event giving rise to an adjustment to the Book Values of the Partnership’s Depletable Properties pursuant to the definition of Book Value (or at the time of any material additions to the U.S. federal income tax basis of such Depletable Property). Such allocations are intended to be applied in accordance with the “partners’ interests in partnership capital” under Section 613A(c)(7)(D) of the Code; provided that the Partners understand and agree that the General Partner may authorize special allocations of tax basis, income, gain, deduction or loss, as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in order to eliminate differences between Simulated Basis and adjusted U.S. federal income tax basis with respect to Depletable Properties, in such manner as determined consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code, the Treasury Regulations thereunder and the portions of the Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) that apply the principles of Section 704(c), using the “remedial method”, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d).

 

(c) For purposes of the separate computation of gain or loss by each Partner on a taxable Disposition of Depletable Property, the amount realized from such Disposition shall be allocated (i) first, to the Partners in an amount equal to the Simulated Basis in such Depletable Property and in the same proportion as their shares thereof were allocated and (ii) second, any remaining amount realized shall be allocated consistent with the allocation of Simulated Gains; provided , however , that the Partners understand and agree that the General Partner may authorize special allocations of tax basis, income, gain, deduction or loss, as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in order to eliminate differences between Simulated Basis and adjusted U.S. federal income tax basis with respect to Depletable Properties, in such manner as determined consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code, the Treasury Regulations thereunder and the portions of the Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) that apply the principles of Section 704(c), using the “remedial method”, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d). The provisions of this Section 5.04(c) and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to allocations under Section 613A(c)(7)(D) of the Code are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(v) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Treasury Regulations.

 

(d) Each Partner shall, in a manner consistent with this Article V , separately keep records of its share of the adjusted tax basis in each Depletable Property, adjust such share of the adjusted tax basis for any cost or percentage depletion allowable with respect to such property and use such adjusted tax basis in the computation of its cost depletion or in the computation of its gain or loss on the disposition of such property by the Partnership. Upon the request of the Partnership, each Partner may advise the Partnership of its adjusted tax basis in each Depletable Property and any depletion computed with respect thereto, both as computed in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. The Partnership may rely on such information and, if it is not provided by the Partner, may make such reasonable assumptions as it shall determine with respect thereto.

 

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(e) Items of Partnership taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with Code Section 704(c) so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using the “remedial method”, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d).

 

(f) If the Book Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.01(b) , subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes and its Book Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) using the “remedial method”, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d).

 

(g) If, as a result of an exercise of a noncompensatory option (including the Warrants) to acquire an interest in the Partnership, a Capital Account reallocation is required under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( s )(3), the Partnership shall make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

 

(h) Allocations of tax credits, tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Partners pro rata as determined by the General Partner taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).

 

(i) For purposes of determining a Partner’s pro rata share of the Partnership’s “excess nonrecourse liabilities” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Partner’s interest in income and gain shall be in proportion to its Percentage Interests.

 

(j) Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.04 are solely for purposes of U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Partner’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions or other Partnership items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.05 Withholding; Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Partner . The Partnership and its Subsidiaries may withhold from distributions, allocations or portions thereof if it is required to do so by any applicable Law, and each Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership and its Subsidiaries to withhold or pay on behalf of or with respect to such Partner any amount of U.S. federal, state, or local or non-U.S. taxes that the General Partner determines, in good faith, that the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Partner pursuant to this Agreement. In addition, if the Partnership is obligated to pay any other amount to a Governmental Entity (or otherwise makes a payment to a Governmental Entity) that is specifically attributable to a Partner (including U.S. federal income taxes as a result of Partnership obligations pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions with respect to items of income, gain, loss deduction or credit allocable or attributable to such Partner, state personal property taxes and state unincorporated business taxes, but excluding payments such as professional association fees and the like made voluntarily by the Partnership on behalf of any Partner based upon such Partner’s status as an employee of the Partnership), then such tax shall be treated as an amount of taxes withheld or paid with respect to such Partner pursuant to this Section 5.05 . For all purposes under this Agreement, any amounts withheld or paid with respect to a Partner pursuant to this Section 5.05 shall be treated as having been distributed to such Partner at the time such withholding or payment is made. Further, to the extent that the cumulative amount of such withholding or payment for any period exceeds the distributions to which such Partner is entitled for such period, such Partner shall indemnify the Partnership in full for the amount of such excess. The General Partner may offset Distributions to which a Person is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Person’s obligation to indemnify the Partnership under this Section 5.05 . A Partner’s obligation to indemnify the Partnership under this Section 5.05 shall survive the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Partnership, and for purposes of this Section 5.05 , the Partnership shall be treated as continuing in existence. The Partnership may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Partner under this Section 5.05 , including instituting a lawsuit to collect amounts owed under such indemnity with interest accruing from the date such withholding or payment is made by the Partnership at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by Law). Any income from such indemnity (and interest) shall not be allocated to or distributed to the Partner paying such indemnity (and interest). Each Partner hereby agrees to furnish to the Partnership such information and forms as required or reasonably requested in order to comply with any laws and regulations governing withholding of tax or in order to claim any reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding to which the Partner is legally entitled.

 

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Article VI.
MANAGEMENT

 

Section 6.01 Authority of General Partner.

 

(a) Except for situations in which the approval of any Limited Partner(s) is specifically required by this Agreement, (i) all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner and (ii) the General Partner shall conduct, direct and exercise full control over all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, no Limited Partner has the right or power to participate in the management or affairs of the Partnership, nor does any Limited Partner have the power to sign for or bind the Partnership or deal with third parties on behalf of the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

 

(b) The day-to-day business and operations of the Partnership shall be overseen and implemented by officers of the Partnership (each, an “ Officer ” and collectively, the “ Officers ”), subject to the limitations imposed by the General Partner. An Officer may, but need not, be a Partner or an officer of the Corporation. Each Officer shall be appointed by the General Partner and shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until his or her death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any one Person may hold more than one office. Subject to the other provisions in this Agreement (including in Section 6.06 below), the salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Partnership shall be fixed from time to time by the General Partner. The authority and responsibility of the Officers shall include, but not be limited to, such duties as the General Partner may, from time to time, delegate to them and the carrying out of the Partnership’s business and affairs on a day-to-day basis. An Officer may also perform one or more roles as an officer of the General Partner. Subject to any agreement between the Corporation or the Partnership and an Officer regarding such Officer’s service or employment, the General Partner may remove any such Officer from office at any time, with or without cause. If any vacancy shall occur in any office, for any reason whatsoever, then the General Partner shall have the right to appoint a new Officer to fill the vacancy.

 

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(c) Subject to law applicable to the Corporation and the Partnership, the General Partner shall have the power and authority to effectuate the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Partnership) or the merger, consolidation, reorganization or other combination of the Partnership with or into another entity.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any Officer authorized by the General Partner shall have the authority, on behalf of the Partnership, either directly or indirectly, without the prior approval of each Partner, to take any action that would result in the failure of the Partnership to be taxable as a partnership for purposes of federal income tax, or take any position inconsistent with treating the Partnership as a partnership for purposes of federal income tax, except as required by Law.

 

Section 6.02 Actions of the General Partner. The General Partner may act through any Officer or through any other Person or Persons to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Section 6.06 .

 

Section 6.03 Transfer and Withdrawal of General Partner.

 

(a) Except in connection with a General Partner Change of Control, the General Partner shall not have the right to transfer or assign the General Partner Interest, and the General Partner shall not have the right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided , that, without the consent of any of the Limited Partners, the General Partner may be reconstituted as or converted into a corporation, partnership or other form of entity (any such reconstituted or converted entity being deemed to be the General Partner for all purposes hereof) by merger, consolidation, conversion or otherwise, or transfer or assign the General Partner Interest (in whole or in part) to one of its Affiliates that is a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Corporation so long as such other entity or Affiliate shall have assumed in writing the obligations of the General Partner under this Agreement. In the event of an assignment or other transfer of all of the General Partner Interest in accordance with this Section 6.03 , such assignee or transferee shall be substituted in the General Partner’s place as general partner of the Partnership in all respects under this Agreement and immediately thereafter the General Partner shall withdraw as a general partner of the Partnership (but shall remain entitled to exculpation and indemnification pursuant to Section 6.07 and Section 7.04 with respect to events occurring on or prior to such date).

 

(b) Except as otherwise contemplated by Section 6.03(a) , no assignee or transferee shall become the general partner of the Partnership by virtue of such assignee’s or transferee’s receiving all or a portion of any interest in the Partnership from the General Partner or another assignee or transferee from the General Partner without the written consent of all of the Partners to such substitution, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as each Partner deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

 

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Section 6.04 Transactions Between Partnership and General Partner . The General Partner may cause the Partnership to contract and deal with the General Partner, or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or any Blackstone Party or Affiliate of any Blackstone Party, provided such contracts and dealings are on terms comparable to and competitive with those available to the Partnership from others dealing at arm’s length and are approved by (a) the Partners holding a majority of the Units (excluding Units held by the General Partner and its controlled Affiliates) then outstanding and (b) a majority of the Independent Directors, and, in each case, otherwise are permitted by the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 6.05 Reimbursement for Expenses . The Limited Partners acknowledge and agree that the General Partner is and will continue to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Corporation, whose Class A Common Stock is and will continue to be publicly traded, and therefore the General Partner and the Corporation will have access to the public capital markets and that such status and the services performed by the General Partner and the Corporation, if any, will inure to the benefit of the Partnership and all Limited Partners; therefore, the Partnership shall pay for and reimburse, without duplication, the General Partner and the Corporation amounts with respect to any fees, expenses and costs incurred by the General Partner or the Corporation on behalf of the Partnership, including all fees, expenses and costs of the Corporation being a public company (including public reporting obligations, proxy statements, stockholder meetings, stock exchange fees, transfer agent fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees and offering expenses) and maintaining its corporate existence, it being acknowledged and agreed that such payments and reimbursements shall not be treated as Distributions. To the extent practicable, expenses incurred by the General Partner or the Corporation on behalf of or for the benefit of the Partnership shall be billed directly to and paid by the Partnership. If and to the extent any advances or reimbursements to the General Partner or the Corporation or any of their respective Affiliates by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 6.05 constitute gross income to such Person (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by such Person on behalf of the Partnership), such amounts shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Code Section 707(c) and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Limited Partners’ Capital Accounts.

 

Section 6.06 Delegation of Authority . The General Partner (a) may, from time to time, delegate to one or more Persons such authority and duties as the General Partner may deem advisable, and (b) may assign titles (including chief executive officer, president, chief executive officer, chief financial officers, chief operating officer, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer) and delegate certain authority and duties to such Persons as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, in each case subject to the terms of this Agreement. Any number of titles may be held by the same individual. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of such agents of the Partnership shall be fixed from time to time by the General Partner, subject to the other provisions in this Agreement.

 

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Section 6.07 Limitation of Liability of the General Partner .

 

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or in an agreement entered into by such Person and the Partnership, neither the General Partner nor any of the General Partner’s Affiliates shall be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner that is not the General Partner, in such Partner’s capacity as a partner of the Partnership, for any act or omission performed or omitted by the General Partner in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership pursuant to authority granted to the General Partner by this Agreement; provided, however , that, except as otherwise provided herein, such limitation of liability shall not apply to the extent the act or omission was attributable to the General Partner’s bad faith, willful misconduct or violation of Law in which the General Partner acted with knowledge that its conduct was unlawful. The General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent (so long as such agent was selected in good faith and with reasonable care). The General Partner shall be entitled to rely upon the advice of legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts, including financial advisors, and any act of or failure to act by the General Partner in good faith reliance on such advice shall in no event subject the General Partner to liability to the Partnership or any Partner that is not the General Partner.

 

(b) Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein provides that the General Partner shall act in a manner which is, or provide terms which are, “fair and reasonable” to the Partnership or any Partner that is not the General Partner, the General Partner shall determine such appropriate action or provide such terms considering, in each case, the relative interests of each party to such agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable United States generally accepted accounting practices or principles.

 

(c) Whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, the General Partner is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “sole discretion” with “complete discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the General Partner shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or other Partners.

 

(d) Whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “reasonable discretion,” “good faith” or under another express standard, the General Partner shall act under such express standard and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, so long as the General Partner acts in good faith, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the General Partner shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or impose liability upon the General Partner or any of the General Partner’s Affiliates.

 

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Section 6.08 Investment Company Act . The General Partner shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Partnership shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.

 

Section 6.09 Outside Activities of the Corporation and the General Partner . The Corporation shall not, and shall not cause or permit the General Partner to, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any business or operations, other than, as applicable, in connection with (a) the ownership, acquisition and disposition of Common Units, (b) the management of the business and affairs of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, (c) the operation of the Corporation as a reporting company with a class (or classes) of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and listed on a securities exchange, (d) the offering, sale, syndication, private placement or public offering of stock, bonds, securities or other interests, (e) financing or refinancing of any type related to the Partnership, its Subsidiaries or their assets or activities, and (f) such activities as are incidental to the foregoing; provided, however , that, except as otherwise provided herein, the net proceeds of any sale of Equity Securities of the Corporation pursuant to the preceding clauses (d) and (e) shall be made available to the Partnership as Capital Contributions and the proceeds of any other financing raised by the Corporation pursuant to the preceding clauses (d) and (e) shall be made available to the Partnership as loans or otherwise as appropriate and, provided further , that the Corporation may, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time hold or acquire assets in its own name or otherwise other than through the Partnership and its Subsidiaries so long as the Corporation takes all necessary measures to ensure that the economic benefits and burdens of such assets are otherwise vested in the Partnership or its Subsidiaries, through assignment, mortgage loan or otherwise. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prohibit the General Partner from executing any guarantee of indebtedness of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 6.10 Standard of Care . Except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, the General Partner shall, in connection with the performance of its duties in its capacity as the General Partner, have the same fiduciary duties to the Partnership and the Partners as would be owed to a Delaware corporation and its stockholders by its directors, and shall be entitled to the benefit of the same presumptions in carrying out such duties as would be afforded to a director of a Delaware corporation (as such duties and presumptions are defined, described and explained under the Laws of the State of Delaware as in effect from time to time). The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of the General Partner otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner.

 

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Article VII.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF PARTNERS

 

Section 7.01 Limitation of Liability and Duties of Partners; Investment Opportunities.

 

(a) Except as provided in this Agreement or in the Delaware Act, no Partner (including the General Partner) shall be obligated personally for any debt, obligation or liability solely by reason of being a Partner or acting as the General Partner of the Partnership; provided that, in the case of the General Partner, this sentence shall not in any manner limit the liability of any Partner to the Partnership or any other Partner attributable to a breach by the such Partner of any terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the failure of the Partnership to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business and affairs under this Agreement or the Delaware Act shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Partners for liabilities of the Partnership.

 

(b) In accordance with the Delaware Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, a Partner may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Partner. It is the intent of the Partners that no Distribution to any Partner pursuant to Article IV shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the Delaware Act. The payment of any such money or Distribution of any such property to a Partner shall be deemed to be a compromise within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act, and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Partner receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Partnership or any other Person. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Partner is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Partner and not of any other Partner.

 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (subject to Section 6.07 and except as set forth in Section 6.10 , in each case with respect to the General Partner), to the extent that, at law or in equity, any Partner (or such Partner’s Affiliate or any manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of such Partner or of any Affiliate of such Partner (each Person described in this parenthetical, a “ Related Person ”)) has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Partnership, to another Partner (including the General Partner), to any Person who acquires an interest in a Limited Partner Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, but in in each case other than any duties (including fiduciary duties) owed the Corporation and its stockholders, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any. Such elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Partnership, each of the Partners (including the General Partner), each other Person who acquires an interest in a Limited Partner Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any, are approved by the Partnership, each of the Partners (including the General Partner), each other Person who acquires an interest in a Limited Partner Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any duty (including any fiduciary duty) otherwise applicable at law or in equity, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, will not apply to any Partner (including the General Partner) or to any Related Person of such Partner, and no Partner (or any Related Person of such Partner) that acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership or the Partners will have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership or the Partners, or to develop any particular investment, and such Person will not be liable to the Partnership or the Partners for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Person pursues or acquires for, or directs such opportunity to, another Person or does not communicate such investment opportunity to the Partners. Notwithstanding any duty (including any fiduciary duty) otherwise applicable at law or in equity, neither the Partnership nor any Partner has any rights or obligations by virtue of this Agreement or the relationships created hereby in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits or losses derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such ventures outside the Partnership, even if competitive with the activities of the Partnership or the Partners, will not be deemed wrongful or improper.

 

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Section 7.02 Lack of Authority . No Partner, other than the General Partner or a duly appointed Officer, in each case in its capacity as such, has the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Partnership, to do any act that would be binding on the Partnership or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Partnership. The Partners hereby consent to the exercise by the General Partner of the powers conferred on them by Law and this Agreement.

 

Section 7.03 No Right of Partition . No Partner, other than the General Partner, shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any Partnership property, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Partnership.

 

Section 7.04 Indemnification.

 

(a) Subject to Section 5.05 , the Partnership hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Person (each an “ Indemnified Person ”) to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware Act, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, substituted or replaced (but, in the case of any such amendment, substitution or replacement only to the extent that such amendment, substitution or replacement permits the Partnership to provide broader indemnification rights than the Partnership is providing immediately prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates) by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Partner or is or was serving as the General Partner, Officer, employee or other agent of the Partnership or is or was serving at the request of the Partnership as a manager, officer, director, principal, member, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise; provided, however , that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified for any expenses, liabilities and losses suffered that are attributable to such Indemnified Person’s or its Affiliates’ bad faith, willful misconduct or violation of Law in which such Indemnified Person acted with knowledge that its conduct was unlawful, or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties, covenants or obligations by such Indemnified Person or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Partnership. Expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such Indemnified Person in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Partnership in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, including any appeal therefrom, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Partnership.

 

(b) The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section 7.04 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, agreement, bylaw, action by the General Partner or otherwise.

 

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(c) The Partnership shall maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, or substantially equivalent insurance, at its expense, to protect any Indemnified Person against any expense, liability or loss described in Section 7.04(a) whether or not the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Indemnified Person against such expense, liability or loss under the provisions of this Section 7.04 . The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase and maintain property, casualty and liability insurance in types and at levels customary for companies of similar size engaged in similar lines of business, as determined in good faith by the General Partner.

 

(d) If this Section 7.04 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Partnership shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 7.04 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 7.04 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

 

Section 7.05 Limited Partners’ Right to Act. For matters that require the approval of the Limited Partners, the Limited Partners shall act through meetings and written consents as described in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) below:

 

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement, acts by the Limited Partners holding a majority of the outstanding Units, voting together as a single class, shall be the acts of the Limited Partners. Any Limited Partner entitled to vote at a meeting of Limited Partners may authorize another person or persons to act for it by proxy. An electronic mail, telegram, telex, cablegram or similar transmission by the Limited Partner, or a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of a writing executed by the Limited Partner shall (if stated thereon) be treated as a proxy executed in writing for purposes of this Section 7.05(a) . No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven months from the date thereof, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be revocable unless the proxy form conspicuously states that the proxy is irrevocable and that the proxy is coupled with an interest. Should a proxy designate two or more Persons to act as proxies, unless that instrument shall provide to the contrary, a majority of such Persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or, if only one be present, then such powers may be exercised by that one; or, if an even number attend and a majority do not agree on any particular issue, the Partnership shall not be required to recognize such proxy with respect to such issue if such proxy does not specify how the votes that are the subject of such proxy are to be voted with respect to such issue.

 

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(b) The actions by the Limited Partners permitted hereunder may be taken at a meeting called by the General Partner or by the Limited Partners holding a majority of the Units entitled to vote on such matter on at least 48 hours’ prior written notice to the other Limited Partners entitled to vote, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called. The actions taken by the Limited Partners entitled to vote or consent at any meeting (as opposed to by written consent), however called and noticed, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if (but not until), either before, at or after the meeting, the Limited Partners entitled to vote or consent as to whom it was improperly held signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to the holding of such meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. The actions by the Limited Partners entitled to vote or consent may be taken by vote of the Limited Partners entitled to vote or consent at a meeting or by written consent, so long as such consent is signed by Limited Partners having not less than the minimum number of Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Limited Partners entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the action so taken, which shall state the purpose or purposes for which such consent is required and may be delivered via email, without a meeting shall be given to those Limited Partners entitled to vote or consent who have not consented in writing; provided, however , that the failure to give any such notice shall not affect the validity of the action taken by such written consent. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent of the Limited Partners shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Limited Partners at a meeting thereof.

 

Section 7.06 Inspection Rights . The Partnership shall permit each Partner and each of its designated representatives to visit and inspect (i) the books and records of the Partnership, including its partner ledger and a list of its Partners and (ii) the books and records of its Subsidiaries. The Partners have no other inspection rights.

 

Article VIII.
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

Section 8.01 Records and Accounting . The Partnership shall keep, or cause to be kept, appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section 8.03 or pursuant to applicable Laws. All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Limited Partners pursuant to Articles III and IV and (b) accounting procedures and determinations, and other determinations not specifically and expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall be determined by the General Partner, whose determination shall be final and conclusive as to all of the Limited Partners absent manifest clerical error.

 

Section 8.02 Fiscal Year . The Fiscal Year of the Partnership shall end on December 31 of each year or such other date as may be established by the General Partner; provided that the Partnership shall have the same Fiscal Year for accounting purposes as its Taxable Year for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 8.03 Reports . The Partnership shall deliver or cause to be delivered, within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, to each Person who was a Partner at any time during such Fiscal Year, all information reasonably necessary for the preparation of such Person’s United States federal and applicable state income tax returns.

 

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Article IX.
TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.01 Preparation of Tax Returns . The General Partner shall arrange, at the Partnership’s expense, for the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Partnership. On or before March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each Taxable Year, the Partnership shall send to each Person who was a Partner at any time during the prior quarter, an estimate of such Partner’s state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Partners of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for the prior quarter, which estimate shall have been reviewed by the Partnership’s outside tax accountants. In addition, no later than the later of (i) March 15 following the end of the prior Taxable Year, and (ii) thirty (30) Business Days after the issuance of the final financial statement report for a Fiscal Year by the Partnership’s auditors but in no event later than April 15 following the end of the prior Taxable Year, the Partnership shall send to each Person who was a Partner at any time during such Taxable Year, a statement showing such Partner’s (A) final state tax apportionment information, (B) allocations to the Partners of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for such Taxable Year, (C) a completed IRS Schedule K-1 and (D) all other information reasonably requested and necessary for the preparation of such Partner’s U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax returns, provided that if a complete IRS Schedule K-1 is not issued by March 15 following the end of the relevant Taxable Year, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to provide each Partner a draft IRS Schedule K-1 for the relevant Taxable Year by March 15 following the end of such Taxable Year. Each Partner shall notify the Partnership, and the Partnership shall take reasonable efforts to notify each of the other Partners, upon receipt of any notice of tax examination of the Partnership by U.S. federal, state or local authorities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in its capacity as Partnership Representative (as applicable), the General Partner shall have the authority to prepare the tax returns of the Partnership using the elections set forth in Section 9.02 and such other permissible methods and elections as it determines in its reasonable discretion.

 

Section 9.02 Tax Elections . The Partnership and any eligible Subsidiary shall make an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, shall not thereafter revoke such election. In addition, the Partnership (and any eligible Subsidiary) shall make the following elections on the appropriate forms or tax returns:

 

(a) to adopt the calendar year as the Partnership’s Taxable Year, if permitted under the Code;

 

(b) to adopt the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and

 

(c) to elect to amortize the organizational expenses of the Partnership as permitted by Code Section 709(b).

 

Each Partner will upon request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections.

 

Section 9.03 Tax Controversies . The General Partner shall be designated and may, on behalf of the Partnership, at any time, and without further notice to or consent from any Partner, act as the “partnership representative” of the Partnership, within the meaning given to such term in Section 6223 of the Code, and any corresponding or similar role for relevant state and local tax purposes (the General Partner, in such capacity, the “ Partnership Representative ”). The Partnership Representative shall have the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, respectively, by the Code or any applicable state or local Law with respect to Taxes for the Partnership Representative, and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Without the consent of the Limited Partners, the Partnership Representative shall not make any election apply the “alternative to payment of imputed underpayment by partnership” under Section 6226 of the Code to pass the underpayment adjustment of the Partnership to any partners of the reviewed year. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the Partnership and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Partnership with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. The Partnership Representative shall keep all Partners fully advised on a current basis of any contacts by or discussions with the tax authorities.

 

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Article X.
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS

 

Section 10.01 Transfers by Partners . No holder of Units may Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.02 or (b) approved in writing by the General Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article X shall not apply to any Redemption pursuant to Section 11.01 or exchange pursuant to Section 11.03.

 

Section 10.02 Permitted Transfers . The restrictions contained in Section 10.01 shall not apply to any Transfer (each, a “ Permitted Transfer ”) (i) by a Limited Partner to a Controlled Affiliate of such Limited Partner, (ii) by a Royal Contributor to the direct holders of equity interests in such Royal Contributor, and if any such holder as of the date hereof is a Blackstone Party, to the direct holders of equity interests in such Blackstone Party as of the date hereof, (iii) to an Affiliate of, or a direct holder of equity interests in, Royal LP, (iv) by any individual transferee pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of this sentence to any Controlled Affiliate of such transferee or any trust, family partnership or family limited liability company, the sole beneficiaries, partners or members of which are such transferee or Relatives of such transferee for bona fide estate planning purposes, (v) to an Affiliate of any Blackstone Party, (vi) in the case of an individual Partner, upon death or incapacity to such Partner’s estate, executors, trustees, administrators and personal representatives, and then to such Partner’s legal representatives, heirs, beneficiaries or legatees (whether or not such recipients are a spouse, children, spouses of children, grandchildren, spouses of grandchildren, parents or siblings of such Partner) or (vii) pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange in accordance with Article XI hereof; provided, however , that (A) the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units and (B) in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) the transferees of the Units so Transferred shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, and the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Partnership and the Partners, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed transferee. In the case of a Permitted Transfer (other than a Redemption or Direct Exchange) by any Limited Partner (other than the Corporation) of Common Units to a transferee in accordance with this Section 10.02 , such Limited Partner (or any subsequent transferee of such Limited Partner) shall be required to also transfer a number of shares of Class C Common Stock corresponding to the number of such Limited Partner’s (or subsequent transferee’s) Common Units that were transferred in the transaction to such transferee; and, in the case of a Redemption or Direct Exchange, a number of shares of Class C Common Stock owned by such Limited Partner corresponding to the number of such Limited Partner’s Common Units that were transferred in such Redemption or Direct Exchange shall be surrendered by such Limited Partner to the Corporation and cancelled by the Corporation. All Permitted Transfers are subject to the additional limitations set forth in Section 10.07(b) .

 

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Section 10.03 Restricted Units Legend . The Units have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, in addition to the other restrictions on Transfer contained in this Agreement, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is then available. To the extent such Units have been certificated, each certificate evidencing Units and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any Units (if such securities remain Units as defined herein after such Transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED ON AUGUST 23, 2018, AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ ACT ”), AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF FALCON MINERALS OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, LP, AS MAY BE AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND FALCON MINERALS OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, LP RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED WITH RESPECT TO ANY TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL BE FURNISHED BY FALCON MINERALS OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, LP TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.”

 

The Partnership shall imprint such legend on certificates (if any) evidencing Units.

 

Section 10.04 Transfer . Prior to Transferring any Units (other than (i) in connection with a Redemption or Direct Exchange in accordance with Article XI or (ii) pursuant to a Change of Control Transaction), the Transferring holder of Units shall cause the prospective transferee to be bound by this Agreement and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate (collectively, the “ Other Agreements ”), and shall cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Partnership and the other holders of Units a Joinder (or other counterpart to this Agreement acceptable to the General Partner) and counterparts of any applicable Other Agreements. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement (including any prohibited indirect Transfers) (a) shall be void, and (b) the Partnership shall not record such Transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Units as the owner of such securities for any purpose.

 

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Section 10.05 Assignee’s Rights .

 

(a) The Transfer of a Limited Partner Interest in accordance with this Agreement shall be effective as of the date of its assignment (assuming compliance with all of the conditions to such Transfer set forth herein), and such Transfer shall be shown on the books and records of the Partnership. Profits, Losses and other Partnership items shall be allocated between the transferor and the Assignee according to Code Section 706, using any permissible method as determined in the reasonable discretion of the General Partner. Distributions made before the effective date of such Transfer shall be paid to the transferor, and Distributions made after such date shall be paid to the Assignee.

 

(b) Unless and until an Assignee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Article XII , the Assignee shall not be entitled to any of the rights granted to a Limited Partner hereunder or under applicable Law, other than the rights granted specifically to Assignees pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however , that, without relieving the transferring Limited Partner from any such limitations or obligations as more fully described in Section 10.06 , such Assignee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations of a Limited Partner contained herein that a Limited Partner would be bound on account of the Assignee’s Limited Partner Interest (including the obligation to make Capital Contributions on account of such Limited Partner Interest).

 

Section 10.06 Assignor’s Rights and Obligations . Any Limited Partner who shall Transfer any Limited Partner Interest in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to such Units or other interest and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in this Section 10.06 , duties, liabilities or obligations, of a Limited Partner with respect to such Units or other interest (it being understood, however, that the applicable provisions of Section 6.07 , Section 7.01 and Section 7.04 shall continue to inure to such Person’s benefit), except that unless and until the Assignee (if not already a Limited Partner) is admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner in accordance with the provisions of Article XII (the “ Admission Date ”), (i) such assigning Limited Partner shall retain all of the duties, liabilities and obligations of a Limited Partner with respect to such Units or other interest, and (ii) the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, reinstate all or any portion of the rights and privileges of such Limited Partner with respect to such Units or other interest for any period of time prior to the Admission Date. Nothing contained herein shall relieve any Limited Partner who Transfers any Units or other interest in the Partnership from any liability of such Limited Partner to the Partnership with respect to such Limited Partner Interest that may exist on the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the Delaware Act and incorporated into this Agreement or for any liability to the Partnership or any other Person for any materially false statement made by such Limited Partner (in its capacity as such) or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Limited Partner (in its capacity as such) contained herein or in the other agreements with the Partnership.

 

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Section 10.07 Overriding Provisions .

 

(a) Any Transfer of any Limited Partner Interest in violation of this Article X shall be null and void ab initio, and the provisions of Section 10.05 and 10.06 shall not apply to any such Transfers. Any Person to whom a Transfer of such Limited Partner Interest is made or attempted in violation of this Article X shall not become a Limited Partner with respect to such Limited Partner Interest, shall not be entitled to vote such Limited Partner Interest on any matters coming before the Limited Partners and shall not have any other rights in or with respect to such Limited Partner Interest. The General Partner shall promptly amend the Schedule of Limited Partners to reflect any Permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article X .

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including the provisions of Section 10.01 and Article XI and Article XII ), in no event shall any Limited Partner Transfer any Units to the extent such Transfer would:

 

(i) result in the violation of the Securities Act, or any other applicable U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. Laws;

 

(ii) subject the Partnership to registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act;

 

(iii) in the reasonable determination of the General Partner, be a violation of or a default (or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in an acceleration of any indebtedness under, any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Partnership or the General Partner is a party;

 

(iv) cause the Partnership to lose its status as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, cause the Partnership to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code and any applicable Treasury Regulations issued thereunder, or any successor provision of the Code;

 

(v) be a Transfer to a Person who is not legally competent or who has not achieved his or her majority under applicable Law (excluding trusts for the benefit of minors); or

 

(vi) result in the Partnership having more than one hundred (100) partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined pursuant to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)).

 

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Article XI.
REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS

 

Section 11.01 Redemption Right of a Limited Partner.

 

(a) Each Limited Partner (other than the Corporation) shall be entitled to cause the Partnership to redeem (a “ Redemption ”) all or any portion of its Common Units (the “ Redemption Right ”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Article XI. A Limited Partner desiring to exercise its Redemption Right (the “ Redeemed Partner ”) shall exercise such right by giving written notice (the “ Redemption Notice ”) to the Partnership with a copy to the Corporation and Royal LP (the date of the delivery of such Redemption Notice, the “ Redemption Notice Date ”). The Redemption Notice shall specify the number of Common Units (the “ Redeemed Units ”) that the Redeemed Partner intends to have the Partnership redeem. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, other than with the prior written consent of Royal (which consent may be withheld or granted in Royal’s sole discretion), a Limited Partner shall only be entitled to exercise its Redemption Right with respect to a number of Common Units up to the Maximum Redeemed Unit Amount as of the Redemption Notice Date (and in the event a Limited Partner submits a Redemption Notice specifying a number of Common Units to be redeemed in excess of the Maximum Redeemed Unit Amount, the number of “Redeemed Units” for purposes of such Redemption Notice shall be deemed to equal either the Maximum Redeemed Unit Amount or such amount as consented to in writing by Royal LP). The Redemption shall be completed on the date that is three (3) Business Days following the later of (i) delivery of the applicable Redemption Notice and (ii) with respect to any Common Units to be redeemed in excess of the Maximum Redeemed Unit Amount, delivery by Royal of its written consent, if any, to such Redemption (the date of such completion, the “ Redemption Date ”); provided that the Partnership, the Corporation and the Redeemed Partner may (subject to the consent right of Royal in the foregoing sentence) change the number of Redeemed Units and/or the Redemption Date specified in such Redemption Notice to another number and/or date by mutual agreement signed in writing by each of them; provided further that (a) a Redemption Notice may be conditioned on the closing of an underwritten distribution of the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued in connection with such proposed Redemption; and (b) if the record date for any Partnership Distributions (as defined in the Charter) for any period would occur prior to any Redemption, then the Redemption Date for such Redemption shall in no event be earlier than the Business Day immediately following the record date designated by the Corporate Board for the corresponding Pass-Through Distribution (as defined in the Charter). Unless the Corporation has elected to effect a Direct Exchange as provided in Section 11.03 , on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (1) the Redeemed Partner shall transfer and surrender the Redeemed Units to the Partnership and a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock to the Corporation, in each case free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, (2) the Partnership shall (A) cancel the Redeemed Units, (B) transfer to the Redeemed Partner the consideration to which the Redeemed Partner is entitled under Section 11.01(b) , and (C) if the Units are certificated, issue to the Redeemed Partner a certificate for a number of Common Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Common Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeemed Partner pursuant to clause (1) of this Section 11.01(a) and the Redeemed Units and (3) the Corporation shall cancel such shares of Class C Common Stock.

 

(b) In exchange for its Redeemed Units, a Redeemed Partner shall be entitled to receive the Share Settlement.

 

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(c) A Redeemed Partner shall be entitled, at any time prior to the consummation of a Redemption, to revoke its Redemption Notice or delay the Redemption Date if any of the following conditions exists: (i) any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of the Class A Common Stock to be registered for such Redeemed Partner at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption shall have ceased to be effective pursuant to any action or inaction by the SEC or no such resale registration statement has yet become effective; (ii) the Corporation shall have failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect such Redemption; (iii) the Corporation shall have exercised its right to defer, delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement and such deferral, delay or suspension shall affect the ability of such Redeemed Partner to have the resale of its Class A Common Stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption; (iv) the Corporation shall have disclosed to such Redeemed Partner any material non-public information concerning the Corporation, the receipt of which results in such Redeemed Partner being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A Common Stock at or immediately following the Redemption without disclosure of such information (and the Corporation does not permit disclosure); (v) any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A Common Stock was to be registered by such Redeemed Partner at or immediately following the Redemption shall have been issued by the SEC; (vi) there shall have occurred a material disruption in the securities markets generally or in the market or markets in which the Class A Common Stock is then traded; (vii) there shall be in effect an injunction, a restraining order or a decree of any nature of any Governmental Entity that restrains or prohibits the Redemption; (viii) the Corporation shall have failed to comply in all material respects with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and such failure shall have affected the ability of such Redeemed Partner to consummate the resale of Class A Common Stock to be received upon such redemption pursuant to an effective registration statement; or (ix) the Redemption Date would occur three (3) Business Days or less prior to, or during, a Black-Out Period; provided further , that in no event shall the Redeemed Partner seeking to delay the consummation of such Redemption and relying on any of the matters contemplated in clauses (i) through (ix) above have controlled or intentionally materially influenced any facts, circumstances, or Persons in connection therewith (except in the good faith performance of his or her duties as an officer or director of the Corporation) in order to provide such Redeemed Partner with a basis for such delay or revocation. If a Redeemed Partner delays the consummation of a Redemption pursuant to this Section 11.01(c) , the Redemption Date shall occur on the third (3rd) Business Day following the date on which the conditions giving rise to such delay cease to exist (or such earlier day as the Corporation, the Partnership and such Redeemed Partner may agree in writing).

 

(d) The amount of the Share Settlement that a Redeemed Partner is entitled to receive under Section 11.01(b) shall not be adjusted on account of any Distributions previously made with respect to the Redeemed Units or dividends or other distributions previously paid with respect to Class A Common Stock; provided, however , that if a Redeemed Partner causes the Partnership to redeem Redeemed Units and the Redemption Date occurs subsequent to the record date for any Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units but prior to payment of such Distribution, the Redeemed Partner shall be entitled to receive such Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units on the date that it is made notwithstanding that the Redeemed Partner transferred and surrendered the Redeemed Units to the Partnership prior to such date.

 

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(e) If a Reclassification Event occurs, the General Partner or its successor, as the case may be, shall, as and to the extent necessary, amend this Agreement in compliance with Section 16.03 , and enter into any necessary supplementary or additional agreements, to ensure that, following the effective date of the Reclassification Event: (i) the rights of holders of Common Units (other than the Corporation) set forth in this Section 11.01 provide that each Common Unit is redeemable for the same amount and same type of property, securities or cash (or combination thereof) that one share of Class A Common Stock becomes exchangeable for or converted into as a result of the Reclassification Event (taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the record date or effective time for such Reclassification Event) and (ii) the Corporation or the successor to the Corporation, as applicable, is obligated to deliver such property, securities or cash upon such redemption. The Corporation shall not consummate or agree to consummate any Reclassification Event unless the successor Person, if any, becomes obligated to comply with the obligations of the Corporation (in whatever capacity) under this Agreement.

 

(f) In connection with a General Partner Change of Control, the Corporation shall have the right to require each Limited Partner (other than the Corporation) to effect a Redemption of some or all of such Limited Partner’s Common Units and a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock. Any Redemption pursuant to this Section 11.01(f) shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the General Partner Change of Control (and shall not be effective if such General Partner Change of Control is not consummated) (the “ Change of Control Redemption Date ”). From and after the Change of Control Redemption Date, (i) the Common Units and shares of Class C Common Stock subject to such Redemption shall be deemed to be transferred to the Corporation on the Change of Control Redemption Date and (ii) such Limited Partner shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Common Units and shares of Class C Common Stock subject to such Redemption (other than the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to such Redemption). The Corporation shall provide written notice of an expected General Partner Change of Control to all Partners within the earlier of (x) five (5) Business Days following the execution of the agreement with respect to such General Partner Change of Control and (y) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the contemplated General Partner Change of Control is to be effected, indicating in such notice such information as may reasonably describe the General Partner Change of Control transaction, subject to applicable law, including the date of execution of such agreement or such proposed effective date, as applicable, the amount and types of consideration to be paid for shares of Class A Common Stock in the General Partner Change of Control, any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with such General Partner Change of Control, and the number of Common Units and shares of Class C Common Stock held by such Limited Partner that the Corporation intends to require to be subject to such Redemption. Following delivery of such notice and on or prior to the Change of Control Redemption Date, the Limited Partners shall take all actions reasonably requested by the Corporation to effect such Redemption, including taking any action and delivering any document required pursuant to Section 11.01(a) to effect a Redemption; provided that (A) no Limited Partner shall be required to make any representations or warranties in connection with such Redemption other than representations and warranties as to (1) such Limited Partner’s ownership of its Common Units and the corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock to be redeemed free and clear of liens, (2) such Limited Partner’s power and authority to effect such Redemption, and (3) such matters pertaining to compliance with securities laws as the Corporation may reasonably require; and (B) any indemnification or other obligations assumed or incurred in connection with a Redemption shall be several and not joint and shall be allocated among all Limited Partners participating in such Redemption (collectively, the “ Redeeming Persons ”) in the same proportion as the consideration payable to each such Redeeming Person in each case other than with respect to representations made individually by the indemnifying Limited Partner ( e.g. , representations as to title or authority of such Limited Partner).

 

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Section 11.02 Contribution of the Corporation . Subject to Section 11.03 , in connection with the exercise of a Redeemed Partner’s Redemption Rights under Section 11.01(a) , the Corporation shall contribute to the Partnership the consideration the Redeemed Partner is entitled to receive under Section 11.01(b) . Unless the Corporation has elected to effect a Direct Exchange as provided in Section 11.03 , on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (i) the Corporation shall make its Capital Contribution to the Partnership (in the form of the Share Settlement) required under this Section 11.02 , and (ii) the Partnership shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of Redeemed Units surrendered by the Redeemed Partner.

 

Section 11.03 Exchange Right of the Corporation .

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XI , the Corporation may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to effect on the Redemption Date the exchange of Redeemed Units for the Share Settlement, at the Corporation’s option, through a direct exchange of such Redeemed Units and the Share Settlement between the Redeemed Partner and the Corporation (a “ Direct Exchange ”). Upon such Direct Exchange pursuant to this Section 11.03 , the Corporation shall acquire the Redeemed Units and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Units.

 

(b) The Corporation may, at any time prior to a Redemption Date, deliver written notice (an “ Exchange Election Notice ”) to the Partnership and the Redeemed Partner setting forth its election to exercise its right to consummate a Direct Exchange; provided that such election does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. An Exchange Election Notice may be revoked by the Corporation at any time; provided that any such revocation does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption on the Redemption Date. The right to consummate a Direct Exchange in all events shall be exercisable for all the Redeemed Units that would have otherwise been subject to a Redemption. Except as otherwise provided by this Section 11.03 , a Direct Exchange shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe and in the same manner as the relevant Redemption would have been consummated if the Corporation had not delivered an Exchange Election Notice.

 

Section 11.04 Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation . At all times the Corporation shall reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange pursuant to Share Settlements; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Redemption or Direct Exchange by delivery of purchased Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation). The Corporation shall deliver Class A Common Stock that has been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent a registration statement is effective and available for such shares. The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange upon which the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are listed at the time of such Redemption or Direct Exchange (it being understood that any such shares may be subject to transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws). The Corporation covenants that all Class A Common Stock issued upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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Section 11.05 Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right . This Agreement shall continue notwithstanding the consummation of a Redemption or Direct Exchange and all governance or other rights set forth herein shall be exercised by the remaining Partners and the Redeemed Partner (to the extent of such Redeemed Partner’s remaining interest in the Partnership). No Redemption or Direct Exchange shall relieve such Redeemed Partner of any prior breach of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.06 Tax Treatment . Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that a Redemption or a Direct Exchange, as the case may be, shall be treated as a direct exchange between the Corporation and the Redeemed Partner for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes. The issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange shall be made without charge to the Redeemed Partner for any stamp or other similar tax in respect of such issuance.

 

Article XII.
ADMISSION OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 12.01 Substituted Limited Partners . Subject to the provisions of Article X , in connection with the Permitted Transfer of a Limited Partner Interest hereunder, the transferee shall become a substituted Limited Partner (“ Substituted Limited Partner ”) on the effective date of such Transfer, which effective date shall not be earlier than the date of compliance with the conditions to such Transfer, and such admission shall be shown on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

Section 12.02 Additional Limited Partners . Subject to the provisions of Article III and Article X , any Person may be admitted to the Partnership as an additional Limited Partner (any such Person, an “ Additional Limited Partner ”) only upon furnishing to the General Partner (a) a Joinder (or other counterpart to this Agreement acceptable to the General Partner) and counterparts of any applicable Other Agreements and (b) such other documents or instruments as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effect such Person’s admission as a Limited Partner (including entering into such documents as the General Partner may deem appropriate in its reasonable discretion). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the General Partner determines in its reasonable discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

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Article XIII.
WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

 

Section 13.01 Withdrawal and Resignation of Limited Partners . No Limited Partner shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Limited Partner from the Partnership prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV . Any Limited Partner, however, that attempts to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Limited Partner from the Partnership without the prior written consent of the General Partner upon or following the dissolution and winding up of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV , but prior to such Limited Partner receiving the full amount of Distributions from the Partnership to which such Limited Partner is entitled pursuant to Article XIV , shall be liable to the Partnership for all damages (including all lost profits and special, indirect and consequential damages) directly or indirectly caused by the withdrawal or resignation of such Partner. Upon a Transfer of all of a Limited Partner’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 10.06 , such Limited Partner shall cease to be a Partner.

 

Article XIV.
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 14.01 Dissolution . The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Limited Partners or Substituted Limited Partners or the attempted withdrawal or resignation of a Partner. The Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

 

(a) the unanimous decision of the General Partner together with all the Partners to dissolve the Partnership;

 

(b) a Change of Control Transaction that is not approved by the Majority Partners;

 

(c) a dissolution of the Partnership under Section 17-801(4) of the Delaware Act; or

 

(d) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership under Section 17-802 of the Delaware Act.

 

Except as otherwise set forth in this Article XIV , the Partnership is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal shall not cause a dissolution of the Partnership and the Partnership shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Section 14.02 Liquidation and Termination . On dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall act as liquidator or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidator. The liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Partnership and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Delaware Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as a Partnership expense. Until final distribution, the liquidators shall continue to operate the Partnership properties with all of the power and authority of the General Partner. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidators are as follows:

 

(a) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the liquidators shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Partnership’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable;

 

(b) the liquidators shall cause notice of liquidation to be mailed to each known creditor of and claimant against the Partnership;

 

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(c) the liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from Partnership funds, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine): first, all expenses incurred in liquidation; and second, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership; and

 

(d) all remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with Article IV by the end of the Taxable Year during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (or, if later, by ninety (90) days after the date of the liquidation). The distribution of cash and/or property to the Partners in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.02 and Section 14.03 below constitutes a complete return to the Partners of their Capital Contributions, a complete distribution to the Partners of their interest in the Partnership and all the Partnership’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Partners have consented within the meaning of the Delaware Act. To the extent that a Partner returns funds to the Partnership, it has no claim against any other Partner for those funds. In no event shall a Limited Partner be entitled to exercise any Redemption Rights, and no Redemptions shall be effected, on or after the earlier of the record date for and the effective date of the distribution of cash and/or property to the Partners in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.02 and Section 14.03

 

Section 14.03 Deferment; Distribution in Kind . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.02 , but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if upon dissolution of the Partnership the liquidators determine that an immediate sale of part or all of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Partners, the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy Partnership liabilities (other than loans to the Partnership by Partners) and reserves. Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 14.02 , the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, distribute to the Partners, in lieu of cash, either (a) all or any portion of such remaining Partnership assets in-kind in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(d) , (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(d) , undivided interests in all or any portion of such Partnership assets or (c) a combination of the foregoing. Any such Distributions in kind shall be subject to (x) such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such assets as the liquidators deem reasonable and equitable and (y) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation thereof or the holders thereof) at such time. Any Partnership assets distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with Article V . The liquidators shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed in accordance with the valuation procedures set forth in Article XV .

 

Section 14.04 Cancellation of Certificate . On completion of the distribution of Partnership assets as provided herein, the Partnership is terminated (and the Partnership shall not be terminated prior to such time), and the General Partner (or such other Person or Persons as the Delaware Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that are or should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership. The Partnership shall be deemed to continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 14.04 .

 

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Section 14.05 Reasonable Time for Winding Up . A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Partnership and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Sections 14.02 and 14.03 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.

 

Section 14.06 Return of Capital . The liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Partners (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets).

 

Article XV.
VALUATION

 

Section 15.01 Determination . “ Fair Market Value ” of a specific Partnership asset will mean the amount which the Partnership would receive in an all-cash sale of such asset in an arms-length transaction with a willing unaffiliated third party, with neither party having any compulsion to buy or sell, consummated on the day immediately preceding the date on which the event occurred which necessitated the determination of the Fair Market Value (and after giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale), as such amount is determined by the General Partner (or, if pursuant to Section 14.02 , the liquidators) in its good faith judgment using all factors, information and data it deems to be pertinent.

 

Section 15.02 Dispute Resolution . If any Limited Partner or Limited Partners dispute the accuracy of any determination of Fair Market Value in accordance with Section 15.01 , and the General Partner and such Limited Partner(s) are unable to agree on the determination of the Fair Market Value of any asset of the Partnership, the General Partner and such Limited Partner(s) shall each select a nationally recognized investment banking firm experienced in valuing securities of closely-held companies such as the Partnership in the Partnership’s industry (the “ Appraisers ”), who shall each determine the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Partnership (as applicable) in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.01 . The Appraisers shall be instructed to give written notice of their determination of the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Partnership (as applicable) within thirty (30) days of their appointment as Appraisers. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is higher than Fair Market Value as determined by the other Appraiser by 10% or more, and the General Partner and such Limited Partner(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the original Appraisers shall designate a third Appraiser meeting the same criteria used to select the original two, and the Fair Market Value shall be the average of the Fair Market Values determined by all three Appraisers, unless the General Partner and such Limited Partner(s) otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is within 10% of the Fair Market Value as determined by the other Appraiser (but not identical), and the General Partner and such Limited Partner(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the General Partner shall select the Fair Market Value of one of the Appraisers. The fees and expenses of the Appraisers shall be borne by the Partnership.

 

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Article XVI.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.01 Power of Attorney.

 

(a) Each Limited Partner who is an individual hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner (or the liquidator, if applicable) with full power of substitution, as his or her true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his, her or its name, place and stead, to:

 

(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments thereof which the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Partnership as a limited partnership in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all instruments which the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (D) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to Article XII or Article XIII ; and

 

(ii) sign, execute, swear to and acknowledge all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the General Partner, to evidence, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in the reasonable judgment of the General Partner, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b) The foregoing power of attorney is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and shall survive the death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or termination of any Limited Partner who is an individual and the transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Limited Partner Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.

 

Section 16.02 Confidentiality . Each of the Partners agree to hold the Partnership’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not use such information except in furtherance of the business of the Partnership or as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the General Partner. “ Confidential Information ” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, ideas, financial product structuring, business strategies, innovations and materials, all aspects of the Partnership’s business plan, proposed operation and products, corporate structure, financial and organizational information, analyses, proposed partners, software code and system and product designs, employees and their identities, equity ownership, the methods and means by which the Partnership plans to conduct its business, all trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and all intellectual property associated with the Partnership’s business, in each case obtained by a Partner from the Partnership or any of its Affiliates or representatives. With respect to any Partner, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (a) is rightfully in the possession of such Partner at the time of disclosure by the Partnership; (b) before or after it has been disclosed to such Partner by the Partnership, becomes part of public knowledge, not as a result of any action or inaction of such Partner in violation of this Agreement; (c) is approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership or of the Corporation; (d) is disclosed to such Partner or its representatives by a third party not, to the knowledge of such Partner, in violation of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Partnership with respect to such information; or (e) is or becomes independently developed by such Partner or its representatives without use of or reference to the Confidential Information.

 

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Section 16.03 Amendments . This Agreement may be amended or modified solely by the General Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification (a) to this Section 16.03 may be made without the prior written consent of each of the Partners, (b) that modifies the limited liability of any Partner, or increases the liabilities or obligations of any Partner, in each case, may be made without the consent of each such affected Partner, (c) that materially alters or changes any rights, preferences or privileges of any Limited Partner Interests in a manner that is different or prejudicial relative to any other Limited Partner Interests, may be made without the approval of a majority in interest of the Partners holding the Limited Partner Interests affected in such a different or prejudicial manner (excluding any such Limited Partner Interests held by the General Partner or any Affiliates controlled by the General Partner), (d) that materially alters or changes any rights, preferences or privileges of a holder of any class of Limited Partner Interests in a manner that is different or prejudicial relative to any other holder of the same class of Limited Partner Interests, may be made without the approval of the holder of Limited Partner Interests affected in such a different or prejudicial manner, (e) that materially and adversely alters or changes any rights, preferences or privileges of a holder of the General Partner or the Corporation, may be made without the approval of a majority of the Independent Directors, (f) that materially and disproportionately adversely affects the holders of any Limited Partner Interests as compared to the Corporation or any of its controlled Affiliates holding Limited Partner Interests, without the approval of the Blackstone Parties for so long as the Blackstone Parties and their Affiliates in the aggregate own at least five percent (5)% of the outstanding Limited Partner Interests; and (g) to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which terms and conditions expressly require the approval or action of certain Persons may be made without obtaining the consent of the requisite number or specified percentage of such Persons who are entitled to approve or take action on such matter; provided , that the General Partner, acting alone, may amend this Agreement to reflect the issuance of additional Units or Equity Securities in accordance with Section 3.04 .

 

Section 16.04 Title to Partnership Assets . Partnership assets shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. The Partnership shall hold title to all of its property in the name of the Partnership and not in the name of any Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Partnership assets is held. The Partnership’s credit and assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Partnership, and no asset of the Partnership shall be transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Partner.

 

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Section 16.05 Addresses and Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be either personally delivered, or received by certified mail, return receipt requested, or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Partnership at the address set forth below and to any other recipient and to any Partner at such address as indicated by the Partnership’s records, or at such address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder when delivered personally or sent by telecopier ( provided confirmation of transmission is received), three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one (1) day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service. The Partnership’s address is:

 

Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP
c/o Falcon Minerals Corporation,

1845 Walnut Street, 10 th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attention: Jeffrey F. Brotman

Facsimile: (215) 640-6344

 

Section 16.06 Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

Section 16.07 Creditors . None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Partnership or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Partnership in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Partnership Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor.

 

Section 16.08 Waiver . No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 16.09 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.

 

Section 16.10 Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. Any dispute relating hereto shall be heard in the state or federal courts of the State of Delaware, and the parties agree to jurisdiction and venue therein.

 

Section 16.11 Severability . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

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Section 16.12 Further Action . The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 16.13 Delivery by Electronic Transmission . This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or contemplated hereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of an electronic transmission, including by a facsimile machine or via email, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic transmission by a facsimile machine or via email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

 

Section 16.14 Right of Offset . Whenever the Partnership is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to Article IV ) to any Partner, any amounts that such Partner owes to the Partnership which are not the subject of a good faith dispute may be deducted from that sum before payment. The distribution of Units to the Corporation shall not be subject to this Section 16.14 .

 

Section 16.15 Effectiveness . This Agreement shall be effective immediately upon the Closing (the “ Effective Time ”). The Initial Limited Partnership Agreement shall govern the rights and obligations of the Partnership and the other parties to this Agreement in their capacity as Partners prior to the Effective Time.

 

Section 16.16 Entire Agreement . This Agreement and those documents expressly referred to herein (including the Registration Rights Agreement and the Contribution Agreement) embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. For the avoidance of doubt, the Initial Limited Partnership Agreement is superseded by this Agreement as of the Effective Time and shall be of no further force and effect thereafter.

 

Section 16.17 Remedies . Each Partner shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by Law.

 

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Section 16.18 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation . The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation. Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and if applicable hereof. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment or other modification to any agreement, document or instrument that requires the consent of any Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement will be given effect hereunder unless such Person has consented in writing to such amendment or modification. Wherever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Wherever a conflict exists between this Agreement and any other agreement, this Agreement shall control but solely to the extent of such conflict.

 

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership as of the date first written above.

 

  GENERAL PARTNER:
     
  FALCON MINERALS GP, LLC
     
  By : /s/ Jonathan Z. Cohen
  Name: Jonathan Z. Cohen
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership ]

 

 

 

 

  LIMITED PARTNERS:
   
  FALCON ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By :

/s/ Jonathan Z. Cohen

    Name: Jonathan Z. Cohen
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  NOBLE ROYALTIES ACQUISITION CO. L.P.
     
  By: Noble Royalties Acquisition Co. GP, LLC,
  its general partner
     
  By : /s/ Angelo Acconcia
    Name: Angelo Acconcia
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
     
  HOOKS RANCH HOLDINGS LP
     
  By: Hooks Holding Company GP, LLC,
  its general partner
   
  By:

Royal Resources L.P.,

  its sole member
   
  By: Royal Resources GP L.L.C.,
  its general partner
   
  By: /s/ Angelo Acconcia
    Name: Angelo Acconcia
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
     
  DGK ORRI HOLDINGS, LP
     
  By:  DGK ORRI GP LLC,
  its general partner
     
  By: Royal Resources GP L.L.C.,
  its sole member
   
  By: /s/ Angelo Acconcia
    Name: Angelo Acconcia
    Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership ]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1 *

SCHEDULE OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Partner   Common Units     Percentage Interest     Closing Capital Account Balance**     Additional Cash Capital Contributions     Additional Non-Cash Capital Contributions     Capital Accounts  
Falcon Energy Acquisition Corp.     45,855,000       53.4098 %                                                    
Noble Royalties Acquisition Co. L.P.     15,617,080       18.1901 %                                
Hooks Ranch Holdings LP     18,107,800       21.0911 %                                
DGK ORRI Holdings, LP     6,275,120       7.3090 %                                

 

* This Schedule of Limited Partners shall be updated from time to time to reflect any adjustment with respect to any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Common Units, or to reflect any additional issuances of Common Units pursuant to this Agreement.

 

** Closing Capital Account Balances to be determined at a later date as necessary.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of       , 20        (this “ Joinder ”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Falcon Minerals Operating Partnership, LP (the “ Partnership ”), dated as of August 23, 2018 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Partnership Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

1. Joinder to the Partnership Agreement . Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to the General Partner, the undersigned hereby is and hereafter will be a Limited Partner under the Partnership Agreement and a party thereto, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a Limited Partner thereunder. The undersigned hereby agrees that it shall comply with and be fully bound by the terms of the Partnership Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof.

 

2. Incorporation by Reference . All terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Joinder as if set forth herein in full.

 

3. Address . All notices under the Partnership Agreement to the undersigned shall be direct to:

 

[Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Attn:
Facsimile:
E-mail:

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day and year first above written.

 

  [NAME OF NEW PARTNER]
     
  By:     
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

Acknowledged and agreed
as of the date first set forth above:

 

FALCON MINERALS GP, LLC  
     
By:      
Name:    
Title:    

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

EXECUTION VERSION

CONFIDENTIAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

MASTER MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

Effective as of December 10, 2016

 

by and among

 

ROYAL RESOURCES L.P.

 

RIVERBEND NATURAL RESOURCES, L.P.

 

BLACKSTONE MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC

 

and

 

RIVERBEND OIL & GAS, L.L.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION   1
     
SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGER; SERVICES   5
     
SECTION 3. EMPLOYEES OF THE MANAGER   7
     
SECTION 4. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES   7
     
SECTION 5. STANDARD OF CARE   7
     
SECTION 6. PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES BY PARTIES; AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS   7
     
SECTION 7. SERVICE PROVIDER INFORMATION   7
     
SECTION 8. NO COMMINGLING OF ASSETS   8
     
SECTION 9. INSURANCE   8
     
SECTION 10. MANAGER EXPENSES; INVOICING   8
     
SECTION 11. BOOKS, RECORDS AND REPORTING   10
     
SECTION 12. BUDGETS   11
     
SECTION 13. LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION   12
     
SECTION 14. TERM AND TERMINATION; TRANSITION   15
     
SECTION 15. CONFIDENTIALITY   17
     
SECTION 16. NONSOLICIT   18
     
SECTION 17. ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT   18
     
SECTION 18. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR; NO JOINT VENTURE   19
     
SECTION 19. GOVERNING LAW; SEVERABILITY   19
     
SECTION 20. JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS   19
     
SECTION 21. NO WAIVER; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES   20
     
SECTION 22. NOTICES   20
     
SECTION 23. COMPLIANCE   21
     
SECTION 24. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS   22
     
SECTION 25. COUNTERPARTS   22
     
SECTION 26. HEADINGS   22
     
SECTION 27. NO RECOURSE   22

 

i

 

 

MASTER MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

This MASTER MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT is made and entered into on March __, 2017, and deemed to be effective as of, December 10, 2016 (as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance herewith, this “ Agreement ”), by and between Royal Resources L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Royal ”), Riverbend Natural Resources, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Opportunities Partnership ”), Blackstone Management Partners, LLC a Delaware limited liability company (“ Blackstone ”), and Riverbend Oil & Gas, L.L.C., a Texas limited liability company (the “ Manager ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Royal, the Opportunities Partnership, Blackstone and the Manager entered into that certain Master Management Services Agreement, dated as of December 9, 2013 (the “ Original MSA ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Original MSA expired by its terms as of December 9, 2016 and the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to reflect the Services to be provided by the Manager to Royal, the Opportunities Partnership and each Additional Service Entity, if any, and the obligations of the Parties with respect thereto, effective as of December 10, 2016;

 

WHEREAS, certain Manager Parties were issued equity interests in Royal which have vested in full in accordance with their respective Equity Plans (the “ Vested Incentive Interests ”); and

 

WHEREAS, Blackstone and Royal desire to amend the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Royal, dated December 9, 2013 in accordance with Exhibit C attached hereto, to provide certain of the Manager Parties additional incentives to perform the Services by granting such Manager Parties additional equity interests in Royal to vest pursuant to the terms of the Class C Equity Plan of Royal, as amended in accordance with Exhibit C (the “ Additional Incentive Interests ”).

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION .

 

(a) The following capitalized terms as used in this Agreement have the respective

 

meanings set forth below:

 

Action ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(b).

 

Additional Incentive Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Additional Royal Investments ” means any acquisition of oil and gas assets or related interests by Royal or any of its subsidiaries that is consummated after the date hereof.

 

Additional Service Entity ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

 

  1  

 

 

Affiliate ” means, in respect of a person, each entity that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such person.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Allocable Overhead Costs ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a).

 

Audit Right ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b). “ Blackstone ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Blackstone Group ” shall mean Blackstone, the Service Entities and each of their respective Affiliates.

 

Budget ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a)(i).

 

Cause ” has the meaning set forth in each applicable Equity Plan.

 

Confidential Information ” means all confidential and proprietary information (irrespective of the form of communication) obtained by or on behalf of the Manager about the Blackstone Group, any portfolio company of Blackstone or its Affiliates, any Investment of the Service Entities, the business of any Service Entity or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, other than information which (i) was or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by the Manager, (ii) was or becomes available to the Manager from a source other than members of the Blackstone Group or their respective representatives, provided that such source is not known by the Manager to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or other obligation of secrecy to, a member of the Blackstone Group prior to disclosure to the Manager, or (iii) was independently developed by the Manager without violating any of the Manager’s obligations under this Agreement (including the activities pertaining thereto).

 

Expense Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(d).

 

Equity Plan ” means any of (i) the Class C Equity Plan pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement of Royal, (ii) the Series C Equity Plan pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Opportunities Partnership or (iii) the equity plan of an Additional Service Entity, if any.

 

FCPA ” has the meaning set forth in Section 23(b).

 

Good Reason ” has the meaning set forth in each applicable Equity Plan. “ Indemnified Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(b).

 

Investments ” means, as of any date, the assets and businesses of a Service Entity for which the Manager provides Services, directly or indirectly, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

  2  

 

 

knowledge ” and “ knowingly ” mean, in respect of the Manager or any of its Affiliates, the actual knowledge of the senior managers of the Manager (including, without limitation, the Manager Control Parties) with oversight responsibility for the applicable personnel or subject matter, after reasonable investigation by such senior manager consistent with their oversight responsibility.

 

Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(b).

 

Malfeasance ” means (i) with respect to the Manager, (A) any act or omission by it or its Affiliates (for this purpose only, not including employees, agents and subcontractors of the Manager) that constitutes fraud, willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in connection with the activities under this Agreement, (B) the publishing of any oral or written statements about any member of the Blackstone Group that are malicious, obscene, threatening, harassing, intimidating or discriminatory and which are designed to result in material harm to any member of Blackstone Group; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to with respect to Manager’s communication with federal, state or local governmental agencies as may be legally required or otherwise protected by law; or (C) a material breach of Section 15 of this Agreement, or any of the foregoing described in (A) through (C) of an employee, agent or subcontractor of the Manager or its Affiliates that the Manager, after obtaining knowledge of the act or omission and a reasonable opportunity to remedy such act or omission, knowingly permits or knowingly condones, and (ii) with respect to any person other than Manager, either (A) any act or omission by such person which constitutes fraud, willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in connection with the activities under this Agreement, (B) the publishing of any oral or written statements about any member of the Blackstone Group that are malicious, obscene, threatening, harassing, intimidating or discriminatory and which are designed to result in material harm to any member of Blackstone Group; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to with respect to such person’s communication with federal, state or local governmental agencies as may be legally required or otherwise protected by law; or (C) a material breach of Section 15 or (x) any act or omission by such person’s Affiliate which constitutes fraud, willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith in connection with the activities under this Agreement, (y) the publishing of any oral or written statements about any member of the Blackstone Group by such person’s Affiliate that are malicious, obscene, threatening, harassing, intimidating or discriminatory and which are designed to result in material harm to any member of Blackstone Group; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to with respect to such person’s communication with federal, state or local governmental agencies as may be legally required or otherwise protected by law; or (z) a material breach of Section 15 of this Agreement by such person’s Affiliate, so long as such person knowingly permitted or knowingly condoned such act or omission by its Affiliate.

 

Manager ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Manager Control Party ” means any of Randolph Newcomer, Jr., Scott Rice, Mark Dutcher and Irene Deck, so long as each is an employee of the Manager or any of its Affiliates, and “ Manager Control Parties ” means collectively, all of such persons.

 

Manager Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a).

 

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Manager Parties ” means the Manager and its employees (including the Manager Control Parties).

 

Opportunities ” means any opportunity to acquire an interest in (whether by lease, purchase, farm-in, acquisition, swap, development, reversion or otherwise) mineral interests (whether leased or unleased) and/or royalty interests to the extent such interests are partially or wholly within the blue area shown on Exhibit B hereto (which, for the avoidance of doubt will terminate and have no further force or effect upon the termination of this Agreement); provided, further, that the term “Opportunities” shall not include (x) those transactions set forth on Exhibit C to the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Opportunities Partnership, dated as of December 9, 2013 and (y) any working interests.

 

Opportunities Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Opportunities Partnership General Partner ” means Riverbend Natural Resources GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Out of Pocket Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a).

 

Parties ” means, collectively, Royal, the Opportunities Partnership, the Manager, Blackstone and each Additional Service Entity that becomes a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 2(c) (each, individually, a “ Party ”).

 

Quarterly Report ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(c). “ Royal ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Royal General Partner ” means Royal Resources GP L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Service Entities ” means Royal, the Opportunities Partnership and any Additional Service Entity that becomes a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 2(c), and each of their respective subsidiaries, and “ Service Entity ” means any one of the foregoing.

 

Services ” means those services, (i) with respect to the business of Royal and its subsidiaries, set forth in Schedule I, (ii) with respect to the Opportunities Partnership and its subsidiaries, set forth in Schedule II and (iii) with respect to an Additional Service Entity and its subsidiaries, as agreed by the Manager and such Additional Service Entity, in each case as may be modified from time to time pursuant to Section 2, or as the Service Entity (or its general partner acting on its behalf) and the Manager reasonably determine may be necessary or useful for the day-to-day management, monitoring and operation of the businesses of such Service Entity from time to time.

 

Vested Incentive Interests ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

(b) Unless the context requires otherwise: (i) the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs include the plural and vice-versa; (ii) the terms “include,” “includes” and “including” and words of like import will be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGER; SERVICES .

 

(a) Royal Services . Pursuant to the terms of and conditions of this Agreement and the Budget, Royal hereby engages the Manager to perform the Services set forth in Schedule I and to provide all personnel not otherwise provided by Royal reasonable and necessary to perform such Services, and the Manager hereby accepts such engagement and agrees to (i) perform such Services consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (ii) provide any personnel not otherwise provided by Royal as may be reasonable and necessary to perform such Services. Following the date hereof, in the event Royal consummates any Additional Royal Investments, upon the election of Royal General Partner and with the mutual consent of the Manager, the scope of the Services set forth in Schedule I shall be expanded to encompass any additional Services reasonably required with respect to such Additional Royal Investments and the Budget, both to the extent required, shall be revised in accordance with Section 12(b).

 

(b) Opportunities Partnership Services . Pursuant to the terms of and conditions of this Agreement and the Budget, the Opportunities Partnership hereby engages the Manager to perform the Services set forth in Schedule II and to provide all personnel not otherwise provided by the Opportunities Partnership reasonable and necessary to perform such Services, and the Manager hereby accepts such engagement and agrees to (i) perform such Services consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (ii) provide any personnel not otherwise provided by the Opportunities Partnership as may be reasonable and necessary to perform the Services.

 

(c) Additional Service Entities . If, after the date hereof, Blackstone identifies any Affiliate of Blackstone or additional investment opportunity for which Blackstone desires the Manager to provide Services (each, an “ Additional Service Entity ”), (i) such Additional Service Entity shall enter into a customary joinder to this Agreement which shall define the Services mutually agreed to by Blackstone and the Manager to be provided (including any additional insurance requirements), the Manager's consent to such additional Services not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and provide that such Services will be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (ii) Blackstone and the Manager will use commercially reasonable efforts to agree on such additional compensation to Manager (including but not limited to additional incentive or other equity interests) for providing Services to such Additional Service Entity, (iii) such Additional Service Entity and the Manager will agree to an appropriate budget for such Additional Service Entity and, to the extent required, an amended Budget and (iv) the Manager shall allocate any Allocable Overhead Costs reflected in the Budget between the existing Service Entities and such Additional Service Entity in accordance with the policies and procedures provided by Blackstone to Manager from time to time, and such Allocable Overhead Costs and other budgeted expenses shall be paid in accordance with Section 10.

 

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(d) Allocation of Resources . During the term of this Agreement, the Manager and the Manager Control Parties shall provide the Services pursuant to this Agreement and allocate a sufficient amount of their time, focus, resources and effort as the Manager and such Manager Control Parties may determine is necessary to perform such Services under the then-current Budget agreed to by the Parties (attached hereto as Exhibit A and which shall go into effect on January 1, 2017), which allocation to the Services relative to the amount of time allocated to providing services to third parties shall be commensurate with the Services required in accordance with the Budget; provided, that, such allocation to the Services shall be, at all times, greater than 50% of time allocated to providing services to all third parties, including Blackstone. To the extent that the Manager or the Manager Control Parties are providing the Services in a manner such that the Budget materially understates or overstates the amount of time, focus, resources and effort allocated to providing the Services, then the Parties will promptly amend any applicable budgets as necessary in order to accurately reflect the actual amount of time, focus, resources and effort allocated to the Services with (i) any amounts paid in respect of any such overstatements to be offset against payments made in connection with the applicable subsequent budget(s) and (ii) any deficient amounts not paid in respect to any understatements to be paid in connection with the applicable subsequent budgets.

 

(e) Referral of Opportunities . For so long as the Manager is providing Services to Royal and/or the Opportunities Partnership, the Manager and each of its Affiliates (including the Manager Control Parties) shall present to Blackstone all potential Opportunities of which it becomes aware and shall (i) not acquire any Opportunities for their own account or (ii) otherwise compete with the business of the Service Entities within the blue area shown on Exhibit B hereto, but only to the extent such Service Entities are operating within such blue area. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if any Opportunity is presented to Blackstone by written notice and Blackstone does not approve and intend to pursue in good faith such Opportunity within 10 calendar days following the date of such notice, then the Manager, any Manager Control Party or any of their respective Affiliates may pursue such Opportunity (including competing with the Service Entities) only with the prior written consent of Blackstone. To the extent Blackstone elects to pursue such Opportunity through any of the Service Entities, Blackstone and the Manager will (x) jointly pursue such Opportunity; provided, that, Manager’s involvement in such Opportunity shall be at the sole discretion of Blackstone; (y) use commercially reasonable efforts to agree on additional compensation to Manager pursuant to such joint pursuit of any such Opportunity (including but not limited to additional incentive or other equity interests and/or opportunities for co-investment) and (z) use commercially reasonable efforts to agree on any necessary amendments to the Budget for providing Services to the relevant Service Entities in pursuit of, and following the consummation of, such Opportunity, as applicable.

 

(f) Authority for Acquisitions . The Manager shall not cause any Service Entity to consummate an acquisition of any assets without the prior consent of such Service Entity’s general partner and compliance with the applicable Budget.

 

(g) Suspension of Services . Subject to the Parties making provision for compliance with existing contractual obligations with respect to any Investments, the Service Entity for which any Services are being provided may temporarily or permanently exclude any particular service from the scope of the Services upon at least thirty (30) days’ notice to the Manager.

 

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SECTION 3. EMPLOYEES OF THE MANAGER . The Manager shall select, employ, pay compensation to, supervise and direct all personnel and employees of the Manager necessary for the performance of the Services, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Budget. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Blackstone shall have the right to approve the identification or addition of any employee or personnel of the Manager providing the Services and any proposed compensation or terms and conditions thereof, as well as the inclusion of such compensation in the Budget and (ii) after prior consultation with the Manager, Blackstone may at any time, in its sole discretion with or without cause, direct that the Manager remove any particular employee or agent of the Manager from provision of the Services, and, following any such removal and the payment of all amounts properly owed to such employee or agent as of the date of such removal, the salary and other costs related to such employee or agent shall be excluded from the calculation of Allocable Overhead Costs or Out of Pocket Expenses, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager (i) shall not terminate any Manager Control Party without Cause without the prior written consent of Blackstone and (ii) shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cure any circumstances which would constitute Good Reason with respect to any Manager Control Party.

 

SECTION 4. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES . The Manager shall not undertake any activity which would (i) violate any applicable law or regulation in any material respect which would result in adverse consequences for any Service Entity, (ii) violate, in any material respect, any contracts, leases, orders, security instruments and other agreements to which, to the Manager’s knowledge, a member of the Blackstone Group or any of its Investments is bound or (iii) in any manner intentionally disparage the reputation of any member of the Blackstone Group.

 

SECTION 5. STANDARD OF CARE . The Manager shall perform the Services in accordance with any non-conflicting instructions (provided that, if the Manager receives conflicting instructions from Blackstone or any Service Entity it shall promptly notify Blackstone of such conflict and Blackstone shall provide subsequent non-conflicting instructions, which shall be controlling) issued to the Manager by Blackstone or the Service Entities and with that degree of care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent manager involved in the identifying, development, assessment or execution of investments in oil and gas interests comparable to those of the Service Entities. The Manager shall perform all Services in accordance with the applicable Budget and use its commercially reasonable efforts to control Out of Pocket Expenses.

 

SECTION 6. PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES BY PARTIES; AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. The Parties hereby agree that in discharging their respective obligations hereunder, the Manager may, subject to the terms of this Section 6 and the other provisions of this Agreement, engage any qualified third party to perform the Services (or any part of the Services) on its behalf solely with the prior written consent of the Service Entities for which such Services will be provided; provided that (i) the Manager acts prudently in selecting and appointing any such person and regularly reviews and monitors any Services performed by such person, (ii) in no case shall the performance of Services by such person relieve the Manager of its obligations hereunder and (iii) any Services performed by such person shall be performed in a manner consistent with the standard of care applicable to the Manager set forth in Section 5. The expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6 shall be included in, and be consistent with, the Budget of each Service Entity, as applicable.

 

SECTION 7. SERVICE PROVIDER INFORMATION. It is contemplated by the Parties that, during the term of this Agreement, the Parties will be required to provide each other certain notices, information and data necessary for the Manager to perform the Services and for the Parties to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement. The Manager shall be permitted to rely on any information or data provided by the Service Entities, Blackstone and any of their respective Affiliates, directors, employees, or agents or other representatives identified by the Service Entities and Blackstone, to the Manager in connection with the performance of its duties and provision of Services under this Agreement, except to the extent that the Manager has actual knowledge that such information or data is inaccurate or incomplete.

 

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SECTION 8. NO COMMINGLING OF ASSETS . To the extent the Manager shall have charge or possession of any of the Blackstone Group’s assets in connection with the provision of the Services pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager shall (a) hold such assets in the name and for the benefit of the appropriate member of the Blackstone Group and (b) separately maintain, and not commingle, such assets with any assets of the Manager or any other person.

 

SECTION 9. INSURANCE . The Manager shall obtain and maintain during the term of this Agreement, from insurers who are acceptable to the Opportunities Partnership, insurance coverages with respect to the Services to be performed for the Opportunities Partnership in the types and minimum limits as the Manager and the Opportunities Partnership determine to be appropriate and with such terms as are consistent with standard practice in the oil and gas industry or as may be agreed by the Parties; provided that all expenses, including premium and deductibles, related to such insurance coverages shall be deemed Out of Pocket Expenses allocable to the Opportunities Partnership for the purposes hereof. The Manager agrees that (i) it will consult with the Opportunities Partnership prior to obtaining any such insurance coverage, (ii) it will provide the Opportunities Partnership, upon the Opportunities Partnership’s request from time to time or at any time, with certificates of insurance evidencing such insurance coverage and (iii) upon request of the Opportunities Partnership, it shall furnish the Opportunities Partnership with copies of the policies providing for such insurance coverage. Except with respect to workers’ compensation coverage, the policies shall name the Manager and the Opportunities Partnership as insureds or additional insureds and, if permitted by the insurers, shall contain waivers by the insurers of any and all rights of subrogation to pursue any claims or causes of action against Manager and the Opportunities Partnership.

 

SECTION 10. MANAGER EXPENSES; INVOICING .

 

(a) Expenses . Subject to Section 12(c)(i) and to the extent not otherwise reimbursed or paid to the Manager by a third party or another Service Entity, each of Royal, the Opportunities Partnership and each Additional Service Entity shall pay or reimburse the Manager, as applicable, for (i) all reasonable documented out-of-pocket third party expenses reasonably incurred by the Manager for the benefit of such Service Entity which are not included in the Budget (“ Out of Pocket Expenses ”); provided that the Manager shall provide an accounting and reconciliation of Out of Pocket Expenses payable by such Service Entity on a quarterly basis; provided further, that in no event shall the Manager be authorized to incur Out of Pocket Expenses in excess of five percent (5%) of the portion of the Budget allocable to such fiscal quarter, without Blackstone’s prior approval and (ii) such Service Entity’s pro rata portion of the documented reasonable general and administrative overhead costs of the Manager that are incurred in accordance with the Budget and that are allocated to such Service Entity pursuant to Section 10(b) (“ Allocable Overhead Costs ” and together with the Out of Pocket Expenses, collectively, the “ Manager Expenses ”); provided that, the Allocable Overhead Costs attributable to any Service Entity do not exceed the applicable amounts set forth in the Budget that are allocated to such Service Entity pursuant to Section 10(b) (or such other limits as may be agreed to by the general partner of such Service Entity from time to time). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, Manager shall not be deemed to be in breach of the terms of this Agreement due to the incurrence of Out of Pocket Expenses by a Service Entity in excess of five percent (5%) of the portion of the Budget allocable to such fiscal quarter to the extent such Out of Pocket Expenses are incurred pursuant to an agreement entered into by Blackstone without consultation with Manager and for which Manager does not supervise pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(b) Allocation of Costs . Each Expense Statement shall set forth the Manager’s proposed good faith allocation of all Out of Pocket Expenses and Allocable Overhead Costs between the Service Entities. Blackstone shall approve such proposed calculation in its sole discretion or propose an alternate allocation which shall thereafter be deemed the appropriate allocation of such costs and expenses.

 

(c) Payments to the Manager . On or before the first day of each quarterly period, each Service Entity shall pay to the Manager in advance the projected amount of Allocable Overhead Costs that will be owed by such Service Entity for such quarterly period, which projection shall be based on the amount set forth in the Budget and with the allocation determined pursuant to Section 10(b) for such quarterly period (but which may be adjusted by such amounts as the Parties may mutually agree in order to account for discrepancies, if any, between the Allocable Overhead Costs actually expended in a prior monthly period, as reflected on the Expense Statement, and the amounts previously funded by the Service Entities for such quarterly period). The Manager shall submit to each Service Entity on a quarterly basis a summary relating to the incurrence of any Out of Pocket Expenses for the preceding quarter and a reconciliation with the Budget and, within ten days following the receipt thereof, such Service Entity shall either (i) subject to Section 10(a) above, reimburse Manager for such Out of Pocket Expenses to the extent the Manager has previously paid such Out of Pocket Expenses from its own funds, or (ii) directly pay to the invoicing party such Out of Pocket Expenses. Royal shall, on the date hereof, advance to Manager funds for the first fiscal quarter of 2017, to include budgeted quarterly expenses and third-party expenses as reasonably agreed between Royal and Manager, in respect of the Manager Expenses to be incurred during such period, the entire amount of which, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10, shall be allocated to Royal.

 

(d) Billing Statements . The Manager shall prepare a quarterly statement for each Service Entity for each quarterly period setting forth the Manager Expenses allocated to such Service Entity and relating to such quarterly period and any adjustment necessary to correct prior billings (each, an “ Expense Statement ”) and shall submit such Expense Statement to the applicable Service Entity within thirty (30) days of the end of the applicable quarterly period. The Expense Statement shall also provide reasonably detailed documentation supporting the billed Manager Expenses.

 

(e) Billing Dispute Resolution . If any Service Entity disputes any expense or expenses included on the Expense Statement, including on the ground that the same was not a reasonable or appropriate cost incurred by the Manager in connection with the Services, the Manager shall be promptly notified of the exceptions taken; provided that, with respect to any disputed third party invoice for Out of Pocket Expenses, such Service Entity shall pay the undisputed portion of such invoice. The Manager and the Service Entities shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to resolve the payment dispute within sixty (60) days after notice of such dispute. If the payment dispute is not resolved within such 60-day period, the applicable Service Entity and the Manager shall promptly submit such dispute to binding arbitration pursuant to the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause a neutral arbitrator to resolve the dispute on an expedited basis, and in any event as soon as practicable. The provisions of this Section 10(e) shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.

 

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(f) Obligations Several . The obligations of payment set forth in this Section 10 are several and not joint, and each Service Entity shall be individually liable to Manager for the payments required to be made by such Service Entity to the Manager hereunder. Blackstone and its Affiliates, other than the Service Entities, shall have no liability with respect to payments required to be made hereunder.

 

SECTION 11. BOOKS, RECORDS AND REPORTING .

 

(a) Books and Records . The Manager shall maintain accurate books and records regarding the performance of the Services and its calculation of the Manager Expenses in accordance with, and for the periods required by, generally applicable accounting practices and applicable law. The Service Entities shall assist the Manager with the preparation of all financial statements for which the Manager is required to prepare either by applicable law, by this Agreement or at the reasonable request of any Service Entity.

 

(b) Audit Right . At any time during the term of this Agreement, any Service Entity or Blackstone shall have the right, exercisable at its option and expense, to review and copy the books and records maintained by the Manager relating to the Service Entities, their respective businesses and the Services and, if necessary to verify the performance by the Manager of its obligations under this Agreement, and to audit and examine such books and records (the “ Audit Right ”); provided that in no event shall the Audit Right be construed as extending to the books and records of the Manager relating to any business conducted by the Manager that is not reasonably related to the Service Entities and the Services. The Service Entities and Blackstone may exercise the Audit Right from time to time during normal business hours through such auditors as the Service Entities or Blackstone may determine in their sole discretion by providing reasonable prior written notice to the Manager. To the extent any Service Entity or Blackstone exercises its Audit Right, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to conduct such audit or examination in a manner that minimizes inconvenience and disruption to the Manager. The Service Entities and Blackstone shall be limited to exercising the Audit Right twice per calendar year unless the Manager otherwise consents to a more frequent exercise of the Audit Right. The Audit Right shall not extend to the books and records of the Manager relating to general and administrative overhead costs of the Manager for any quarter unless such expenses allocated to any Service Entity exceed by more than five percent (5%) the quarterly budgeted amounts with respect to such Service Entity for such quarter.

 

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(c) Following the date hereof, the Manager shall prepare (i) those financial and operational reports as a Service Entity may request from time to time and as further described in the Schedules to this Agreement and (ii) a quarterly report for each calendar quarter (the “ Quarterly Report ”), which shall be submitted to Blackstone, Royal General Partner, Opportunities Partnership General Partner and the general partner of each Additional Service Entity within thirty (30) days of the end of each such calendar quarter. Each Quarterly Report shall include the following information in the aggregate and with respect to each Service Entity:

 

(i) a reconciliation report setting forth any material discrepancies or variances between (x) amounts included in the operating statement and/or report of financial condition of the Service Entity for such quarterly period and year-to-date and (y) the budgeted or projected amounts, as reflected in the Budgets, for the corresponding periods to which such amounts relate;

 

(ii) a summary of the operating and financial performance of the Service Entities for such quarterly period and year-to-date, including a discussion of any material discrepancies or variances described in the preceding clause (i); and

 

(iii) such other information as Blackstone or the Service Entities shall reasonably request, including any information required in order for Blackstone or the Service Entities to enter into financing or hedging arrangements or perform its obligations thereunder.

 

SECTION 12. BUDGETS .

 

(a) Budget . Blackstone and the Manager have agreed to the budget for the general and administrative overhead costs of the Manager (which includes annual salaries and bonuses, office space, general and administration expenses and other customary overhead costs but in no event shall include any Out of Pocket Expenses or incentive equity granted by a Service Entity to any employee or Affiliate of the Manager) as well as the expense budget for the Service Entities with sufficient allocation of cost between each Service Entity that is set forth on Exhibit A for the period beginning on January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2017. Thereafter, no later than four weeks prior to the commencement of the next twelve-month period, the Manager shall prepare and submit to Blackstone for approval the report for such twelve-month period and, with respect to such report, include:

 

(i) a semi-annual general and administrative overhead costs budget for the Manager (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include Out of Pocket Expenses) for the next twelve month period (such budget and each budget set forth on Exhibit A, as each may be amended or modified from time to time with the approval of Blackstone and the Manager, a “ Budget ”);

 

(ii) a reconciliation report setting forth any material variances between (x) amounts included in the Budget and (y) the then-expected amounts for the full, current twelve-month period; and

 

(iii) a line-item allocation of all general and administrative overhead costs set forth in the Budget calculated on the basis of the resources allocated by Manager in providing the Services to each Service Entity and in accordance with Section 10(b).

 

(b) Additional Services. To the extent (i) Royal consummates any Additional Royal Investments, (ii) an Additional Service Entity consummates an investment not then contemplated in the current operating Budget for such Additional Service Entity or (iii) Blackstone or the Service Entities request that the Manager perform additional services not listed on Schedule I or Schedule II or otherwise contemplated by the then current Budget, the Manager and Blackstone shall agree upon an amended Budget, solely to the extent required in connection with any such additional investment.

 

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(c) Certain Budget Matters .

 

(i) The Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to perform the Services in accordance with the Budget and shall notify Blackstone promptly if at any time the actual performance of the Manager is anticipated to deviate in any material respect from the applicable Budget (where “material respect” mean any deviation of more than 10% from material line items set forth in such Budget). In the event of a material anticipated deviation from a Budget, the Manager shall update the Budget and promptly submit such updated Budget to Blackstone for approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided that, disapproval of a deviation from a material line item set forth in such Budget that is less than 10% of the amount of such line item set forth in the applicable Budget shall be deemed unreasonable for purposes of this Section 12(c)(i).

 

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, from time to time and at any time, by providing written advance notice to the Manager, Blackstone or the Service Entities may require the Manager to seek their prior consent (written or otherwise) with respect to the incurrence of any commitments or expenses in connection with a specific project or expenditure.

 

SECTION 13. LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION .

 

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Manager nor any of its Affiliates, nor the officers, directors, employees, partners, stockholders, members or agents of any of the foregoing, shall be liable to any member of the Blackstone Group for any losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission taken or not taken by the Manager or any such other person in performing or otherwise relating to the Services (including any liability for any acts or omissions of its Affiliates) to the extent (i) the act or failure to act of the Manager or such other person was in good faith and in a manner such person believed to be in, or not contrary to, the best interests of the Blackstone Group, and (ii) the conduct of the Manager or such other person did not constitute Malfeasance. The Manager shall not be liable to any member of the Blackstone Group for any action taken by any third party provider to the Blackstone Group, provided the Manager has selected and monitored such third party provider as provided in Section 6.

 

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(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Service Entity, severally and not jointly, hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager and each of its Affiliates (and all directors, officers, partners, employees, stockholders, members and agents (to the extent agreed by the Manager) of the foregoing) (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”) to the fullest extent permitted by law from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, costs, damages, liabilities, reasonable expenses of any nature (including reasonable costs of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated (collectively, Liabilities ”) arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which the Indemnified Party may be involved, or threatened to be involved as a party or otherwise, relating to the Services or the performance or nonperformance of any act concerning the activities of the Manager hereunder (each, an “ Action ”), except to the extent the act or failure to act of the Indemnified Party (i) was not in good faith or not in a manner such Indemnified Party believed to be in, or not contrary to, the best interests of the Blackstone Group or the Service Entities or (ii) constituted Malfeasance; and provided, further, that that no Indemnified Party shall be entitled to indemnification with respect to any claim or dispute between the Parties (or their Affiliates) relating to a breach by such Indemnified Party of this Agreement (excluding any breach of the standard of care for performing the Services which does not constitute Malfeasance), or for any breach of any confidentiality obligation to a third party that is not at the express direction of Blackstone or the Service Entities. The termination of an action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, in and of itself, create a presumption or otherwise constitute evidence that the Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder. The Indemnified Party will give Blackstone and the applicable Service Entities prompt notice of any Action, setting forth therein in reasonable detail the basis for such Action (and will provide Blackstone such information with respect thereto that Blackstone and the applicable Service Entities may reasonably request), and the applicable Service Entities shall have the right to undertake the defense of any Action brought by a third party by counsel chosen by it and reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party will reasonably cooperate with the applicable Service Entities in defending such Action. If a Service Entity undertakes such defense in respect of such third party Action, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense thereof and to employ counsel, at its own expense, separate from the counsel employed by such Service Entity, it being understood that such Service Entity shall control such defense and any settlement of the Action.

 

(c) If a Service Entity shall have assumed the defense of the third party Action, such Service Entity shall not consent to the entry of judgment, admit any liability with respect to, or settle, compromise or discharge, such third party Action without the Indemnified Party’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) unless: (x) there is no finding or admission of any violation of applicable law or any violation of the rights of any person and no effect on any other claims that may be made against the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates; (y) there is no imposition of a consent order, decree or injunction that would restrict the future activity of the Indemnified Party or its Affiliates; and (z) the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are concurrently paid in full by the indemnifying party and a full and complete release is provided to the Indemnified Party and its Affiliates.

 

(d) Subject to the provisions of Section 13(b), expenses incurred by an Indemnified Party in defending any Action for which indemnification is expressly granted pursuant to Section 13 shall be advanced by the appropriate Service Entities prior to any judgment or settlement of such Action (but not during any appeal therefrom) entered by any court of competent jurisdiction which includes a finding that such Indemnified Party’s conduct constituted Malfeasance or was otherwise not entitled to indemnification hereunder in respect thereof, but only if prior to making an advance such Service Entities have received a written commitment by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party to repay such advances to the extent that, and at such time as, it has been determined by a final, non-appealable judgment or settlement entered by any court of competent jurisdiction that (a) the act or failure to act of the Indemnified Party was not in good faith or not in a manner it believed to be in, or not contrary to, the best interests of Blackstone and the Service Entities, or (b) the Indemnified Party’s conduct constituted Malfeasance.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Service Entities shall not be liable to any Indemnified Party, and the Manager and the other Indemnified Parties shall not be liable to the Service Entities, for punitive, special, exemplary or consequential damages, including damages for loss of profits, loss of use or revenue or losses by reason of cost of capital, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, regardless of whether based on contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, violation of any applicable deceptive trade practices act or similar law or any other legal or equitable principle, and the Manager and the Service Entities hereby release each other from liability for any such damages; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to any such damages that the Manager or any other Indemnified Party is required to pay to a third party and that otherwise would have been within the scope of the indemnification provided in Section 13(b) above.

 

(f)   If there is a reasonable probability that an Action brought by a third party may materially and adversely affect the Indemnified Party other than as a result of money damages or other money payments, the Indemnified Party shall have the absolute right, at its own cost and expense, to defend, compromise or settle such Action; provided, however, that if such Action is settled without the appropriate Service Entities’ consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to have waived all rights hereunder against the Service Entities for Liabilities arising out of such Action.

 

(g) In the event that any employee of the Manager engages in Malfeasance, the Manager shall, promptly upon the Manager having knowledge of such Malfeasance, (i) notify Blackstone and the Service Entities, (ii) take appropriate action to discipline and, if requested by Blackstone or the Service Entities and permissible in accordance with applicable law, immediately terminate such employee’s provision of the Services to the Service Entities; provided, however, that, such employee shall forfeit any Additional Incentive Interests and/or Vested Incentive Interests (whether vested or unvested) granted to such employee and (iii) if any Manager Control Party knowingly permits or knowingly condones such employee’s Malfeasance, indemnify and reimburse the appropriate Service Entities in full in cash for any liabilities, costs, expenses or losses incurred as a result of such Malfeasance, including any costs incurred in the termination of employment and/or discipline of such employee or personnel. For the avoidance of doubt, any amount payable pursuant to Section 13(g)(iii) shall be the sole responsibility of the Manager and shall not be charged to, or otherwise subject to reimbursement from, any Service Entity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if a claim of Malfeasance with respect to an employee of the Manager is not asserted by Blackstone or a Service Entity by the earlier of (x) the 60th day following the termination of such employee, or (y) the 60th day following the termination of this Agreement, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Plans, such alleged Malfeasance shall not result in the forfeiture of the Additional Incentive Interests; provided, however, that if such alleged Malfeasance is a result of the actions described in part (i)(A), (ii)(A) or (ii)(C)(x) of the definition of Malfeasance, such 60-day period described in (x) and (y) of this sentence shall be extended to the second anniversary of the applicable termination.

 

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(h) The provisions of this Section 13 shall survive any termination of this Agreement for six (6) years.

 

(i) The obligations of the Service Entities under this Section 13 are several and not joint. For the avoidance of doubt, no member of the Blackstone Group, other than the Service Entities, shall have any liability to any person pursuant to this Section 13.

 

SECTION 14. TERM AND TERMINATION; TRANSITION .

 

(a) Unless earlier terminated in accordance with Section 14(b), this Agreement shall automatically terminate and have no further force and effect on the date which is two (2) years from the date of this Agreement; provided that, at any time prior to the initial termination of this Agreement, but in no event later than November 1, 2018, Blackstone may, in its sole discretion, elect for the term of this Agreement to be extended for an additional one (1) year, and upon such election this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect during such additional period.

 

(b) This Agreement may be terminated as follows:

 

(i) by Blackstone with respect to the entirety of this Agreement or by a Service Entity with respect to such Service Entity (A) at any time upon 30 days prior written notice to the Manager for any reason or (B) if the Manager has breached in any material respect this Agreement and such breach, if reasonably curable, is not cured within thirty (30) days after the Manager’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Blackstone or a Service Entity or such longer period of time (not to exceed 90 days) as may reasonably be required to cure such breach (provided that the Manager takes reasonable actions to attempt to cure such breach as soon as reasonably practicable and proceeds with due diligence to cure such breach);

 

(ii) by the Manager (A) with respect to the entirety of this Agreement at any time after December 10, 2017 but prior to December 10, 2018, upon 30 days prior written notice to Blackstone; provided, however, that upon any termination pursuant to this Section 14(b)(ii)(A), any and all Additional Incentive Interests (whether vested or unvested) granted to the Manager Parties in relation to this Agreement only shall be forfeited but not any Vested Incentive Interests, (B) with respect to the entirety of this Agreement at any time after December 10, 2018, upon 30 days prior written notice to Blackstone; provided, however, that upon any termination pursuant to this Section 14(b)(ii)(B), any and all Additional Incentive Interests (whether vested or unvested) granted to the Manager Parties in relation to this Agreement after December 10, 2018 only shall be forfeited, but not any Additional Incentive Interests earned up to December 10, 2018 nor any Vested Incentive Interests or (C) with respect to any Service Entity, upon written notice to such Service Entity if such Service Entity has breached in any material respect this Agreement, the Manager did not cause such Service Entity to commit such breach and such breach, if reasonably curable, is not cured within 30 days after such Service Entity’s receipt of notice of such breach or such longer period of time (not to exceed 90 days) as may reasonably be required to cure such breach (provided that such Service Entity takes reasonable actions to attempt to cure such breach as soon as reasonably practicable and proceeds with due diligence to cure such breach); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to bona fide disputes concerning the amount or applicability of a Manager Expense or any claim for indemnity or advancement of expenses hereunder; or

 

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(iii) automatically with respect to the entirety of this Agreement so long as such event is not caused by a Service Entity materially breaching its obligations under Section 10, if the Manager makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, institutes proceedings to be adjudicated voluntarily bankrupt, consents to the filing of a petition for bankruptcy against it, is adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as being bankrupt or insolvent, seeks reorganization under any bankruptcy law or consents to the filing of a petition seeking such reorganization or has a decree entered against it by a court of competent jurisdiction appointing a receiver, liquidator, trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency.

 

(c) Upon any termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 14, all rights and obligations under this Agreement shall cease except for (i) rights or obligations that are expressly stated to survive a termination of this Agreement and (ii) liabilities and obligations that have accrued prior to such termination, including the obligation to pay any amounts that have become due and payable prior to, or in connection with, such termination, including the obligation to pay any portion of the Manager Expenses that has accrued prior to such termination, regardless of whether any such portions have otherwise become payable; provided that in the event that a Service Entity disputes any such amount, including on the ground that the same was not a reasonable or appropriate cost incurred by the Manager in connection with the Services, the undisputed portion shall be paid and the disputed portion shall be dealt with in the manner provided in Section 10(e). For the avoidance of doubt, upon any termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 14, any Additional Incentive Interests granted in relation to this Agreement only will cease to vest following the end of the transition services period identified pursuant to Section 14(d) below. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in addition to other payments to be made pursuant to this Section 14, for 90 days after the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 14(b)(i)(A), Blackstone and the Service Entities, as applicable, shall pay Manager in accordance with the then current Budget agreed to by the Parties and the payment terms hereof; provided, however, that Manager shall not incur additional Out of Pocket Expenses during such 90 day term; provided, further, that no such payment shall be due to Manager if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to the sale of any of the Services Entities.

 

(d) Upon any termination of this Agreement, if requested by Blackstone or the terminating Service Entity in writing prior to such termination, the Manager shall, for a period of six months following the termination (or, if shorter, such period as Blackstone or the terminating Service Entity may identify in writing delivered to the Manager prior to such termination), (A) provide Blackstone and the terminating Service Entity reasonable assistance to transition the Manager’s duties under this Agreement to one or more successor manager(s) designated by Blackstone or the terminating Service Entity and (B) continue to provide such Services as Blackstone or the terminating Service Entity (or its successor(s)) may reasonably request in order to operate and maintain the Investments until the transition of each such Service to the successor manager(s) has been completed. In providing transition services hereunder, Manager shall use the same degree of care used in performing the Services in accordance with this Agreement. The terminating Service Entity will reimburse Manager for its Manager Expenses in connection with such transition services in accordance with Section 10, and the other terms of this Agreement shall continue to apply with respect to the provision of such transition services.

 

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SECTION 15. CONFIDENTIALITY .

 

(a) Protection of Confidential Information . The Manager Parties agree that all Confidential Information shall be kept confidential by them and shall not be disclosed by it in any manner whatsoever; provided, however, that (i) any such Confidential Information may be disclosed by the Manager solely to its managers, directors, partners, employees, advisors, counsel, accountants, agents or any of its Affiliates who need to know such information for the purpose of the Manager’s provision of the Services or otherwise complying with its obligations under this Agreement (it being understood that the Manager will inform such persons of the confidential nature of such information, will direct and cause them to agree to treat such information in accordance with the terms hereof and will be liable for any breach of this Section 15 by any such person), (ii) any disclosure of Confidential Information may be made by the Manager to the extent Blackstone or a Service Entity consents in writing and (iii) the Manager may disclose Confidential Information to the extent required by law or in response to legal process, applicable governmental regulations or governmental agency request, but only that portion of such Confidential Information which, in the opinion of the Manager’s counsel, is required or would be required to be furnished to avoid liability for contempt or the suffering of other material judicial or governmental penalty or censure; provided that, the Manager notifies Blackstone and the Service Entities of its obligation to provide such Confidential Information prior to disclosure (unless notification is prohibited by applicable law, regulation or court order) and the Manager cooperates to protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information.

 

(b) Ownership . All Confidential Information belongs to Blackstone and the Service Entities. Any permitted use or disclosure of any Confidential Information by the Manager Parties shall not be deemed to represent an assignment or grant of any right, title or interest in such Confidential Information.

 

(c) Remedies . The Parties agree and acknowledge that any unauthorized use of Confidential Information by the Manager Parties would result in irreparable harm to the Blackstone Group. Therefore, if any Manager Party breaches any of its obligations with respect to this Section 15, Blackstone and the Service Entities, in addition to any rights and remedies it may have, shall be entitled to seek equitable, including injunctive, relief to protect its Confidential Information, without any requirement of posting a bond or other security.

 

(d) Return of Confidential Information . Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Manager shall, and shall cause its employees and representatives to, promptly return to Blackstone and the Service Entities all Confidential Information, including all copies thereof, in its possession or control, or destroy or purge its own system and files of any such Confidential Information (to the extent practicable) and deliver to Blackstone a written certificate signed by an officer of the Manager that such destruction and purging have been carried out.

 

(e) Publicity . No Manager Party shall, without the prior written consent of Blackstone, disclose to any third party the existence of this Agreement (or the parties hereto and terms hereof) or that Blackstone has any interest in any of the Service Entities. All press releases or other public communications of any nature whatsoever relating to the business of any Service Entity, and the method of the release for publication thereof, shall be subject to the prior written consent of Blackstone in all respects.

 

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(f) Survival . The provisions of this Section 15 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for a period of three years thereafter, unless any Confidential Information is subject to a longer-termed confidentiality agreement with a third party, in which case this Section 15 shall survive as to such Confidential Information until the expiration or earlier termination of such agreement.

 

(g) Permitted Disclosure . A Manager Party may disclose (i) the existence of this Agreement and/or (ii) the identity of the Parties to this Agreement to potential investors in the Manager or to any financial advisors, accountants, attorneys or similar representatives of the Manager or its Affiliates; provided, further, that such Manager Party will make such potential investor or representative aware of the confidential nature of this Agreement and the identity of the Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, a Manager Party may not disclose any terms and conditions of this Agreement whatsoever.

 

SECTION 16. NONSOLICIT . During the term of this Agreement and for twelve (12) months thereafter, Blackstone and the Service Entities hereby agree that, without obtaining the prior written consent of the Manager, Blackstone, the Services Entities and their respective Affiliates will not, directly or indirectly, solicit, interfere with or endeavor to entice away, offer to employ or employ any of the current officers, employees or any person who is known by Blackstone, the Services Entities and their respective Affiliates to be, after due inquiry, consultants of the Manager, so long as they are employed or engaged by the Manager and, in each case, to the extent such officer, employee or consultant has spent a significant portion of his or her professional time during the last six (6) months on matters relating to the Services rendered under this Agreement or if Blackstone, the Services Entities or any of their respective Affiliates first became aware of such officer or employee through the Manager or the provision of the Services; provided, that, nothing in this Section 16 shall apply to any officer, employee or consultant who (i) responds to general solicitations of employment or solicitations by recruiting firms, in each case, not specifically directed towards employees of the Manager, (ii) contacts Blackstone, the Services Entities or their respective Affiliates of his or her own initiative and without any direct solicitation from Blackstone, the Services Entities or their respective Affiliates, (iii) was terminated by Manager or (iv) no longer is an officer, employee or consultant of the Manager at the time discussions are initiated.

 

SECTION 17. ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT .

 

(a) No Party to this Agreement shall have the right to assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations under this Agreement (by operation of law or otherwise), except with the prior written consent of the other Parties hereto, and any attempted assignment, transfer or delegation (except as provided herein) without such prior written consent shall be voidable at the sole option of such other Party; provided that, Blackstone and the Service Entities may assign any of their rights or obligations hereunder to any of their Affiliates without the Manager’s consent.

 

(b) Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person other than the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under, in or in respect of, this Agreement or any provision herein contained; provided that the Indemnified Parties are express, intended third party beneficiaries of Section 13, to the extent set forth therein.

 

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(c) The Parties represent that the persons executing this Agreement on behalf of their respective organizations have specific and express authority to execute this Agreement on behalf of their respective organizations and that the respective organizations intend to be legally bound.

 

SECTION 18. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR; NO JOINT VENTURE . In providing the services contemplated hereunder, the Manager is acting as and shall be considered an independent contractor. Neither Manager, the Manager Control Parties nor any other employees or representatives of Manager are entitled to participate in any compensation or benefit scheme of any member of the Blackstone Group, except as may be explicitly provided for in the organizational documents (and any related agreements) of such entities. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as creating any partnership or other form of joint venture or enterprise between any member of the Blackstone Group, any of the Service Entities or their respective Affiliates and the Manager or impose any liability as such on any of them. This Agreement confers no rights upon a Party except those expressly granted in this Agreement.

 

SECTION 19. GOVERNING LAW; SEVERABILITY .

 

(a) This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to otherwise governing principles of conflicts of law. In addition to any remedies at law, or expressly set forth herein, the Parties acknowledge that each Party shall be permitted, to the extent possible under Delaware law, to pursue equitable remedies in respect of any breach of the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to enforce such terms specifically notwithstanding the availability of adequate money damages.

 

(b) If any provision of this Agreement (other than Section 27, which shall not be severable under any circumstances) is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the term of this Agreement, such provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of each such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there shall be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.

 

SECTION 20. JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS .

 

(a) In any judicial proceeding involving any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the Parties irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Delaware for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement. In any such judicial proceeding, the Parties agree that in addition to any method for the service of process permitted or required by such courts, to the fullest extent permitted by law, service of process may be made by delivery provided pursuant to the directions in Section 22.

 

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(b) EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING ANY DISPUTE, CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR RELATING TO THE PARTNERSHIP OR ITS OPERATIONS.

 

SECTION 21. NO WAIVER; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES . No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of any party hereto, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privileges hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law. No waiver of any provision hereto shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.

 

SECTION 22. NOTICES . Any notice or other communication hereunder will, unless otherwise expressly provided, be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered (whether by registered mail, return receipt requested, or by a nationally-recognized overnight courier, or by electronic mail with a copy to follow promptly by registered mail):

 

(i) In the case of a notice to the Manager, addressed as follows:

 

Riverbend Oil & Gas, L.L.C.

One Allen Center

500 Dallas, Suite 1250

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Randolph Newcomer, Jr.

 

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

 

Locke Lord LLP

2800 JPMorgan Chase Tower

600 Travis

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Mitchell Tiras

mtiras@lockelord.com

 

(ii) In the case of a notice to any Service Entity or Blackstone, addressed as follows:

 

c/o Blackstone Management Partners L.L.C.

Attention: Chris Placca

345 Park Avenue Avenue

New York, NY 10154

 

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

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Attn: Andrew T. Calder

    Rhett Van Syoc

600 Travis Street, Suite 3300

Houston, TX 77002

E-mail: andrew.calder@kirkland.com

      rhett.vansyoc@kirkland.com

 

SECTION 23. COMPLIANCE .

 

(a) The Manager represents and warrants that the Manager is not subject to any contractual or other obligation that would limit or prohibit the Manager’s ability to provide the Services, including, without limitation, any non-compete or other obligations that the Manager may owe to any third-party. The Manager agrees that as the Manager undertakes the Services and is engaged by the Service Entities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Manager shall not, and shall ensure that none of its directors, officers, agents, employees or other persons associated with or acting on behalf of the Manager or any of its Affiliates shall not, violate in any material respect any law, regulation, agreement or other obligation the Manager or any such person may be subject to or bound by from time to time.

 

(b) The Manager has not made and will not make, and none of its Affiliates and, to the knowledge of the Manager, none of its directors, officers, agents, employees or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Manager or any of its Affiliates have made or will make (i) any unlawful contribution, gift, or provide any entertainment to any foreign or U.S. government official or employee; (ii) any payment or take any action that violates or would be in violation of any provision of any federal, state or local or other applicable domestic or foreign law, rule or regulation regarding illegal payments or corrupt practices, or any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “ FCPA ”) (in the case of the FCPA, if any of such persons had been or were subject to the FCPA, even if they are not currently so subject); or (iii) any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

 

(c) The operations of the Manager and its Affiliates are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with the financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the U.S. Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and with the money laundering statutes of all other applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Manager or any of its Affiliates with respect to such laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Manager, threatened.

 

(d) The Manager is not, and none of its Affiliates and, to the knowledge of the Manager, none of its directors, officers, agents, employees, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Manager or any of its Affiliates are, currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

 

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(e) The Manager agrees to certify the Manager’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 23 if requested by Blackstone or a Service Entity from time to time during the term of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 24. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to such matters, whether oral or written. No amendments, changes or modifications to this Agreement shall be valid unless they are in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of each of the Parties. No waiver of any right under this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of each of the Parties waiving such right.

 

SECTION 25. COUNTERPARTS . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including facsimile counterparts), all of which together shall constitute a single instrument. It shall not be necessary that any counterpart be signed by each of the Parties so long as each counterpart shall be signed by one or more of the Parties and so long as the other Parties shall sign at least one counterpart.

 

SECTION 26. HEADINGS. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed part of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 27. NO RECOURSE . This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto and no Affiliates of any Party shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of, or by reason of the transactions contemplated hereby or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith.

 

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Executed as of the date first set forth above.

 

RIVERBEND OIL & GAS, L.L.C.
       
  By: /s/ Randolph Newcomer, Jr .
    Name:  Randolph Newcomer, Jr .
    Title: President

 

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  BLACKSTONE MANAGEMENT PARTNERS L.L.C.
     
  By: /s/ Angelo G. Acconcia
  Name: Angelo G. Acconcia
  Title: Senior Managing Director
     
  ROYAL RESOURCES L.P.
     
  By: Royal Resources GP L.L.C., its general partner
     
  By: /s/ Angelo G. Acconcia
  Name: Angelo G. Acconcia
  Title: President
     
  RIVERBEND NATURAL RESOURCES, L.P.
     
  By: Riverbend Natural Resources GP, LLC, its general partner
     
  By: /s/ Angelo G. Acconcia
  Name: Angelo G. Acconcia
  Title: President

 

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SCHEDULE I

 

ROYAL SERVICES

 

This Schedule sets forth below certain Services that are expected to or may be required in connection with the business of Royal. The Manager shall consult with and advise Blackstone and Royal and Royal General Partner with respect to the applicability of the following Services to the business of Royal and its subsidiaries and, as applicable and unless otherwise directed by Royal General Partner, shall provide those Services. It is contemplated that the Manager, with the approval of Blackstone and compliance with the Budget, may employ the personnel necessary to provide certain of these Services directly.

 

The provision of any Services shall in all respects be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

General Services

 

All management services that are reasonable, necessary or useful for the day-to-day management, monitoring and operation of the business of Royal and its subsidiaries.

 

Additional Royal Investments

 

  Perform diligence, investigate and analyze potential Additional Royal Investments.

 

  Structure Additional Royal Investments and conduct negotiations on behalf of Royal with third parties in connection with such Additional Royal Investments.

 

Preparation for a Potential Sale

 

  Compile and prepare all materials and documentation required to pursue and consummate a potential sale or initial public offering of Royal and/or its subsidiaries and their respective assets.

 

  Assist in the marketing of Royal and its assets, including without limitation by participating in “road shows,” holding meetings with and making calls to potential investors and taking such other actions as shall be reasonably requested by Royal. Assist in negotiations on behalf of Royal.

 

  Potentially participate in a customary transition services program, if required.

 

Blackstone shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to promptly inform Manager of any potential sale, including any discussions of a potential sale (whether by Blackstone internally or between Blackstone and third parties) so that Manager can allocate the necessary time and resources for preparation for such potential sale.

 

 

 

 

Reporting

 

The Manager shall deliver to Royal and Royal General Partner any reports required the periods identified below. The Manager shall also deliver to Royal and Royal General Partner any reasonable reports requested for purposes of complying with such person’s internal accounting and tax compliance programs and performance monitoring processes.

 

  Reserve reports for Royal and its subsidiaries as required for audits, to meet reporting requirements of debt facilities, and as otherwise reasonably requested.

 

  The following financial reports in addition to those set forth in the Agreement:

 

Consolidated financial statements, including (a) a consolidated balance sheet, (b) a consolidated statement of operations, (c) a consolidated statement of partners’ equity and (d) a consolidated statement of cash flows, for each of, and for any of the subsidiaries of Royal, including KDG ORRI Holdings L.P., Hooks Ranch Holdings, L.P., DGK ORRI Holdings L.P. and Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., such reports to be furnished quarterly, within forty-five (45) business days after the end of each applicable quarter.

 

Year-end audited financial statement with customary notes, audited by Deloitte or its successor, for Royal, such statement to be furnished within ninety (90) business days after the end of each applicable year.

 

Year-end audited financial statement with customary notes, audited by Deloitte or its successor, for DGK ORRI Holdings L.P. and any subsidiary thereof, such statement to be furnished within ninety (90) business days after the end of each applicable year.

 

A quarterly dashboard summary of each entity that tracks a number of metrics for the most recent month, quarter, and YTD periods. The dashboard will include production and financial summary information, acreage inventory detail, and acquisition detail as well as a snapshot showing production, net revenue, EBITDA and cash balance by entity (and any additional metrics as specified in the future). To be delivered within ~3-4 weeks of the end of the quarter.

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERSHIP SERVICES

 

This Schedule sets forth below certain Services that are expected to or may be required in connection with the business of the Opportunities Partnership and its subsidiaries. The Manager shall consult with and advise Blackstone and the Opportunities Partnership and the Opportunities Partnership General Partner with respect to the applicability of the following Services to the business of the Opportunities Partnership and its subsidiaries and, as applicable and unless otherwise directed by the Opportunities Partnership General Partner, shall provide those Services. It is contemplated that the Manager, with the approval of Blackstone and compliance with the Budget, may employ the personnel necessary to provide certain of these Services directly.

 

The provision of any Services shall in all respects be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

General Services

 

All management services that are reasonable, necessary or useful for the day-to-day management, monitoring and operation of the business of the Opportunities Partnership.

 

Preparation for a Potential Sale

 

  Compile and prepare all materials and documentation required to pursue and consummate a potential sale of the Opportunities Partnership and/or its subsidiaries and their respective assets.

 

  Assist in the marketing of the Opportunities Partnership and its assets, holding meetings with and making calls to potential investors and taking such other actions as shall be reasonably requested by the Opportunities Partnership. Assist in negotiations on behalf of the Opportunities Partnership.

 

  Potentially participate in a customary transition services program, if required.

 

Blackstone shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to promptly inform Manager of any potential sale, including any discussions of a potential sale (whether by Blackstone internally or between Blackstone and third parties) so that Manager can allocate the necessary time and resources for preparation for such potential sale.

 

Reporting

 

The Manager shall deliver to the Opportunities Partnership and Opportunities Partnership General Partner any reports required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and each of the reports listed below at the times and for the periods identified below. The Manager shall also deliver to the Opportunities Partnership and Opportunities Partnership General Partner any reasonable reports requested for purposes of complying with such person’s internal accounting and tax compliance programs and performance monitoring processes.

 

 

 

 

  Reserve reports for the Opportunities Partnership and its subsidiaries as required for audits, to meet reporting requirements of debt facilities, and as otherwise reasonably requested.

 

  The following financial reports in addition to those set forth in the Agreement:

 

Consolidated financial statements, including (a) a consolidated balance sheet, (b) a consolidated statement of operations, (c) a consolidated statement of partners’ equity and (d) a consolidated statement of cash flows (including for any subsidiaries), such reports to be furnished quarterly, within forty-five (45) business days after the end of each applicable quarter.

 

Year-end audited financial statement with customary notes, audited by Deloitte or its successor, such statement to be furnished within ninety (90) business days after the end of each applicable year.

 

A quarterly dashboard summary of each entity that tracks a number of metrics for the most recent month, quarter, and YTD periods. The dashboard will include production and financial summary information, acreage inventory detail, and acquisition detail as well as a snapshot showing production, net revenue, EBITDA and cash balance by entity (and any additional metrics as specified in the future). To be delivered within ~3-4 weeks of the end of the quarter.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

BUDGET

 

(January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017)

 

Riverbend Payroll & Benefits      
Base Salaries & Payroll Taxes   $ 1,617,513  
401 K Match   $ 48,000  
New Hires Payroll / Benefits / Sign-On   $ 0  
Health Insurance   $ 240,000  
Total Salaries & Benefits   $ 1,905,513  
         
Business Generation Expenses        
Meals & Entertainment   $ 12,500  
Travel & Auto Mileage   $ 12,500  
Advertising/Marketing   $ 5,000  
Charitable Contributions   $ 5,000  
    $ 35,000  
         
Office Maintenance Costs        
Office Rent (Including Buildout)   $ 210,000  
IT (Services & Licenses)   $ 175,000  
Office Supplies   $ 20,000  
Telephone/Internet   $ 20,000  
Printing/Postage/Delivery/Bank Fees   $ 45,000  
    $ 470,000  
         
Recurring Capital Requirements        
         
Computer Server / Software Upgrades   $ 75,000  
Office Furniture & Fixtures   $ 0  
    $ 75,000  
         
Recurring General & Administrative   $ 2,485,513  
         
Non-Recurring G&A        
Proposed Bonus (Payable On December 15th) (A)        
Deferred 2014 Bonus Due   $ 0  
Taxes & 401 K Bonus Match        
    $ 0  
Riverbend Oil & Gas   $ 2,485,513  


(A) To Be Approved & Discussed By BOD, Base Bonus Of $400K

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

OPPORTUNITIES AREA

 

  O:/1 PRE-SUB/2018/AUGUST/NIGHT/23/OSPREY/OUTPUT HTML

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

ROYAL AMENDMENT

 

The Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Royal, dated December 9, 2013 (the “ Royal LP Agreement ”) and the Class C Equity Plan of Royal shall be amended, effective as of December 10, 2016, to provide certain of the Manager Parties (the “ Management Equity Parties ”) additional incentives to perform the Services by granting such Manager Parties additional equity interests in Royal in accordance with the below terms (the “ Additional Incentive Interests ”). Such Additional Incentive Interests shall be distributed to certain Manager Parties in Randolph Newcomer, Jr.’s sole and absolute discretion. Notwithstanding anything herein, the terms of such agreements with respect to the Royal incentive interests previously granted to certain Manager Parties, which have vested in full in accordance with the Class C Equity Plan of Royal (the “ Vested Incentive Interests ”), shall not be changed except as necessary to clarify that such previously granted interests are fully vested.

 

The Management Equity Parties shall be granted an additional Riverbend Promote Percentage equal to 0.725% which shall vest quarterly over the term of two years, with such vesting to begin on December 10, 2016. If Blackstone and the Manager agree to extend the term of this Agreement by an additional year in accordance with Section 14(a), the Management Equity Parties shall be granted a second additional Riverbend Promote Percentage equal to 0.3625% which shall vest quarterly over the term of one year (such additional interests being the “ Additional Riverbend Promote Percentages ”), with such vesting to begin on December 10, 2018. For the avoidance of doubt, upon any termination of the Master Management Services Agreement in accordance with Section 14 therein, the Additional Riverbend Promote Percentages will cease to vest following the end of the transition services period identified pursuant to Section 14(d) of the Master Management Services Agreement; provided, however, that upon any termination pursuant to Section 14(b)(ii)(A) or Section 14(b)(ii)(B), the Management Equity Parties shall forfeit any and all Additional Riverbend Promote Percentages and any other Additional Incentive Interests (whether vested or unvested) granted by Blackstone pursuant to the Master Management Services Agreement, and in the manner described in Section 14(b)(ii)(A) and Section 14(b)(ii)(B), as applicable, but shall not forfeit any Vested Incentive Interests.

 

The Additional Riverbend Promote Percentages shall participate in distributions after Operating Subsidiary Distributions (as defined in the Royal LP Agreement) made since the formation of Royal to the Class A Partners and Class B Partners of Royal (as defined in the Royal LP Agreement) (a) equals the product of the aggregate amount of Capital Contributions (as defined in the Royal LP Agreement) made to Royal by the Class A Partners of Royal (as defined in the Royal LP Agreement) and 1.50 and (b) any amounts of such Operating Subsidiary Distributions (as defined in the Royal LP Agreement) that are received by Royal have been distributed in accordance with the foregoing clause.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 16.1

 

 

 

 

 

August 29, 2018

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

Commissioners:

We have read the statements made by Falcon Minerals Corporation (formerly named Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp.) under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated August 29, 2018. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm in Item 4.01 of such Form 8-K; we are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements of Falcon Minerals Corporation contained therein.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

/gcp

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

The following description should be read in conjunction with the “Selected Historical Financial Information of Royal” and the accompanying financial statements of Royal and related notes incorporated by reference herein to the Proxy Statement. The following discussion includes information regarding Royal Resources L.P. (“Royal”) as Falcon’s predecessor entity following the Closing, which includes certain interests in subsidiary companies which were not acquired by Falcon in the transactions contemplated by the Proxy Statement and described in this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Royal Resources L.P. subsidiaries that were contributed in the transactions are VickiCristina, LP, DGK ORRI Company, L.P., Noble EF DLG LP, Noble EF LP and Noble Marcellus LP. The interests in Riverbend Natural Resources, L.P and KGD ORRI, L.P. were not contributed in the transactions contemplated by the Proxy Statement. Unless otherwise noted, references to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Royal and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

The estimated proved reserve information for our properties on a historical basis as of December 31, 2017, contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K is based on reserve reports prepared by Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (“Ryder Scott”) and Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (“NSAI”), our independent petroleum engineers. Our estimated proved reserves on a pro forma basis are based on valuations prepared by Ryder Scott and were calculated by specifically identifying and removing the impact of any properties of Royal that were not contributed pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Proxy Statement. As a result the pro forma reserve presentation herein represents only the reserves of the contributed Royal assets. A copy of each of the reserve reports is incorporated by reference herein to Annex I of the Proxy Statement.

 

  Overview

 

We were formed to own and acquire royalty interests, mineral interests, non-participating royalty interest and overriding royalty interests, or ORRIs, (“Royalties”) in oil and natural gas properties in North America, substantially all of which are located in the Eagle Ford Shale. These Royalties entitle the holder to a portion of the production of oil and natural gas from the underlying acreage at the sales price received by the operator, net of any applicable post-production expenses and taxes. The holder of these interests has no obligation to fund exploration and development costs, lease operating expenses or plugging and abandonment costs at the end of a well’s productive life, which we believe results in low breakeven costs.

 

 We own Royalties that entitle us to a portion of the production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) from the underlying acreage at the sales price received by the operator, net of production expenses and taxes. We have no obligation to fund finding and development costs, pay capital expenditures such as plugging and abandonment costs. We have minimal allocated lease operating expenses. As such, we have historically operated with high cash margins, converting a large percentage of revenue to free cash flow, the majority of which can be distributed to our shareholders.

 

As of June 30, 2018, our assets consisted of Royalties underlying approximately 250,000 gross unit acres (approximately 20,000 net royalty acres normalized to 1/8th which assumes eight royalty acres for every mineral acre or 12.5% royalty interest per net mineral acre) that are concentrated in what we believe is the “core-of-the-core” of the liquids-rich condensate region of the Eagle Ford Shale in Karnes, DeWitt and Gonzales Counties, Texas. In all three of these counties, we also have substantial exposure to the Austin Chalk and Upper Eagle Ford formations, which have recently experienced increased horizontal development activity, in addition to the more established and historically developed Lower Eagle Ford formation. We believe that the wells and remaining drilling locations on the properties underlying our assets are among the most economic in North America, with operator IRRs in excess of 100% at current NYMEX pricing and operator break-even oil prices under $35 per barrel. Development activity has historically been supported by positive oil price differentials averaging a positive $0.47 per barrel over the past 12 months. In addition, our assets include Royalties related to approximately 58,000 gross unit acres in the Appalachian region, including Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. Our acreage was extensively delineated by 1,868 producing wells as of June 30, 2018, of which 1,527 are located in Karnes, DeWitt, and Gonzales Counties, providing extensive subsurface data control and substantial confidence on individual well initial production rates, production profiles and estimated ultimate recoveries (“EURs”). The average net daily production attributable to our net royalty interests was 6,595 BOD/d (69% liquids) for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 5,685 BOE/d (70% liquids) for the six months ended June 30, 2018.

  

 

 

 

The Eagle Ford Shale is the second largest oil field in North America and is one of the lowest-cost and most active unconventional shale trends. It has a world-class aerial extent that covers approximately 13 million surface acres and has extensive data control as a result of more than 12,000 producing horizontal wells. The Eagle Ford has top-tier single-well economics, is operated by premier oil and gas companies and has access to abundant offtake infrastructure in close proximity to the U.S. Gulf Coast. In recent years, the entire Eagle Ford Shale play has undergone a technical transformation largely driven by utilization of modern drilling and completion techniques, resulting in improved oil and gas sectional recoveries, enhanced production rates, EURs, well economics and increased activity by operators. Our acreage is located in what we believe is the “core-of-the-core” of the Eagle Ford Shale and is characterized by high oil and liquids content and low finding and development costs as well as positive differentials that drive attractive economics to operators relative to other unconventional basins. At current NYMEX strip pricing, we had approximately 3,000 locations with operator IRRs in excess of 100%. We believe these factors make the development of our underlying acreage commercially viable and highly attractive in lower commodity price environments. Over 98% of our Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk acreage is operated by ConocoPhillips (“ConocoPhillips”), EOG Resources, Inc. (“EOG”), BHP Billiton Petroleum (“BHP”) and Devon Energy Corporation (“Devon”) through a joint venture and Pioneer Natural Resources Company (“Pioneer”).

 

Our revenues are derived from royalty payments we receive from our operators based on the sale of oil and natural gas production, as well as the sale of natural gas liquids that are extracted from natural gas during processing. For the year ended December 31, 2017, our revenues were derived 77% from oil and condensate sales, 11% from natural gas liquid sales and 12% from natural gas sales. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, our revenues were derived 83% from oil and condensate sales, 6% from natural gas liquid sales and 11% from natural gas sales. Our revenues may vary significantly from period to period as a result of changes in volumes of production sold or changes in commodity prices. Oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas prices have historically been volatile, and at December 31, 2017 we did not hedge any of our exposure to changes in commodity prices.

 

Our Properties

 

Our initial assets consist of Royalties related to 53,233 net acres to which royalties apply, associated with 452 drilling units, concentrated in what we believe is the “core of the core” of the Eagle Ford Shale as well as the Marcellus Shale and Point Pleasant formations. As of June 30, 2018, these interests entitled us to receive an average royalty of 1.36% from the producing wells on the acreage underlying our Royalties, with no additional future capital or operating expenses required. As of June 30, 2018, there were 1,868 horizontal wells producing on this acreage, and average net production for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was approximately 6,319 BOE/d on a historical basis including all Royal entities and 5,685 BOE/d on a pro forma basis to include production for only the entities being contributed in the transactions contemplated by this proxy statement. In addition, there were 133 horizontal wells in various stages of completion. As of June 30, 2018, there were 56 additional permits outstanding for undrilled wells or wells currently being drilled on the acreage underlying our Royalties. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, revenue generated from these Royalties was $47.0 million.

 

The leases underlying our Royalties were delineated by 1,868 producing horizontal wells as of June 30, 2018. We own interests in 452 drilling units in the Eagle Ford Shale, Marcellus Shale, and Point Pleasant formations.

 

Comparison of Types of Interests

 

Royalty Interest. Royalty interests generally result when the owner of a mineral interest leases the underlying minerals to a working interest holder pursuant to an oil and gas lease. Typically, the resulting royalty interest is a cost-free percentage of production revenues for minerals extracted from the acreage. Holders of royalty interests are generally not responsible for capital expenditures or lease operating expenses, but may be responsible for certain post-production expenses, and typically have limited environmental liability. Royalty interests expire upon the expiration of the oil and gas lease.

 

  2  

 

 

Mineral Interest. Mineral interests are perpetual rights of the owner to exploit, mine, and/or produce any or all of the minerals lying below the surface of the property. The holder of a mineral interest has the right to lease the minerals to a working interest holder pursuant to an oil and gas lease.

 

Non-Participating Royalty Interest (NPRI) . NPRI is an interest in oil and gas production which is created from the mineral estate.  The NPRI is expense-free, bearing no operational costs of production. The term “non-participating” indicates that the interest owner does not share in the bonus, rentals from a lease, nor the right to participate in the execution of oil and gas leases.

 

Working Interest. Working interest holders have the rights to extract minerals from acreage leased pursuant to an oil and gas lease from a mineral interest holder. Holders of working interests are responsible for their pro rata share of capital expenditures and lease operating expenses, but holders of working interests only receive revenues after distributions have first been made to holders of royalty interests and ORRIs. Working interests expire upon the termination or expiration of the underlying oil and gas lease.

 

Overriding Royalty Interest (“ORRIs”). ORRIs are created by carving out the right to receive royalties from a working interest. Like royalty interests, ORRIs do not confer an obligation to make capital expenditures or pay for lease operating expenses and have limited environmental liability, however ORRIs may be calculated net of post-production expenses, depending on how the ORRI is structured. ORRIs that are carved out of working interests are linked to the same underlying oil and gas lease that created the working interest, and therefore, such ORRIs are typically subject to expiration upon the expiration or termination of the oil and gas lease.

 

OIL AND NATURAL GAS DATA

 

Reserves Presentation

 

Our estimated proved reserves on a historical basis as of December 31, 2017 are based on valuations prepared by Ryder Scott and NSAI and represent 100% of the total net proved liquid hydrocarbon reserves and 100% of the total net proved gas reserves in the Eagle Ford Shale, Marcellus Shale, Point Pleasant, and Bakken formations as of December 31, 2017. Our estimated proved reserves on a pro forma basis are based on valuations prepared by Ryder Scott and were calculated by specifically identifying and removing the impact of any properties of Royal that were not contributed pursuant to the Contribution Agreement. As a result the pro forma reserve presentation herein represents only the reserves of the contributed Royal assets. A copy of each of the summary reports of our reserve engineers with respect to our reserves as of 2017 on a historical and pro forma basis is incorporated by reference herein to Annex I of the Proxy Statement.

 

Proved Reserves

 

Evaluation and Review of Reserves

 

Our historical reserve estimates as of December 31, 2017 were prepared by Ryder Scott and NSAI. Ryder Scott and NSAI are independent petroleum engineering firms. The technical persons responsible for preparing our proved reserve estimates meet the requirements with regards to qualifications, independence, objectivity and confidentiality set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Ryder Scott and NSAI are third party engineering firms and do not own an interest in any of our properties and are not employed by us on a contingent basis.

 

  3  

 

 

Under SEC rules and regulations, proved reserves are those quantities of oil and natural gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under existing economic conditions, operating methods and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. If deterministic methods are used, the SEC has defined reasonable certainty for proved reserves as a “high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered.” All of our proved reserves as of December 31, 2017 were estimated using a deterministic method. The estimation of reserves involves two distinct determinations. The first determination results in the estimation of the quantities of recoverable oil and gas and the second determination results in the estimation of the uncertainty associated with those estimated quantities in accordance with the definitions established under SEC rules and regulations. The process of estimating the quantities of recoverable oil and gas reserves relies on the use of certain generally accepted analytical procedures. These analytical procedures fall into three broad categories or methods: (1) performance-based methods, (2) volumetric-based methods and (3) analogy. These methods may be used singularly or in combination by the reserve evaluator in the process of estimating the quantities of reserves. The proved reserves for the properties underlying Royal’s interests were estimated by performance methods, analogy or a combination of both methods. Approximately 92% of the proved producing reserves attributable to producing wells were estimated by performance methods. These performance methods include, but may not be limited to, decline curve analysis, which utilized extrapolations of available historical production and pressure data. The remaining 8% of the proved producing reserves were estimated by analogy, or a combination of performance and analogy methods. The analogy method was used where there were inadequate historical performance data to establish a definitive trend and where the use of production performance data as a basis for the reserve estimates was considered to be inappropriate. All proved developed non-producing and undeveloped reserves were estimated by the analogy method.

 

To estimate economically recoverable proved reserves and related future net cash flows, Ryder Scott and NSAI considered many factors and assumptions, including the use of reservoir parameters derived from geological, geophysical and engineering data which cannot be measured directly, economic criteria based on current costs and the SEC pricing requirements and forecasts of future production rates. To establish reasonable certainty with respect to our estimated proved reserves, the technologies and economic data used in the estimation of our proved reserves included production and well test data, downhole completion information, geologic data, electrical logs, radioactivity logs, core analyses, available seismic data and historical well cost and operating expense data.

 

Historically, employees of Riverbend have worked closely with our independent reserve engineers to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of the data used to calculate proved reserves relating to our assets in the Eagle Ford Shale region. Riverbend’s technical team met with our independent reserve engineers periodically during the period covered by the reserve report to discuss the assumptions and methods used in the proved reserve estimation process. We provided historical information to the independent reserve engineers for our properties such as ownership interest, oil and gas production, commodity prices and transportation and marketing expenses. Operating and development costs were not realized to our interest but were used to calculate the economic limit life of the wells. These costs were estimated and checked by our independent reserve engineer. Riverbend’s technical staff used historical information for the properties underlying our interests such as ownership interest, oil and gas production, well test data, commodity prices and operating and development costs.

 

We anticipate that the preparation of the proved reserve estimates was completed in accordance with internal control procedures, including the following:

 

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

 

  preparation of reserve estimates by our Vice President—Engineering and Business Development or under his direct supervision;

 

  review by our Vice President—Engineering and Business Development of all of our reported proved reserves at the close of each quarter, including the review of all significant reserve changes and all new proved undeveloped reserves additions;

 

  direct reporting responsibilities by our Vice President—Engineering and Business Development to our Chief Executive Officer;

 

  verification of property ownership by our land department; and

 

  no employee’s compensation is tied to the amount of reserves booked.

 

  4  

 

 

The following table presents our estimated net proved oil and natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2017 on a historical basis including all Royal entities and on a pro forma basis to include reserve information for only the entities being contributed in the transactions contemplated by the Proxy Statement. The reserve information is based on the reserve reports prepared by Ryder Scott and NSAI. The reserve reports have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. All of our proved reserves included in the reserve reports are located in the continental United States.

 

    Royal Historical     Pro Forma  
    as of
December 31, 2017
    as of December 31, 2017  
Estimated proved developed reserves:            
Oil (MBbls)     6,301       4,343  
Natural gas (MMcf)     20,715       17,410  
Natural gas liquids (MBbls)     1,793       1,285  
Total (MBOE)     11,547       8,530  
Estimated proved undeveloped reserves:                
Oil (MBbls)     13,142       11,571  
Natural gas (MMcf)     39,037       35,152  
Natural gas liquids (MBbls)     2,650       2,057  
Total (MBOE)     22,298       19,487  
Estimated Net Proved Reserves:                
Oil (MBbls)     19,443       15,914  
Natural gas (MMcf)     59,752       52,562  
Natural gas liquids (MBbls)     4,443       3,342  
Total (MBOE)(l)     33,845       28,016  
Percent proved developed     34.12 %     30.44 %
PV-10 of proved reserves (in millions)(2)   $ 615.2     $ 521.1  

 

(1) Estimates of reserves as of December 31, 2017 were prepared using an average price equal to the unweighted arithmetic average of hydrocarbon prices received on a field-by-field basis on the first day of each month within the year ended December 31, 2017 in accordance with revised SEC rules and regulations applicable to reserve estimates as of the end of such period. The unweighted arithmetic average first day of the month prices were $51.34 per Bbl for oil and $2.98 per MMBtu for natural gas at December 31, 2017. The price per Bbl for natural gas liquids was modeled as a percentage of oil price, which was derived from historical accounting data. Reserve estimates do not include any value for probable or possible reserves that may exist, nor do they include any value for undeveloped acreage. The reserve estimates represent our ORRI share in our properties. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual future production, cash flows, taxes, development expenditures, operating expenses and quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas reserves may vary substantially from these estimates.
(2) In this Current Report on Form 8-K, we have disclosed our PV-10 based on our reserve report. PV-10 represents the period end present value of estimated future cash inflows from our natural gas and crude oil reserves, less future development and production costs, discounted at 10% per annum to reflect timing of future cash flows and using SEC pricing requirements in effect at the end of the period. Because of this, PV-10 can be used within the industry and by creditors and securities analysts to evaluate estimated net cash flows from proved reserves on a more comparable basis. PV-10 differs from standardized measure because it does not include the effects of income taxes. However, because we were a limited partnership, we were generally not subject to federal income taxes and thus historically our PV-10 for proved reserves and standardized measure are equivalent. Neither PV-10 nor standardized measure represents an estimate of fair market value of our natural gas and oil properties. We and others in the industry use PV-10 as a measure to compare the relative size and value of estimated reserves held by companies without regard to the specific tax characteristics of such entities.

 

As of December 31, 2017, our historical proved developed reserves totaled 6,301 MBbls of oil, 20,715 MMcf of natural gas and 1,793 MBbls of natural gas liquids, for a total of 11,547 MBOE. Of the total proved developed reserves, 79% are producing and the remaining 21% are from wells that have been stimulated but are not yet producing hydrocarbons. As of December 31, 2017, our pro forma proved developed reserves totaled 4,343 MBbls of oil, 17,410 MMcf of natural gas and 1,285 MBbls of natural gas liquids, for a total of 8,530 MBOE. Of the total proved developed reserves, 74% are producing and the remaining 26% are from wells that have been stimulated but are not yet producing hydrocarbons.

 

  5  

 

 

The foregoing reserves are all located within the continental United States. Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating volumes of economically recoverable oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation. As a result, the estimates of different engineers often vary. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production may justify revisions of such estimates. Accordingly, reserve estimates often differ from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and natural gas and of future net revenues are based on a number of variables and assumptions, all of which may vary from actual results, including geologic interpretation, prices and future production rates and costs. See “Risk Factors” in the Proxy Statement. We have not filed any estimates of total, proved net oil or natural gas reserves with any federal authority or agency other than the SEC.

 

Additional information regarding our historical and pro forma proved reserves can be found in the reserve reports as of December 31, 2017 prepared by Ryder Scott and NSAI, which are incorporated by reference herein to Annex I of the Proxy Statement.

  

Proved Undeveloped Reserves

 

As of December 31, 2017, our historical proved undeveloped reserves totaled 13,142 MBbls of oil, 39,037 MMcf of natural gas and 2,650 MBbls of natural gas liquids, for a total of 22,298 MBOE. As of December 31, 2017, our pro forma proved undeveloped reserves totaled 11,571 MBbls of oil, 35,152 MMcf of natural gas and 2,057 MBbls of natural gas liquids, for a total of 19,487 MBOE. PUD reserves will be converted from undeveloped to developed as the applicable wells begin production.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, our operators converted 1,348 MBOE of PUD reserves, which represented approximately 11.5% of our estimated PUD reserves as of December 31, 2016. Our PUD reserves increased from 11,728 MBOE to 22,298 MBOE due to:

 

  the divestment of 955 MBOE in connection with the sale of KGD ORRI, L.P.;

 

  the conversion of 1,348 MBOE of PUD reserves into PDP and PNP reserves;

 

  net positive revisions of 6,801 MBOE as a result of the addition of certain locations to the drilling schedule as part of a revised development plan resulting from improved pricing conditions;
     
  positive revisions of 4,729 MBOE as a result of revised type curves reflecting operator-specific performance; and
     
  extensions of 1,344 MBOE as a result of certain locations added to the development schedule through the permitting or discovery of previously uncaptured reserves.

 

All of our PUD drilling locations are scheduled to be drilled prior to the end of December 2022. This development schedule is based on a 91 well inventory waiting to be brought online, 56 permits that identify activity and continued PUD conversion based on historical drilling activity and the publicly announced capital expenditure plans of our operators. As an owner of Royalties and not working interests, the contributed Royal Entities were not required to make capital expenditures and did not make capital expenditures to convert PUD reserves from undeveloped to developed.

 

Identification of Drilling Locations

 

Our identification of drilling locations is based on specifically identified locations on our leasehold acreage based on our assessment of current geoscientific, engineering, land, well-spacing and historic production profile information derived from state agencies and public statements by our operators on the acreage underlying our interests. These drilling locations are identified on a detailed map and allocated a reserve profile and identifier. Further, Ryder Scott and NSAI reviewed and confirmed our drilling locations in estimating our PUD reserves in connection with the preparation of our reserve report as of December 31, 2017. We update and revise our drilling locations on a periodic basis as our assessment of the information described above changes.

 

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  OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION PRICES AND PRODUCTION COSTS

 

Production and Price History

 

The following table sets forth information regarding our net production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, substantially all of which is from the Eagle Ford Shale region in South Texas, and certain price and cost information for each of the periods indicated:

 

    Pro Forma     Royal Historical  
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Year Ended
December 31,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2018     2017     2018     2017     2016     2015  
Production Data:                                    
Eagle Ford Shale                                    
Oil (Bbls)     587,334       885,681       600,588       1,402,729       1,397,556       1,876,487  
Natural gas (Mcf)     1,314,015       1,761,343       1,352,169       3,083,099       2,936,394       4,201,152  
Natural gas liquids (Bbls)     117,751       269,953       122,867       493,334       476,780       621,222  
Combined volumes (BOE)     924,088       1,449,191       948,817       2,409,913       2,363,735       3,197,901  
Daily combined volumes (BOE/d)     5,105       3,970       5,242       6,603       6,476       8,761  
Total                                                
Oil (Bbls)     589,626       892,893       675,687       1,582,322       1,474,218       1,919,959  
Natural gas (Mcf)     1,860,739       3,124,338       1,955,624       4,565,892       4,143,679       5,357,859  
Natural gas liquids (Bbls)     129,214       301,553       142,029       542,706       511,337       650,599  
Combined volumes (BOE)     1,028,963       1,715,169       1,143,653       2,886,010       2,676,168       3,463,530  
Daily combined volumes (BOE/d)     5,685       4,699       6,319       7,907       7,332       9,489  
Average Realized Prices:                                                
Oil (per Bbl)   $ 66.14     $ 50.96     $ 65.73     $ 50.10     $ 39.91     $ 46.12  
Natural gas (per Mcf)   $ 2.83     $ 2.70     $ 2.85     $ 2.81     $ 2.19     $ 2.33  
Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)   $ 22.52     $ 20.99     $ 22.53     $ 20.63     $ 12.04     $ 13.07  
Weighted average combined (per BOE)   $ 45.67     $ 34.98     $ 46.30     $ 35.67     $ 27.69     $ 31.19  

 

Producing Wells

 

As of June 30, 2018, we owned Royalties in 1,868 producing wells located on the acreage in which we have an interest. The following table provides detailed information relating to our producing wells:

 

    Gross Producing Wells     Net Producing Wells  
Oil     1,161     16.0  
Gas     707     9.4  
Total     1,868     25.4  

 

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Acreage

 

The following tables set forth information as of June 30, 2018 relating to total gross and net acreage in the units associated with our Royalties:

 

Basin   Gross Developed Acreage (1)     Gross Undeveloped Acreage (2)     Total Gross Acreage  
Eagle Ford Shale     71,680       100,472       172,152  
Marcellus Shale and Point Pleasant     26,640       40,369       67,009  
Total     98,320       140,841       239,161  

 

Basin   Net Developed Acreage (1)     Net Undeveloped Acreage (2)     Total Net Acreage  
Eagle Ford Shale     933       1,531       2,464  
Marcellus Shale and Point Pleasant     449       78       527  
Total     1,381       1,609       2,991  

 

(1) Developed acres are acres spaced or assigned to productive wells and do not include undrilled acreage held by production under the terms of the lease. The value provided is for horizontal wells only and are based on 40 acres per well in the Eagle Ford Shale and 80 acres per well in the Marcellus Shale and Point Pleasant formation for wells drilled as of June 30, 2018.
(2) Undeveloped acres are acres on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of oil or natural gas, regardless of whether such acreage contains proved reserves.

 

Drilling Results

 

As of June 30, 2018, our operators associated with our Royalties had 138 wells in the process of drilling, completing or dewatering or shut in awaiting infrastructure that are not reflected in the above table. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated below, the number of net productive and dry development and exploratory wells completed, regardless of when drilling was initiated. The information should not be considered indicative of future performance, nor should it be assumed that there is necessarily any correlation among the number of productive wells drilled, quantities of reserves found or economic value.

 

    Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
    2018     2017     2016  
Development:                  
Productive     80       193       165  
Dry     0       0       0  
Exploratory:                        
Productive     0       0       0  
Dry     0       0       0  
Total:                        
Productive     80       193       165  
Dry     0       0       0  

 

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Competition

 

The oil and natural gas industry is highly competitive; we primarily compete with companies for the acquisition of oil and natural gas properties some of whom have greater resources than we do. These companies may be able to pay more for certain productive oil and natural gas properties and exploratory prospects or to define, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our financial or human resources permit. Our larger or more integrated competitors may have a greater ability to continue exploration activities during periods of low oil and natural gas market prices. Our ability to acquire additional properties in the future will be dependent upon our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment.

 

Seasonal Nature of Business

 

Generally, demand for oil and natural gas decreases during the summer months and increases during the winter months. Seasonal weather conditions and lease stipulations can limit drilling and producing activities and other oil and natural gas operations in a portion of our operating areas. These seasonal anomalies can pose challenges for our operators in meeting well drilling objectives and can increase competition for equipment, supplies and personnel during the spring and summer months, which could lead to shortages and increase costs or delay operations.

 

Regulation

 

The following disclosure describes regulation directly associated with operators of oil and natural gas properties, including our current operators, and other owners of working interests in oil and natural gas properties.

 

Oil and natural gas operations are subject to various types of legislation, regulation and other legal requirements enacted by governmental authorities. This legislation and regulation affecting the oil and natural gas industry is under constant review for amendment or expansion. Some of these requirements carry substantial penalties for failure to comply. The regulatory burden on the oil and natural gas industry increases the cost of doing business.

 

Environmental Matters

 

Oil and natural gas exploration, development and production operations are subject to stringent laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to protection of the environment or occupational health and safety. Numerous federal, state and local governmental agencies, such as the EPA, issue regulations that often require difficult and costly compliance measures that carry substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties and may result in injunctive obligations for non-compliance. These laws and regulations may require the acquisition of a permit before drilling commences, restrict the types, quantities and concentrations of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection with drilling and production activities, limit or prohibit construction or drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands, ecologically sensitive and other protected areas, require action to prevent or remediate pollution from current or former operations, such as plugging abandoned wells or closing earthen pits, result in the suspension or revocation of necessary permits, licenses and authorizations, require that additional pollution controls be installed and impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from operations. The strict and joint and several liability nature of such laws and regulations could impose liability upon responsible parties (including the operators of the acreage underlying our Royalties) regardless of fault. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances, hydrocarbons or other waste products into the environment. Changes in environmental laws and regulations occur frequently, and any changes that result in more stringent and costly pollution control or waste handling, storage, transport, disposal or cleanup requirements could materially adversely affect our business and prospects.

 

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Waste Handling

 

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (“RCRA”), and comparable state statutes and regulations promulgated thereunder, affect oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities by imposing requirements regarding the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. With federal approval, the individual states administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA, sometimes in conjunction with their own, more stringent requirements. Although most wastes associated with the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas are exempt from regulation as hazardous wastes under RCRA, such wastes may constitute “solid wastes” that are subject to the less stringent requirements of non-hazardous waste provisions. However, there is no guarantee that the EPA or state or local governments will not adopt more stringent requirements for the handling of non- hazardous wastes or categorize some non-hazardous wastes as hazardous for future regulation. For example, in December 2016, the EPA and several environmental groups entered into a consent decree to address the EPA’s alleged failure to timely assess its regulations exempting certain exploration and production related oil and gas wastes from regulation as hazardous wastes under RCRA. The consent decree requires the EPA to propose a rulemaking no later than March 15, 2019, for revision of certain regulations pertaining to oil and gas wastes or to sign a determination that revision of the regulations is not necessary. If the EPA proposes revised oil and gas regulations, the consent decree requires that the EPA take final action following notice and comment rulemaking no later than July 15, 2021. Legislation has also been proposed from time to time in Congress to re-categorize certain oil and natural gas exploration, development and production wastes as “hazardous wastes.” Any such changes in the laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on the capital expenditures and operating expenses of the operators of the acreage underlying our Royalties.

 

Administrative, civil and criminal penalties can be imposed on the operators of the acreage underlying our Royalties for failure to comply with waste handling requirements. Any legislative or regulatory reclassification of oil and natural gas exploration and production wastes could increase the costs to manage and dispose of wastes for such operators.

 

Remediation of Hazardous Substances

 

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended (“CERCLA”), also known as the “Superfund” law, and analogous state laws, generally impose strict and joint and several liability, without regard to fault or legality of the original conduct, on classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. These persons include the current owner or operator of a contaminated facility, a former owner or operator of the facility at the time of contamination, and those persons that disposed or arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substance at the facility. Under CERCLA and comparable state statutes, persons deemed “responsible parties” may be subject to strict and joint and several liability for the costs of removing or remediating previously disposed wastes (including wastes disposed of or released by prior owners or operators) or property contamination (including groundwater contamination), for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. In addition, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released into the environment. In addition, the risk of accidental spills or releases could expose the operators of the acreage underlying our Royalties to significant liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on the operators’ businesses, financial condition and results of operations. Liability for any contamination under these laws could require the operators of the acreage underlying our Royalties to make significant expenditures to investigate and remediate such contamination or attain and maintain compliance with such laws and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on their results of operations, competitive position or financial condition.

 

Water Discharges

 

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended, also known as the “Clean Water Act,” the Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”), the Oil Pollution Act (“OPA”), and analogous state laws and regulations promulgated thereunder impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the unauthorized discharge of pollutants, including produced waters and other gas and oil wastes, into navigable waters of the United States, as well as state waters. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or the state. The Clean Water Act and regulations implemented thereunder also prohibit the discharge of dredge and fill material into regulated waters, including jurisdictional wetlands, unless authorized by an appropriately issued permit. Spill prevention, control and countermeasure plan requirements under federal law require appropriate containment berms and similar structures to help prevent the contamination of navigable waters in the event of a petroleum hydrocarbon tank spill, rupture or leak. These laws and regulations also prohibit certain activity in wetlands unless authorized by a permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”). In addition, the EPA and the Corps released a rule to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”) for all CWA programs, which went into effect in August 2015. In October 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit stayed the rule revising the WOTUS definition nationwide pending further action of the court. In response to this decision, the EPA and the Corps resumed nationwide use of the agencies’ prior regulations defining the term “waters of the United States.” However, in January 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the rule revising the WOTUS definition must be reviewed first in the federal district courts, which resulted in a withdrawal of the stay by the Sixth Circuit. In addition, the EPA has proposed to repeal the rule revising the WOTUS definition, and in January 2018 EPA released a final rule that delays implementation of the rule revising the WOTUS definition until 2020 to allow time for EPA to reconsider the definition of “waters of the United States.” Several states and environmental groups have since filed lawsuits challenging the delay rule. To the extent the rule revising the WOTUS definition is implemented, it could significantly expand federal control of land and water resources across the United States, triggering substantial additional permitting and regulatory requirements.

 

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The EPA has also adopted regulations requiring certain oil and natural gas exploration and production facilities to obtain individual permits or coverage under general permits for storm water discharges. Costs may be associated with the treatment of wastewater or developing and implementing storm water pollution prevention plans, as well as for monitoring and sampling the storm water runoff from certain of the facilities on the acreage underlying our Royalties. Some states also maintain groundwater protection programs that require permits for discharges or operations that may impact groundwater conditions. In addition, in June 2016, the EPA finalized wastewater pretreatment standards that prohibit onshore unconventional oil and natural gas extraction facilities from sending wastewater to publicly-owned treatment works; for certain facilities, compliance is required by August 29, 2019. This pending restriction of disposal options for hydraulic fracturing waste and other changes to CWA requirements may result in increased costs.

 

The OPA is the primary federal law for oil spill liability. The OPA contains numerous requirements relating to the prevention of and response to petroleum releases into waters of the United States, including the requirement that operators of offshore facilities and certain onshore facilities near or crossing waterways must develop and maintain facility response contingency plans and maintain certain significant levels of financial assurance to cover potential environmental cleanup and restoration costs. The OPA subjects owners of facilities to strict, joint and several liability for all containment and cleanup costs and certain other damages arising from a release, including, but not limited to, the costs of responding to a release of oil to surface waters.

 

Noncompliance with the Clean Water Act or OPA may result in substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties, as well as injunctive obligations, for the operators of the acreage underlying our Royalties.

 

Air Emissions

 

The federal Clean Air Act, as amended, and comparable state laws and regulations, regulate emissions of various air pollutants through the issuance of permits and the imposition of other requirements. The EPA has developed, and continues to develop, stringent regulations governing emissions of air pollutants at specified sources. New facilities may be required to obtain permits before work can begin, and existing facilities may be required to obtain additional permits and incur capital costs in order to remain in compliance. For example, in August 2012, the EPA published final regulations under the federal Clean Air Act that establish new emission controls for oil and natural gas production and processing operations. The rules subject all oil and natural gas operations (production, processing, transmission, storage and distribution) to regulation under the New Source Performance Standards and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants programs and include standards for completions of hydraulically-fractured gas wells, reduced emission completion techniques, and pit flaring of gas not sent to the gathering line. The standards are applicable to newly drilled and fractured wells and wells that are re-fractured on or after January 1, 2015. The rules also establish specific requirements for emissions from compressors, controllers, dehydrators, storage tanks, gas processing plants and certain other equipment. The EPA amended these rules in December 2014 to specify requirements for different flowback stages and to expand the rules to cover more storage vessels, among other changes.

 

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Costs for environmental compliance of the operators of the acreage underlying our Royalties may increase in the future based on new air emissions regulations. In November 2016, the BLM issued final rules to reduce methane emissions from venting, flaring, and leaks during oil and gas operations on public lands. In December 2017, the BLM finalized a suspension of certain requirements of the rules until 2019, and in February 2018, the BLM published a proposal to revise or rescind the rules. California, New Mexico, and several environmental groups filed lawsuits challenging BLM’s suspension of the rules, which resulted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issuing a February 2018 preliminary injunction enjoining the suspension of the rules. However, in April 2018, the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, in a separate pending lawsuit brought by Wyoming, Montana, and industry groups, stayed implementation of the rules until the BLM completes the rulemaking process for revising or rescinding the rules. Several states are pursuing similar measures to regulate emissions of methane from new and existing sources within the oil and natural gas source category. In addition, in May 2016, the EPA finalized rules regarding criteria for aggregating multiple small surface sites into a single source for air-quality permitting purposes applicable to the oil and gas industry. This rule could cause small facilities, on an aggregate basis, to be deemed a major source, thereby triggering more stringent air permitting requirements. The EPA has also adopted new rules under the Clean Air Act that require the reduction of volatile organic compound emissions from certain fractured and refractured natural gas wells for which well completion operations are conducted and further require that most wells use reduced emission completions, also known as “green completions.” These regulations also establish specific new requirements regarding emissions from production-related wet seal and reciprocating compressors, and from pneumatic controllers and storage vessels. Further, the EPA lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”) for ozone from 75 to 70 parts per billion in October 2015. Pursuant to an order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in lawsuits brought by a coalition of states and environmental groups against the EPA for failing to complete initial area designations under the standard by the October 2017 statutory deadline, EPA is required to complete all remaining initial area designations by April 30, 2018, except for designations for certain areas in Texas, which must be completed by July 17, 2018. State implementation of the revised NAAQS could result in stricter permitting requirements or delay, or limit our ability to obtain permits, and result in increased expenditures for pollution control equipment.

 

These laws and regulations may increase the costs of compliance for some facilities on the acreage underlying our Royalties, and federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with air permits or other requirements of the federal Clean Air Act and associated state laws and regulations. Obtaining or renewing permits has the potential to delay the development of oil and natural gas projects.

 

Climate Change

 

In response to findings that emissions of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”), including carbon dioxide and methane, present an endangerment to public health and the environment, the EPA has adopted regulations to restrict GHG emissions under existing provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. As discussed in the “Climate Change” risk factor above, EPA has finalized rules that set additional emissions limits for volatile organic compounds and established new controls for emissions of methane from new, modified or reconstructed sources in the oil and natural gas source category, including production, processing, and transmission and storage activities. In addition, the EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and reporting of GHGs from specified onshore and offshore oil and natural gas production sources in the United States on an annual basis.

 

In 2015, the United States participated in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which led to the creation of the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement requires member countries to review and “represent a progression” in their intended nationally determined contributions, which set GHG emission reduction goals every five years beginning in 2020. In June 2017, the United States announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, although the earliest possible effective date of withdrawal is November 2020. Despite the planned withdrawal, certain U.S. city and state governments have announced their intention to satisfy their proportionate obligations under the Paris Agreement. In addition, Congress has from time to time considered adopting legislation to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and many states have already taken legal measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases primarily through the planned development of greenhouse gas emission inventories and/or regional greenhouse gas cap and trade programs.

 

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In addition, there has been public discussion that climate change may be associated with extreme weather conditions such as more intense hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornados and snow or ice storms, as well as rising sea levels. Another possible consequence of climate change is increased volatility in seasonal temperatures. Some studies indicate that climate change could cause some areas to experience temperatures substantially colder than their historical averages. Extreme weather conditions can interfere with production and increase costs and damage resulting from extreme weather may not be fully insured. However, at this time, we are unable to determine the extent to which climate change may lead to increased storm or weather hazards affecting our business.

 

Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing

 

Hydraulic fracturing is an important common practice that is used to stimulate production of hydrocarbons, particularly natural gas, from tight formations, including shales. The process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. The federal SDWA regulates the underground injection of substances through the UIC program. Hydraulic fracturing generally is exempt from regulation under the UIC program, and the hydraulic fracturing process is typically regulated by state oil and gas commissions. However, as discussed in the “Hydraulic Fracturing” risk factor included elsewhere in the Proxy Statement, in recent year efforts have been made to regulate hydraulic fracturing at the federal level.

 

In addition, several states, including Texas, have adopted, or are considering adopting, regulations that could restrict or prohibit hydraulic fracturing in certain circumstances and/or require the disclosure of the composition of hydraulic fracturing fluids. The Texas Legislature previously adopted legislation requiring oil and gas operators to publicly disclose the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process, effective as of September 1, 2011. The Texas Railroad Commission subsequently adopted rules and regulations implementing this legislation that apply to all wells for which the Railroad Commission issues an initial drilling permit. This law requires that the well operator disclose the list of chemical ingredients subject to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act for disclosure on an internet website and also file the list of chemicals with the Texas Railroad Commission with the well completion report. The total volume of water used to hydraulically fracture a well must also be disclosed to the public and filed with the Texas Railroad Commission. Further, in May 2013, the Texas Railroad Commission issued a “well integrity rule,” which updates the requirements for drilling, putting pipe down, and cementing wells. The rule also includes new testing and reporting requirements, such as: (i) the requirement to submit cementing reports after well completion or after cessation of drilling, whichever is later; and (ii) the imposition of additional testing on wells less than 1,000 feet below usable groundwater. The well integrity rule took effect in January 2014. Local governments also may seek to adopt ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular or prohibit the performance of well drilling in general or hydraulic fracturing in particular.

 

There has been increasing public controversy regarding hydraulic fracturing with regard to the use of fracturing fluids, impacts on drinking water supplies, use of water and the potential for impacts to surface water, groundwater and the environment generally. A number of lawsuits and enforcement actions have been initiated across the country implicating hydraulic fracturing practices. If new laws or regulations that significantly restrict hydraulic fracturing are adopted, such laws could make it more difficult or costly to perform fracturing to stimulate production from tight formations as well as make it easier for third parties opposing the hydraulic fracturing process to initiate legal proceedings based on allegations that specific chemicals used in the fracturing process could adversely affect groundwater. In addition, if hydraulic fracturing is further regulated at the federal or state level, fracturing activities could become subject to additional permitting and financial assurance requirements, more stringent construction specifications, increased monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping obligations, plugging and abandonment requirements and also to attendant permitting delays and potential increases in costs. Such legislative or regulatory changes could cause operators of the operation on the acreage underlying our Royalties to incur substantial compliance costs, and compliance or the consequences of any failure to comply by operators could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

In addition, hydraulic fracturing operations require the use of a significant amount of water, and the inability of the operators of the acreage underlying our Royalties to locate sufficient amounts of water, or dispose of or recycle water used in their drilling and production operations, could adversely impact their operations. Moreover, new environmental initiatives and regulations could include restrictions on the ability to conduct certain operations such as hydraulic fracturing or disposal of waste, including, but not limited to, produced water, drilling fluids and other wastes associated with the development or production of natural gas.

 

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Finally, in some instances, the operation of underground injection wells has been alleged to cause earthquakes. Such issues have sometimes led to orders prohibiting continued injection or the suspension of drilling in certain wells identified as possible sources of seismic activity. Such concerns also have resulted in stricter regulatory requirements in some jurisdictions relating to the location and operation of underground injection wells. Future orders or regulations addressing concerns about seismic activity from well injection could affect operations on the acreage underlying our Royalties.

 

Endangered Species Act

 

Some of the operations on acreage underlying our Royalties may be located in areas that are designated as habitats for endangered or threatened species under the ESA. In February 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final policy which alters how it identifies critical habitat for endangered and threatened species. A critical habitat designation could result in further material restrictions to federal and private land use and could delay or prohibit land access or development. Moreover, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continues to make listing decisions and critical habitat designations where necessary, including for over 250 species as required under a 2011 settlement approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and many hundreds of additional anticipated listing decisions have already been identified beyond those recognized in the 2011 settlement. The designation of previously unprotected species as being endangered or threatened, if located in the areas where we have Royalties, could cause the operators of the operations on the acreage underlying our Royalties to incur additional costs or become subject to operating restrictions in areas where the species are known to exist.

 

Other Regulation of the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

 

The oil and natural gas industry is extensively regulated by numerous federal, state and local authorities. Legislation affecting the oil and natural gas industry is under constant review for amendment or expansion, frequently increasing the regulatory burden. Also, numerous departments and agencies, both federal and state, are authorized by statute to issue rules and regulations that are binding on the oil and natural gas industry and its individual members, some of which carry substantial penalties for failure to comply. Although the regulatory burden on the oil and natural gas industry increases the cost of doing business, these burdens generally do not affect us any differently or to any greater or lesser extent than they affect other companies in the industry with similar types, quantities and locations of production.

 

The availability, terms and cost of transportation significantly affect sales of oil and natural gas. The interstate transportation and sale for resale of oil and natural gas is subject to federal regulation, including regulation of the terms, conditions and rates for interstate transportation, storage and various other matters, primarily by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”). Federal and state regulations govern the price and terms for access to oil and natural gas pipeline transportation. FERC’s regulations for interstate oil and natural gas transmission in some circumstances may also affect the intrastate transportation of oil and natural gas.

 

Although oil and natural gas prices are currently unregulated, Congress historically has been active in the area of oil and natural gas regulation. We cannot predict whether new legislation to regulate oil and natural gas might be proposed, what proposals, if any, might actually be enacted by Congress or the various state legislatures, and what effect, if any, the proposals might have on our operations. Sales of condensate and oil and natural gas liquids are not currently regulated and are made at market prices.

 

Drilling and Production

 

The operations of our operators are subject to various types of regulation at the federal, state and local level. These types of regulation include requiring permits for the drilling of wells, drilling bonds and reports concerning operations. The state, and some counties and municipalities, in which we operate also regulate one or more of the following:

 

  the location of wells;

 

  the method of drilling and casing wells;

 

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  the timing of construction or drilling activities, including seasonal wildlife closures;

 

  the rates of production or “allowables”;

 

  the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled;

 

  the plugging and abandoning of wells; and

 

  notice to, and consultation with, surface owners and other third parties.

 

State laws regulate the size and shape of drilling and spacing units or proration units governing the pooling of oil and natural gas properties. Some states allow forced pooling or integration of tracts to facilitate exploration while other states rely on voluntary pooling of lands and leases. In some instances, forced pooling or unitization may be implemented by third parties and may reduce our interest in the unitized properties. In addition, state conservation laws establish maximum rates of production from oil and natural gas wells, generally prohibit the venting or flaring of natural gas and impose requirements regarding the ratability of production. These laws and regulations may limit the amount of oil and natural gas that our operators can produce from our wells or limit the number of wells or the locations at which operators can drill. Moreover, each state generally imposes a production or severance tax with respect to the production and sale of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids within its jurisdiction. States do not regulate wellhead prices or engage in other similar direct regulation, but we cannot assure you that they will not do so in the future. The effect of such future regulations may be to limit the amounts of oil and natural gas that may be produced from our wells, negatively affect the economics of production from these wells or to limit the number of locations operators can drill.

 

Federal, state and local regulations provide detailed requirements for the abandonment of wells, closure or decommissioning of production facilities and pipelines and for site restoration in areas where the operators of the acreage underlying our Royalties operate. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and many other state and local authorities also have regulations for plugging and abandonment, decommissioning and site restoration. Although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does not require bonds or other financial assurances, some state agencies and municipalities do have such requirements.

 

Natural Gas Sales and Transportation

 

Historically, federal legislation and regulatory controls have affected the price and marketing of natural gas. FERC has jurisdiction over the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce by natural gas companies under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 (“NGA”) and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978. Since 1978, various federal laws have been enacted which have resulted in the complete removal of all price and non-price controls for sales of domestic natural gas sold in “first sales.” Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, FERC has substantial enforcement authority to prohibit the manipulation of natural gas markets and enforce its rules and orders, including the ability to assess substantial civil penalties.

 

FERC also regulates interstate natural gas transportation rates and service conditions and establishes the terms under which our operators may use interstate natural gas pipeline capacity, which affects the marketing of natural gas that our operators produce, as well as the revenues our operators receive for sales of natural gas and release of natural gas pipeline capacity. Commencing in 1985, FERC promulgated a series of orders, regulations and rule makings that significantly fostered competition in the business of transporting and marketing gas. Today, interstate pipeline companies are required to provide nondiscriminatory transportation services to producers, marketers and other shippers, regardless of whether such shippers are affiliated with an interstate pipeline company. FERC’s initiatives have led to the development of a competitive, open access market for natural gas purchases and sales that permits all purchasers of natural gas to buy gas directly from third party sellers other than pipelines. However, the natural gas industry historically has been very heavily regulated; therefore, we cannot guarantee that the less stringent regulatory approach currently pursued by FERC and Congress will continue indefinitely into the future nor can we determine what effect, if any, future regulatory changes might have on our natural gas-related activities.

 

  15  

 

 

Under FERC’s current regulatory regime, transmission services must be provided on an open-access, nondiscriminatory basis at cost-based rates or at market-based rates if the transportation market at issue is sufficiently competitive. Gathering service, which occurs upstream of jurisdictional transmission services, is regulated by the states onshore and in-state waters. Section 1(b) of the NGA exempts natural gas gathering facilities from regulation by FERC as a natural gas company under the NGA. Although its policy is still in flux, FERC has in the past reclassified certain jurisdictional transmission facilities as non-jurisdictional gathering facilities, which has the tendency to increase our operators’ costs of transporting gas to point-of-sale locations.

 

Oil Sales and Transportation

 

Sales of crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids are not currently regulated and are made at negotiated prices. Nevertheless, Congress could reenact price controls in the future.

 

Crude oil sales are affected by the availability, terms and cost of transportation. The transportation of oil in common carrier pipelines is also subject to rate regulation. FERC regulates interstate oil pipeline transportation rates under the Interstate Commerce Act and intrastate oil pipeline transportation rates are subject to regulation by state regulatory commissions. The basis for intrastate oil pipeline regulation, and the degree of regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate oil pipeline rates, varies from state to state. Insofar as effective interstate and intrastate rates are equally applicable to all comparable shippers, we believe that the regulation of oil transportation rates will not affect our operations in any materially different way than such regulation will affect the operations of our competitors.

 

Further, interstate and intrastate common carrier oil pipelines must provide service on a non-discriminatory basis. Under this open access standard, common carriers must offer service to all shippers requesting service on the same terms and under the same rates. When oil pipelines operate at full capacity, access is governed by prorationing provisions set forth in the pipelines’ published tariffs. Accordingly, we believe that access to oil pipeline transportation services generally will be available to our operators to the same extent as to our or their competitors.

 

State Regulation

 

Texas regulates the drilling for, and the production, gathering and sale of, oil and natural gas, including imposing severance taxes and requirements for obtaining drilling permits. Texas currently imposes a 4.6% severance tax on the market value of oil production and a 7.5% severance tax on the market value of natural gas production. States also regulate the method of developing new fields, the spacing and operation of wells and the prevention of waste of oil and natural gas resources. States may regulate rates of production and may establish maximum daily production allowables from oil and natural gas wells based on market demand or resource conservation, or both. States do not regulate wellhead prices or engage in other similar direct economic regulation, but we cannot assure you that they will not do so in the future. The effect of these regulations may be to limit the amount of oil and natural gas that may be produced from our wells and to limit the number of wells or locations our operators can drill.

 

The petroleum industry is also subject to compliance with various other federal, state and local regulations and laws. Some of those laws relate to resource conservation and equal employment opportunity. We do not believe that compliance with these laws will have a material adverse effect on it.

 

Our Relationship with Riverbend

 

Royal was managed and operated by the board of directors and executive officers of its general partner, some of whom are also employees of Riverbend. However, neither Royal nor its subsidiary had any employees. All of the employees that conducted Royal’s business, including its executive officers, were employed by Royal’s general partner.

 

As of June 30, 2018, Riverbend had 27 full time employees. None of Riverbend’s or Royal’s general partner’s employees were represented by labor unions or covered by any collective bargaining agreements. Riverbend and Royal’s general partner also hired independent contractors and consultants involved in land, technical, regulatory and other disciplines to assist their full time employees.

 

Facilities

 

Riverbend leased office space for Royal’s principal executive offices in Houston, Texas. We believe our facilities are adequate for our current operations.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

Due to the nature of our business, we are, from time to time, involved in routine litigation or subject to disputes or claims related to our business activities. In the opinion of our management, there are no pending litigation, disputes or claims against it that, if decided adversely, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

 

  16  

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ROYAL

 

The following table shows selected historical financial information of Royal for the periods and as of the dates indicated. The selected historical consolidated financial information of Royal as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was derived from the audited historical consolidated financial statements of Royal included elsewhere in this proxy statement. The selected historical interim condensed consolidated financial information of Royal as of June 30, 2018 and for the six months months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was derived from the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Royal included elsewhere in the Form 8-K. The summary unaudited pro forma financial data as of June 30, 2018 and for the year and six months ended December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018, respectively, has been prepared to present the Royal entities being contributed in the transaction described in the Proxy Statement. Please see the section elsewhere in the Form 8-K entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Combined Financial Information of Osprey.

 

Royal’s historical results are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. In addition, the selected historical financial information below includes the results of operations from certain assets, which Osprey will not acquire in the business combination. The selected consolidated and combined financial information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Royal,” as well as the historical consolidated and combined financial statements of Royal and accompanying notes included elsewhere in the Form 8-K.

 

    Pro Forma Royal Contributed Entities     Royal Historical     Pro Forma Royal Contributed Entities     Royal Historical  
    Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended
December 31,
    Six Months ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2017     2017     2016     2015     2018     2018     2017  
                                     
Operating Results:                                    
Revenues:                                    
Oil and Gas Sales   $ 61,365     $ 104,321     $ 73,579     $ 108,018     $ 47,183     $ 53,295     $ 54,396  
Realized gain on hedging activities     391       751       197       -       (206 )     (206 )     387  
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging activities     541       1,040       (1,040 )     -       (1,708 )     (1,708 )     1,567  
Total Revenues     62,296       106,112       72,736       108,018       45,269       51,381       56,352  
Costs and Expenses:                                                        
Production and ad valorem taxes     3,266       5,980       4,768       6,527       2,463       2,972       3,205  
Lease operating expense           674       440       273       -       396       263  
Marketing and transportation     3,127       6,926       6,747       7,946       891       1,173       3,909  
Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties     17,896       37,085       37,255       46,533       8,685       10,078       21,410  
General, administrative and other     6,018       8,450       6,309       12,175       2,624       6,153       3,140  
Total costs and expenses     30,308       59,115       55,529       73,454       14,663       20,772       31,927  
                                                         
Other Income and (Expense):                                                        
Gain on sale of assets           31,441             -       -       41,382       -  
Other income     60       34       823       436       -       -       2  
Interest expense     (1,445 )     (2,799 )     (3,250 )     (5,462 )     (1,043 )     (1,074 )     (1,343 )
Total other income (expense):     (1,385 )     28,676       (2,427 )     (5,026 )     (1,043 )     40,308       (1,341 )
                                                         
Net Income:
Production Data:
    30,604       75,673       14,780       29,538       29,564       70,917       23,084  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest     (134 )     (155 )     (69 )     (97 )     (81 )     (95 )     (61 )
Net Income attributable to Royal Resources, LP     30,470     $ 75,518     $ 14,711     $ 29,441     $ 29,483     $ 70,822     $ 23,023  
Balance Sheet Data:                                                        
Cash and cash equivalents           $ 10,497     $ 8,048                     $ 35,388          
Total assets           $ 352,483     $ 435,897                     $ 289,120          
Total debt           $ 57,741     $ 58,646                     $ 31,772          
Total liabilities and owners’ equity           $ 352,483     $ 435,897                     $ 289,120          

Exhibit 99.3

 

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

 

Unless otherwise noted, references to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Royal and its consolidated subsidiaries, which is our accounting predecessor for financial reporting purposes. Royal includes VickiCristina, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, DGK ORRI Company, L.P., Noble EF DLG LP, a Texas limited partnership, Noble EF DLG GP LLC, a Texas limited liability company, Noble EF LP, a Texas limited partnership, Noble EF GP LLC, a Texas limited liability company, Noble Marcellus LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and Noble Marcellus GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company as the contributed entities.

 

You should read the following discussion of our historical performance, financial condition and future prospects in conjunction with “Selected Historical Financial Information of Royal,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Combined Financial Information” and the accompanying financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement or included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K. The information provided below supplements, but does not form part of, our financial statements. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on the views and beliefs of Royal’s management, as well as assumptions and estimates made by our management. Actual results could differ materially from such forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors, including those that may not be in the control of management. For further information on items that could impact our future operating performance or financial condition, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 40 of the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on August 3, 2018 (the “Proxy Statement”).

 

Overview

 

On August 23, 2018, we consummated the previously announced business combination pursuant to that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2018 (the “Contribution Agreement”), by and among Royal Resources L.P. (“Royal LP”), Royal Resources GP L.L.C. (“Royal GP” and collectively with Royal LP, “Royal”), Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., LP (“NRAC”), Hooks Ranch Holdings LP (“Hooks Holdings”), DGK ORRI Holdings, LP (“DGK”), DGK ORRI GP LLC (“DGK GP”), Hooks Holding Company GP, LLC (“Hooks GP,” and collectively with NRAC, Hooks Holdings, DGK, and DGK GP, the “Contributors”), and Osprey, pursuant to which Osprey acquired from the Contributors all of their equity interests in certain of their subsidiaries named in the Contribution Agreement. Upon closing we changed our name from “Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp.” to “Falcon Minerals Corporation” (“Falcon”).

 

We were formed to own and acquire royalty interests, mineral interests, non-participating royalty interests and overriding royalty interests, or ORRIs, (“Royalties”) in oil and natural gas properties in North America, substantially all of which are located in the Eagle Ford Shale. These Royalties entitle the holder to a portion of the production of oil and natural gas from the underlying acreage at the sales price received by the operator, net of any applicable post-production expenses and taxes. The holder of these interests has no obligation to fund exploration and development costs, lease operating expenses or plugging and abandonment costs at the end of a well’s productive life, which we believe results in low breakeven costs.

 

Sources of Our Revenue

 

Our revenues were derived from royalty payments we received from our operators based on the sale of oil and natural gas production, as well as the sale of natural gas liquids that are extracted from natural gas during processing. As of June 30, 2018, Our Royalties represented the right to receive an average of 1.36% from the producing wells on the underlying acreage at the sales price received by our operators net of any applicable post-production expenses and taxes. For the year ended December 31, 2017, our revenues were derived 77% from oil and condensate sales, 11% from natural gas liquid sales and 12% from natural gas sales. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, our revenues were derived 82% from oil and condensate sales, 7% from natural gas liquid sales and 11% from natural gas sales. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, our revenues were derived 83% from oil and condensate sales, 6% from natural gas liquid sales and 11% from natural gas sales. Our revenues may vary significantly from period to period as a result of changes in volumes of production sold or changes in commodity prices. Oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas prices have historically been volatile, and at December 31, 2017, and June 30, 2018, we did not hedge any of our exposure to changes in commodity prices. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, West Texas Intermediate posted prices ranged from $42.53 to $60.42 per Bbl and the Henry Hub spot market price of natural gas ranged from $2.44 to $3.71 per MMBtu. On June 30, 2018, the West Texas Intermediate posted price for crude oil was $74.13 per Bbl and the Henry Hub spot market price of natural gas was $2.92 per MMBtu.

  

 

 

 

Commodity prices are inherently volatile, and changes in such prices have historically had an impact on our revenue. The following table sets forth the average realized prices for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids for the three months ended June 30, 2018, six months ended June 30, 2018, three months ended June 30, 2017, six months ended June 30, 2017 and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:

  

    Three Months
Ended
    Six Months
Ended
    Three Months
Ended
    Six Months
Ended
    Year Ended  
    June 30,     June 30,     June 30,     June 30,     December 31,  
    2018     2018     2018     2017     2017     2016     2015  
Average prices                                          
Oil (Bbls)   $ 66.50     $ 65.73     $ 47.19     $ 48.49     $ 50.10     $ 39.91     $ 46.12  
Natural gas (MMBtu)   $ 2.80     $ 2.85     $ 3.07     $ 3.02     $ 2.81     $ 2.19     $ 2.33  
Natural gas liquids (Bbl)   $ 21.49     $ 22.53     $ 16.75     $ 19.18     $ 20.63     $ 12.04     $ 13.07  

 

PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF OUR COST STRUCTURE

 

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes

 

The operators of the properties underlying our Royalties have historically allocated a portion of their production taxes to us based on the volumes of production attributable to our Royalties. Production taxes are paid at fixed rates on produced oil and natural gas based on a percentage of revenues from products sold, established by federal, state or local taxing authorities. Where available, we have historically benefited from tax credits and exemptions in our various taxing jurisdictions. We also directly paid ad valorem taxes in the counties where our production was located. Ad valorem taxes were generally based on the state government’s appraisal of our oil and natural gas properties.

 

Marketing and Transportation

 

The operators of the properties underlying our Royalties have historically allocated a portion of their post-production costs, if applicable, to us based on the volumes of production attributable to our Royalties. These are costs incurred to bring natural gas, natural gas liquids, and oil to the market. Such costs include our operators’ costs to operate and maintain low- and high-pressure gathering and compression systems as well as fees paid to third parties who operate low- and high-pressure gathering systems that transported our gas. They also include costs to process and extract natural gas liquids from our produced gas and to transport our natural gas liquids and oil to market.

 

Amortization

 

Our Royalties are recorded at cost and capitalized as tangible assets. Acquisition costs are amortized on a units of production basis over the life of the proved reserves.

 

2  

 

 

General and Administrative

 

These are costs incurred for overhead, including the allocation of a portion of the historical cost of management, operating and administrative services provided under a master services agreement (the “MSA”) between Royal and Riverbend Oil & Gas, L.L.C. (“Riverbend”), which owned a portion of Royal through an affiliate and whose employees historically managed Royal’s predecessor and Royal, audit and other fees for professional services and legal compliance. On the closing date, Royal assigned to the Company its rights and responsibilities under the existing MSA. Riverbend will perform substantially the same services to the Company as those Riverbend performed for Royal prior to the closing date for the duration of the term of the MSA, which is set to expire on December 10, 2018. The Company anticipates that the day-to-day management of the Company will have transitioned to the Company’s Employees as of the end of such time.

 

Interest Expense

 

Borrowings under Royal’s first lien credit facility and RNR credit facility have historically served to fund distributions to its equity owners. As a result, Royal incurred substantial interest expense that was affected by both fluctuations in interest rates and Royal’s financing decisions. These facilities will not be our obligations after closing, however we are now party to a new revolving credit facility. Please read “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Indebtedness.”

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Royal was historically treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, with each partner being separately taxed on its share of taxable income; therefore, there is no federal income tax expense reflected in Royal’s financial statements.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The following financial statements include information regarding Royal Resources L.P. as Falcon’s predecessor entity, which includes certain interests in subsidiary companies which were not acquired by Osprey in the transactions contemplated by the Proxy Statement. The Royal Resources L.P. subsidiaries that were contributed in the transaction are VickiCristina, LP, DGK ORRI Company, L.P., Noble EF DLG LP, Noble EF LP and Noble Marcellus LP. The interests in Riverbend Natural Resources, L.P and KGD ORRI, L.P. were not contributed in the transactions contemplated by the Proxy Statement. For additional information, please see the pro forma financial information included in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Combined Financial Information” included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K in Exhibit 99.6.

 

3  

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table summarizes our revenue and expenses and production data for the period indicated.

 

    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended     Year Ended  
    June 30,     June 30,     December 31,  
    2018     2017     2018     2017     2017     2016     2015  
Operating Results:                                          
Revenues:                                          
Oil and Gas Sales   $ 30,457     $ 24,976     $ 53,295     $ 54,396     $ 104,321     $ 73,579     $ 108,018  
Realized (loss) gain on hedging activities     (209 )     357       (206 )     387       751       197       -  
Unrealized (loss) gain on hedging activities     (1,614 )     394       (1,708 )     1,569       1,040       (1,040 )     -  
Total Revenues     28,634       25,727       51,381       56,352       106,112       72,736       108,018  
Costs and Expenses:                                                        
Production and ad valorem taxes     1,734       1,542       2,972       3,205       5,980       4,768       6,527  
Lease operating expense     210       152       396       263       674       440       273  
Marketing and transportation     542       1,801       1,173       3,909       6,926       6,747       7,946  
Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties     5,283       10,235       10,078       21,410       37,085       37,265       46,533  
General, administrative and other     3,534       1,465       6,153       3,140       8,450       6,309       12,175  
Total costs and expenses   $ 11,303     $ 15,195     $ 20,772     $ 31,927     $ 59,115     $ 55,529     $ 73,454  
                                                         
Other Income and (Expense):                                                        
Gain on sale of assets     108       -       41,382       -       31,441       -       -  
Other income     -       1       -       2       34       823       436  
Interest expense     (436 )     (689 )     (1,074 )     (1,343 )     (2,799 )     (3,250 )     (5,462 )
Total other income (expense):   $ (328 )   $ (688 )   $ 40,308     $ (1,341 )   $ 28,676     $ (2,427 )   $ (5,026 )
                                                         
Net Income:   $ 17,003     $ 9,844     $ 70,917     $ 23,084     $ 75,673     $ 14,780     $ 29,538  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest     (47 )     (28 )     (95 )     (61 )     (155 )     (69 )     (97 )
Net Income attributable to Royal Resources L.P.   $ 16,956     $ 9,816     $ 70,822     $ 23,023     $ 75,518     $ 14,711     $ 29,441  
Production Data:                                                        
Eagle Ford Shale:                                                        
Oil (Bbls)     348,839       362,002       600,588       786,143       1,402,729       1,397,556       1,876,487  
Natural gas (Mcf)     845,117       766,979       1,352,169       1,626,622       3,083,099       2,936,394       4,201,152  
Natural gas liquids (Bbls)     60,561       117,207       122,867       250,793       493,334       476,780       621,222  
Combined volumes (BOE)     550,253       607,039       948,817       1,308,040       2,409,913       2,363,735       3,197,901  
Average daily combined volumes (BOE/d)     6,047       6,671       5,242       7,227       6,603       6,476       8,761  
Total:                                                        
Oil (Bbls)     384,876       409,642       675,687       863,088       1,582,322       1,474,218       1,919,955  
Natural gas (Mcf)     1,127,476       1,158,127       1,955,624       2,361,498       4,565,892       4,143,679       5,357,859  
Natural gas liquids (Bbls)     70,018       127,374       142,029       269,651       542,706       511,337       650,599  
Combined volumes (BOE)     642,807       730,038       1,143,653       1,526,322       2,886,010       2,676,168       3,463,530  
Average daily combined volumes (BOE/d)     7,064       8,022       6,319       8,433       7,907       7,332       9,489  

 

4  

 

 

Comparison of the three months ended June 30, 2018 to the three months ended June 30, 2017

 

Oil and Gas Revenues

 

Oil and gas revenues increased $5.5 million, or 22%, to $30.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, from $25.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in oil and gas revenues is attributable to a net increase in realized commodity prices offset by a decrease in oil natural gas liquids and natural gas production caused by the sale of a proportion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties. We received an average price of $66.50 per Bbl of oil, $2.80 per Mcf of gas and $21.49 per Bbl of natural gas liquids sold in the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $47.19 per Bbl of oil, $3.07 per Mcf of gas and $16.75 per Bbl of natural gas liquids sold during the three months ended June 30, 2017.

  

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes

 

Production and ad valorem taxes increased $0.2 million, or 12%, to $1.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, from $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in production and ad valorem taxes is attributable to the increase in oil and gas revenues.

 

Marketing and Transportation Expense

 

Marketing and transportation expense decreased $1.3 million, or 70%, to $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, from $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in marketing and transportation expense is attributable to a net change in the production from leases that are burdened by marketing and transportation costs to leases that are not burdened by marketing and transportation costs. This change was caused by a sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties and new production from existing properties.

  

5  

 

 

Amortization of Royalty and Working Interests in Oil and Natural Gas Properties Expense

 

Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties expense decreased $4.9 million, or 48%, to $5.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, from $10.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties expense is attributable to decreased production and net reserves attributable to the sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties.

 

General, Administrative and Other Expense

 

General, administrative and other expense increased $2.0 million, or 141%, to $3.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, from $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in general, administrative and other expense is attributable to the expenses related to the sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties.

 

Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2018 to the six months ended June 30, 2017

 

Oil and Gas Revenues

 

Oil and gas revenues decreased $1.1 million, or 2%, to $53.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, from $54.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in oil and gas revenues is attributable to a decrease in oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production caused by the sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties offset by an increase in realized commodity prices. We received an average price of $65.73 per Bbl of oil, $2.85 per Mcf of gas and $22.53 per Bbl of natural gas liquids sold in the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $48.49 per Bbl of oil, $3.02 per Mcf of gas and $19.18 per Bbl of natural gas liquids sold during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

  

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes

 

Production and ad valorem taxes decreased $0.2 million, or 7%, to $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, from $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in production and ad valorem taxes is attributable to the decrease in oil and gas revenues.

 

Marketing and Transportation Expense

 

Marketing and transportation expense decreased $2.7 million, or 70%, to $1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, from $3.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in marketing and transportation expense is attributable to a net change in the production from leases that are burdened by marketing and transportation costs to leases that are not burdened by marketing and transportation costs. This change was caused by a sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties and new production from existing properties.

 

Amortization of Royalty and Working Interests in Oil and Natural Gas Properties Expense

 

Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties expense decreased $11.3 million, or 53%, to $10.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, from $21.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties expense is attributable to decreased production and net reserves attributable to the sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties.

 

6  

 

 

General, Administrative and Other Expense

 

General, administrative and other expense increased $3.0 million, or 96%, to $6.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, from $3.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in general, administrative and other expense is attributable to the expenses related to the sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties.
 

Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2017 to the year ended December 31, 2016

 

Oil and Gas Sales

 

Oil and gas revenues increased $30.7 million, or 42%, to $104.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $73.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in oil and gas revenues is attributable to an increase in realized commodity prices, an increase in drilling activity, and an increase in oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production. Our revenues are a function of oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production volumes sold and average prices received for those volumes. We received an average of $50.10 per Bbl of oil, $20.63 per Bbl of natural gas liquids and $2.81 per Mcf of natural gas for the volumes sold during the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to an average of $39.91 per Bbl of oil, $12.04 per Bbl of natural gas liquids and $2.19 per Mcf of natural gas for the volumes sold during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Realized Gain on Hedging Activities

 

Realized gain on hedging activities increased $0.6 million, or 281%, to $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in realized gain on hedging activities is attributable to the increase in commodity prices of oil during 2017.

 

Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedging Activities

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging activities increased $2.1 million, to a gain of $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from a loss of $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in unrealized gain on hedging activities is attributable to the increase in the commodity prices of oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas during 2017.

 

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes

 

Production and ad valorem taxes increased $1.2 million, or 25%, to $6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in production and ad valorem taxes is attributable to increased production and increased valuations for ad valorem tax.

 

Lease Operating Expense

 

Lease operating expense increased $0.2 million, or 53%, to $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in lease operating expense is attributable to increased production and development for our working interests in the Williston basin.

 

Marketing and Transportation Expense

 

Marketing and transportation expense increased $0.2 million, or 3%, to $6.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in marketing and transportation expense is attributable to increased production.

 

Amortization of Royalty and Working Interests in Oil and Natural Gas Properties Expense

 

Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties expense decreased $0.2 million, or 0.5%, to $37.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $37.3 million for year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease in amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties expense is attributable to the sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties and an increase in reserves attributable to new wells offset by increased production volumes.

 

7  

 

 

General, Administrative and Other Expense

 

General, administrative and other expense increased $2.1 million, or 34%, to $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in general, administrative and other expense is attributable to the expenses related to the sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties.

 

Gain on Sale of Assets

 

Gain on sale of assets increased $31.4 million to $31.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $0 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in other gain on sale of assets is attributable to the sale of a portion of our interests in certain oil and natural gas properties.

 

Other Income

 

Other income decreased $0.8 million, or 96%, to $0.03 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease in other income is attributable to the change in classification of lease bonuses and extensions as other income in 2016 to oil and gas sales in 2017.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense decreased $0.5 million, or 14%, to $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, from $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease in interest expense is attributable to a $52.5 million repayment of long-term debt in 2016.

 

Comparison of the year ended December 31, 2016 to the year ended December 31, 2015

 

Oil and Gas Sales

 

Oil and gas revenues decreased $34.4 million, or 32%, to $73.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $108 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in oil and gas revenues is attributable to a decrease in oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production as well as a decrease in realized commodity prices. Our revenues are a function of oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production volumes sold and average prices received for those volumes. We received an average of $39.91 per Bbl of oil, $12.04 per Bbl of natural gas liquids and $2.19 per Mcf of natural gas for the volumes sold during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to an average of $46.12 per Bbl of oil, $13.07 per Bbl of natural gas liquids and $2.33 per Mcf of natural gas for the volumes sold during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Realized Gain on Hedging Activities

 

Realized gain on hedging activities increased $0.2 million to $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $0 for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in realized gain on hedging activities is attributable to the use of commodity hedges during 2016.

 

Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedging Activities

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging activities decreased $1.0 million to a loss of $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $0 for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in unrealized gain (loss) on hedging activities is attributable to the use of commodity hedges during 2016.

 

Production and Ad Valorem Taxes

 

Production and ad valorem taxes decreased $1.8 million, or 27%, to $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in production and ad valorem taxes is attributable to a decrease in oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production during 2016.

  

8  

 

 

Lease Operating Expense

 

Lease operating expense increased $0.2 million, or 61%, to $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in lease operating expense is attributable to increased production for our working interests in the Williston basin.

 

Marketing and Transportation Expense

 

Marketing and transportation expense decreased $1.2 million, or 15%, to $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in marketing and transportation expense is attributable to decreased production.

 

Amortization of Royalty and Working Interests in Oil and Natural Gas Properties Expense

 

Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties expense decreased $9.3 million, or 20%, to $37.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $46.5 million for year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties expense is attributable to a decrease in oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production.

 

General, Administrative and Other Expense

 

General, administrative and other expense decreased $5.9 million, or 48%, to $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $12.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in general, administrative and other expense is attributable to non-recurring expenses incurred in 2015 related to a potential initial public offering of certain Royal assets in addition to higher management fees in 2015.

 

Other Income

 

Other income increased $0.4 million, or 89%, to $0.8 for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in other income is attributable to higher lease bonuses and extensions in 2016.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense decreased $2.2 million, or 40%, to $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, from $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in interest expense is attributable to a $52.5 million repayment of long-term debt in 2016.

  

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Overview

 

Our primary sources of liquidity have historically been cash flows from operations and equity and debt financings, and our primary uses of cash have historically been for replacement and growth capital expenditures, including the acquisition of oil and natural gas properties.

 

Cash Flows

 

The following table presents our cash flows for the period indicated.

 

    Six Months Ended     Year Ended  
    June 30,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2018     2017     2017     2016     2015  
Cash Flow Data:                              
Cash flows provided by operating activities   $ 38,836     $ 40,623     $ 80,791     $ 51,279     $ 88,197  
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities     120,590       (2,054 )     83,048       (5,260 )     (8,100 )
Cash flows used in financing activities     (134,535 )     (31,000 )     (161,390 )     (76,225 )     (76,563 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash   $ 24,891     $ 7,569     $ 2,449     $ (30,206 )   $ 3,534  

 

9  

 

 

Operating Activities

 

Our operating cash flow has historically been sensitive to many variables, the most significant of which is the volatility of prices for the oil and natural gas we produce. Prices for these commodities are determined primarily by prevailing market conditions. Regional and worldwide economic activity, weather and other substantially variable factors influence market conditions for these products. These factors have historically been beyond our control and are difficult to predict.

 

Cash flow provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 did not meaningfully change from the cash provided from operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

 

The increase in cash flow provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016 is attributable to higher production from our oil and natural gas properties related to new wells and increased commodity prices of oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas during 2017.

 

The decrease in cash flow provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015 is attributable to a reduction in net income before amortization of royalty and working interest in oil and natural gas properties during 2016 and a $0.7 million increase in accounts receivable in 2016 compared a $12.5 million decrease in accounts receivable in 2015.

 

  Investing Activities

 

Cash provided by investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $120.6, as a result of proceeds from the sale of assets of $120.9 million and $0.3 million used for additions to oil and natural gas properties. Cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $2.0 million, as a result of $2.1 million used for additions to oil and natural gas properties offset by a $0.1 million decrease in advances to operators.

 

Cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $83.0 million, as a result of $86.3 million from proceeds from the sale of assets, $3.5 million used for additions to oil and natural gas properties and $0.2 million from a decrease in advances to operators.

 

Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $5.3 million, a result of $5.0 million used for additions to oil and natural gas properties and $0.2 million used in advances to operators.

 

Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $8.1 million, a result of additions to oil and natural gas properties.

 

Financing Activities

 

Cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $134.5 million and was a result of partner distributions of $107.5 million and a $27 million repayment of long-term debt. Cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $31 million and was a result of partner distributions of $30 million and a $1 million repayment of long-term debt.

 

Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $161.4 million, a result of $1 million from repayment of long-term debt and $160.4 million used in partner distributions.

 

10  

 

 

Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $76.2 million, a result of partner distributions of $23.6 million, $0.05 million of partner contributions, $52.5 million from the repayment of long-term debt and related debt issuance costs that were being amortized.

 

Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $76.6 million, a result of distributions to partners during the year.

 

Indebtedness

 

Old Credit Facilities

 

Royal’s historical primary sources of indebtedness are its first lien credit facility, which it entered into in October 2012, and Royal’s RNR credit facility:

 

  First lien credit facility : As of December 31, 2017, the borrowing base on the first lien credit facility was $57 million. As of June 30, 2018, the borrowing base on the first lien credit facility was $30 million. The borrowing base is re-determined semi-annually. Borrowings are either at LIBOR or at the Base Rate, at Royal’s option, plus a variable credit spread. The variable credit spread is based on the percentage of the borrowing base utilized. The outstanding principal is due October 19, 2020.

 

  RNR credit facility : As of December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018, the borrowing base on the RNR credit facility was $2 million. Borrowings are between 7% and 9% for LIBOR-based loans, and between 6% and 8% for Base Rate loans. The interest rate is based on the percentage of the borrowing base utilized. The outstanding principal is due November 21, 2019. The RNR credit facility was incurred by Riverbend Natural Resources, LP, which will not be contributed in the transaction contemplated by the Proxy Statement.

 

The availability under each facility was subject to Royal’s compliance with certain customary contractual financial and non-financial covenants and each facility was secured by Royal’s assets.

 

New Credit Facility


On the closing date, we entered into a credit facility with Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent for the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement initially provides for aggregate revolving borrowings of up to $500.0 million with an initial $115.0 million borrowing base. On the closing date, $38.0 million was drawn under the Credit Agreement to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Business Combination, to pay transaction expenses, to fund any original issue discount or upfront fees in connection with the “market flex” provisions previously agreed upon and to finance working capital needs and other general corporate purposes.

 

Principal amounts borrowed are payable on the maturity date. We have a choice of borrowing at the base rate or LIBOR, with such borrowings bearing interest, payable quarterly in arrears for base rate loans and one month, two-month, three month or six month periods for LIBOR loans. LIBOR loans bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate appearing on the Reuters Reference LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 page as the LIBOR, for deposits in dollars at 12:00 noon (London, England time) for one, two, three, or six months plus an applicable margin ranging from 200 to 300 basis points. Base rate loans bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the agent bank’s reference rate, (ii) the federal funds effective rate plus 50 basis points and (iii) the rate for one month LIBOR loans plus 1%, plus an applicable margin ranging from 100 to 200 basis points. The next scheduled redetermination of our borrowing base is on April 1, 2019.

 

Obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by us and each of our existing and future, direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (the “Credit Parties”), and are secured by all of the present and future assets of the Credit Parties, subject to customary carve-outs.

 

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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

The following tables present our contractual obligations and other commitments as of December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018:

  

    Payments Due by Period – as of December 31, 2017  
    Total     2018     2019     2020     2021     Thereafter  
Long-term debt   $ 58,000           $ 1,000     $ 57,000              
Total   $ 58,000           $ 1,000     $ 57,000              

 

    Payments Due by Period – as of June 30, 2018  
    Total     2018     2019     2020     2021     Thereafter  
Long-term debt   $ 31,000           $ 1,000     $ 30,000              
Total   $ 31,000           $ 1,000     $ 30,000              

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The discussion and analysis of our historical financial condition and results of operations are based upon our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements, incorporated by reference herein to the Proxy Statement, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Management Estimates

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to amortization calculations, and estimates of fair value for long-lived assets, and reserves for contingencies and litigation. Management based its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that were believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Royalty and Working Interests in Oil and Natural Gas Properties

 

Royalty and working interests include acquired interests in production, development, and exploration stage properties. We followed the successful efforts method of accounting. Under this method, costs of acquiring properties, costs of drilling successful exploration wells and development costs are capitalized. Oil and natural gas exploration costs, other than the costs of drilling exploratory wells, are charged to expense as incurred. Lease rentals are expensed as incurred.

 

Acquisition costs of proven royalty and working interests are amortized using the units of production method over the life of the property, which is estimated using proven reserves. Acquisition costs of royalty interests on exploration stage properties, where there are no proven reserves, are not amortized. At such time as the associated exploration stage interests are converted to proven reserves, the cost basis is amortized using the units of production methodology over the life of the property, using proven reserves. For purposes of amortization, interests in oil and natural gas properties are grouped in a reasonable aggregation of properties with common geological structural features or stratigraphic condition.

 

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Impairment of Royalty and Working Interests in Oil and Natural Gas Properties

 

We review and evaluate our royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Our estimates of recoverability and fair value are based on numerous assumptions and it is possible that actual results will be significantly different than the estimates, as actual future quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas, commodity prices, production levels, operating costs, and taxes associated with production of oil and natural gas reserves are each subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The carrying value of exploration stage interests are evaluated for impairment when information becomes available indicating that production will not occur in the future. When required, impairment losses are recognized based on the fair value of the assets. No such impairment expense was recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2018 or 2017 and the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 or 2015.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

Our asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) relate to our working interests in the Williston basin and represent the future abandonment costs of working interests in tangible assets, namely the plugging and abandonment of wells and land remediation. The fair value of a liability for an asset’s retirement is recognized in the period in which it is incurred and becomes determinable, with an offsetting increase in the carrying amount of the associated asset. The cost of the tangible assets, including the initially recognized ARO, is depleted over the useful life of the asset. The ARO are recorded at fair value, and accretion expense is recognized over time as the discounted liability is accreted to its expected settlement value.

 

Inherent in the fair value calculation of ARO are numerous assumptions and judgments including, but not limited to: the ultimate settlement amounts, inflation factors, credit-adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement, and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental, and political environments. To the extent future revisions to these assumptions impact the fair value of the existing ARO liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the oil and natural gas property balance.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenues from the sale of oil and natural gas are recognized when the product is delivered at a fixed or determinable price, title has transferred and collectability is reasonably assured and evidenced by a contract. We follow the “entitlement method” of accounting for our oil and natural gas revenue, so it recognizes revenue on all crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids based on its proportionate share of production. Royalty revenue is recognized when management can reliably estimate the royalty receivable, pursuant to the terms of the royalty agreements, and collection is reasonably assured. Differences between estimates of royalty revenue and the actual amounts are adjusted and recorded in the period that the actual amounts are known.

 

Inflation

 

Inflation did not have a material impact on results of operations for the periods presented.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2018.

  

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

Our major market risk exposure is in the pricing applicable to the oil and natural gas production of our operators. Realized pricing was primarily driven by the prevailing worldwide price for crude oil and spot market prices applicable to our natural gas production. Pricing for oil and natural gas production has been volatile and unpredictable for several years, we expect this volatility to continue in the future and we do not hedge our exposure to changes in commodity prices. The prices that our operators receive for production depend on many factors outside of our or their control. Historically, we did not entered into hedging arrangements to manage commodity price risks.

 

Revenue Concentration Risk

 

We are subject to risk resulting from the concentration of oil and gas revenues in producing oil and natural gas properties and receivables with several significant purchasers. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we received approximately 28%, 18%, 18% and 15% of our revenue from Devon, EOG, BHP, and ConocoPhillips, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, we received approximately 35%, 24%, and 18% of our revenue from ConocoPhillips, EOG, and Devon, respectively. We did not require collateral and did not believe the loss of any single purchaser would materially impact our operating results, as crude oil and natural gas are fungible products with well-established markets and numerous purchasers.

 

13  

 

Exhibit 99.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royal Resources L.P. and
Subsidiaries

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and for the three month and six month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

royal resources l.p. AND SUBSIDIARies

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

  Page
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2018 AND DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND FOR THE THREE MONTH AND SIX MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 AND 2017:  
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets 2
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations 3
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital 4
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 5
   
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 6-11

  

 

 

 

ROYAL RESOURCES L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

AS OF JUNE 30, 2018 AND DECEMBER 31, 2017

 

 

(in thousands)

    June 30,
2018
    December 31,
2017
 
ASSETS            
             
CURRENT ASSETS:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 35,388     $ 10,497  
Prepaid expenses     1,277       1,321  
Accounts receivable     15,014       13,749  
                 
Total current assets     51,679       25,567  
                 
ROYALTY AND WORKING INTERESTS IN OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES — Less accumulated amortization of $116,231 and $155,855, respectively     237,441       326,916  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 289,120     $ 352,483  
                 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL                
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:                
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   $ 3,011     $ 3,802  
Derivative liability     1,003       -  
Accrued expenses — to partners     795       1,601  
                 
Total current liabilities     4,809       5,403  
                 
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:                
Derivative liability     704       -  
Asset retirement obligation     187       182  
Long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $119 and $259, respectively     30,881       57,741  
                 
Total long-term liabilities     31,772       57,923  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 9)                
                 
PARTNERS’ CAPITAL     252,539       289,157  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL   $ 289,120     $ 352,483  

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

   

  - 2 -  

 

 

ROYAL RESOURCES L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

(in thousands)

    Three Months     Six Months  
    Ended June 30,     Ended June 30,  
    2018     2017     2018     2017  
REVENUES:                        
Oil and gas sales   $ 30,457     $ 24,976     $ 53,295     $ 54,396  
Realized (loss) gain on hedging activities     (209 )     357       (206 )     387  
Unrealized (loss) gain on hedging activities     (1,614 )     394       (1,708 )     1,569  
                                 
Total revenues     28,634       25,727       51,381       56,352  
                                 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:                                
Production and ad valorem taxes     1,734       1,542       2,972       3,205  
Lease operating expense     210       152       396       263  
Marketing and transportation     542       1,801       1,173       3,909  
Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties     5,283       10,235       10,078       21,410  
General, administrative and other     3,534       1,465       6,153       3,140  
                                 
Total costs and expenses     11,303       15,195       20,772       31,927  
                                 
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSE):                                
Gain on sale of assets     108     -       41,382       -  
Other income     -       1       -       2  
Interest expense     (436 )     (689 )     (1,074 )     (1,343 )
Total other income and (expense)     (328 )     (688 )     40,308       (1,341 )
                                 
NET INCOME     17,003       9,844       70,917       23,084  
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST     (47 )     (28 )     (95 )     (61 )
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ROYAL RESOURCES L.P.   $ 16,956     $ 9,816     $ 70,822     $ 23,023  

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

  - 3 -  

 

  

ROYAL RESOURCES L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2018

 

 

(in thousands)

    General     Limited     Noncontrolling        
    Partner     Partners     Interest     Total  
BALANCE — January 1, 2018   $ -     $ 288,529     $ 628     $ 289,157  
                                 
Distributions     -       (107,497 )     (38 )     (107,535 )
                                 
Net income     -       70,822       95       70,917  
                                 
BALANCE — June 30, 2018   $ -     $ 251,854     $ 685     $ 252,539  

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

   

  - 4 -  

 

    

ROYAL RESOURCES L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 AND 2017

 

 

(in thousands)

    2018     2017  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:            
Net income   $ 70,917     $ 23,084  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Gain on sale of assets     (41,382 )     -  
Unrealized loss (gain) on hedging activities     1,708       (1,569 )
Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties     10,078       21,410  
Accretion of asset retirement obligation     5       10  
Amortization of debt issue costs     139       47  
Increase in accounts receivable     (1,265 )     (1,455 )
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses     44       (999 )
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities     (788 )     325  
Decrease in accrued expenses-to partners     (806 )     (230 )
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities     38,650       40,623  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITY:                
Additions to oil and natural gas properties     (354 )     (2,148 )
Decrease in advances to operators     -       94  
Proceeds from sale of assets     121,130       -  
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     120,776       (2,054 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                
Distributions to partners     (107,535 )     (30,000 )
Repayment of long-term debt     (27,000 )     (1,000 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities     (134,535 )     (31,000 )
                 
NET INCREASE IN CASH     24,891       7,569  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — Beginning of period     10,497       8,048  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — End of period   $ 35,388     $ 15,617  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:                
Cash paid for interest   $ 945     $ 1,312  
Accounts payable related to capital expenditures   $ 68     $ 382  

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

  

  - 5 -  

 

 

Royal Resources L.P. and SUBSIDIARies

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

($ IN thousands, except for price per barrel)

 

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS

 

Organization  — The condensed consolidated financial statements of Royal Resources L.P. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Partnership”) include the accounts for DGK ORRI Holdings, LP and its wholly owned subsidiary, DGK ORRI Company, L.P. collectively, (“DGK”); Hooks Ranch Holding LP (“Hooks Ranch”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, VickiCristina LP (“VickiCristina”); KGD ORRI Holdings, L.P. (“KGD”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, KGD ORRI, L.P. (“KGD ORRI”); Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., LP and its subsidiary companies, collectively, (“NRAC”) and Riverbend Natural Resources, LP (“RNR”) and its subsidiary companies. The Partnership owns 100%, 100%, 100%, 99.5% and 99.3% of these subsidiaries, respectively.

 

The primary purpose of the Partnership is to acquire, own, maintain, and manage mineral interests, mineral royalties, and overriding royalties relating to onshore unconventional shale oil and natural gas properties in the United States and any associated interests or royalties relating to conventional oil and natural gas properties.

 

On June 3, 2018 the Partnership entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party, Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), with the intent to pursue a combination of certain of the Partnership’s assets and the Company into a wholly-owned acquisition subsidiary. The Partnership will contribute certain of its assets to the subsidiary for $400 million of cash and 40 million common units of the acquisition subsidiary, subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the definitive agreement. The combined entity will be renamed to Falcon Minerals Corporation in connection with the closing. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018.  

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation  — The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted from these interim financial statements. The Partnership believes the disclosures made in these interim financial statements are adequate to make the information herein not misleading. The Partnership recommends that these interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with its audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto.

 

The interim financial statements includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim period. The results of operations for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results of the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

 

Management Estimates  — The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to estimates of proved reserves of oil and natural gas and related present value estimates of future net cash flows therefrom, which affect the calculations of amortization and impairment, estimates of asset retirement obligations, estimates of fair value for long-lived assets, and valuation of commodity derivative instruments. The Partnership’s management bases its estimates on experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

  

  - 6 -  

 

 

Significant Accounting Policies — For a complete description of the Partnership’s significant accounting policies, see Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the annual audited consolidated financial statements.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements — The following new Accounting Standard Updates were issued but not adopted as of June 30, 2018:

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” . ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition and industry-specific guidance in Subtopic 932 605, Extractive Activities – Oil and Gas – Revenue Recognition. This ASU provides guidance concerning the recognition and measurement of revenue from contracts with customers. Its objective is to increase the usefulness of information in the consolidated financial statements regarding the nature, timing and uncertainty of revenues. This standard becomes effective for us beginning January 2019.

 

The Partnership is in the process of completing its review of a representative sample of royalty agreements and revenue contracts covering its material revenue streams to evaluate any potential changes in revenue recognition upon adoption of the new standard, and based on evaluations to-date, the implementation of the new standard will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures. The Partnership intends to use the modified retrospective approach upon adoption of the new guidance on the effective date of January 1, 2019, and does not anticipate recording any material transition adjustments upon adoption.

 

The FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the statement of financial position. The update is effective for consolidated financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Partnership is evaluating the potential impact ASU 2016-02 may have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

3. DISPOSITIONS OF MINERAL INTERESTS IN OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES

 

On February 1, 2018, DGK, a wholly owned subsidiary, completed the sale of its interests in a portion of its oil and natural gas properties to an unaffiliated third party for cash proceeds, net of customary purchase price adjustments, of $120,944. The sale resulted in a realized gain of $41,196.

 

On December 20, 2017, KGD, a wholly owned subsidiary, completed the sale of its interests in all of its oil and natural gas properties to an unaffiliated third party for cash proceeds, net of customary purchase price adjustments, of $86,527. The sale resulted in a realized gain of $31,627.

 

4. NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

 

The Partnership has non-controlling interests related to the 0.5% ownership of NRAC held by third parties and the 0.695% interest held by third parties in Riverbend Natural Resources, LP. The NRAC holders have received distributions in the amount of $34 and $61, respectively for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The RNR holders have received distributions in the amount of $4 and $0, respectively for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. Net income of $95 and $61 has been allocated to these holders for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

  

  - 7 -  

 

 

5. FAIR VALUE

 

Financial Assets and Liabilities  — Financial assets with carrying values approximating fair value include cash and cash equivalents and other current assets. Financial liabilities with carrying values approximating fair value due to their short maturities include accounts payable, accrued liabilities and short-term derivative instruments. The carrying value of the Partnership’s debt approximates fair value because the credit facilities variable interest rates reset frequently and approximates current market rates available to the Partnership. The Partnership’s derivative instruments are recorded at fair value (see Note 7).

 

6. LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Summary of debt as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

  

      2018     2017  
               
  DGK   $ 30,000     $ 57,000  
  RNR     1,000       1,000  
  Total Debt     31,000       58,000  
  Less current portion of debt     -       -  
                   
  Total long term debt   $ 31,000     $ 58,000  

  

DGK

 

As of June 30, 2018, DGK has one credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

  

Borrowings from the credit agreement may be used for acquiring mineral interests in oil and natural gas properties, for general corporate purposes and for funding distributions to partners. The credit agreement is secured by the DGK’s investment in oil and natural gas properties and unconditionally guaranteed by DGK.

 

The current amount outstanding on the first lien credit agreement is $30,000 and is due on October 19, 2020. On February 1, 2018, $27,000 of this line of credit was paid down. Borrowings bear interest based on, at DGK’s election, a base rate or a London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus applicable premiums based on a percent of the borrowing base that is outstanding. The interest rate as of June 30, 2018 is 5.594%.

 

Borrowings under the first lien facility may not exceed a “borrowing base” determined by the lender based on the oil and natural gas reserves of DGK. On February 1, 2018, the borrowing base was reduced to $30,000 in conjunction with the partial sale of assets described in Note 3 and in full replacement and substitution for the April 15, 2018 scheduled redetermination. The borrowing base is subject to scheduled redeterminations as of April 15th and October 15th each year with an additional redetermination once per calendar year at the request of the partnership or at the request of the lenders and an additional redetermination once each calendar year in connection with a material acquisition of properties. DGK may repay any amounts borrowed prior to the maturity date without any premium or penalty.

 

RNR

 

On November 21, 2014, Riverbend Natural Resources, LP executed a credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank N.A., which matures on November 21, 2019. Borrowings may be used for acquiring mineral interests in oil and natural gas properties, for general corporate purposes and for funding distributions to partners. The credit agreement is secured by the RNR’s investment in oil and natural gas properties and unconditionally guaranteed by RNR.

  

  - 8 -  

 

 

Borrowings under the credit agreement may not exceed a “borrowing base” determined by lenders based on the oil and natural gas reserves of RNR. As of June 30, 2018, the borrowing base was $2,000. The borrowing base is subject to scheduled redeterminations as of April 1st and October 1st each year with an additional redetermination once per calendar year at the request of RNR or at the request of the lenders and an additional redetermination once each calendar year in connection with a material acquisition of properties.

 

The current amount outstanding on the credit agreement is $1,000. Borrowings bear interest based on, at the Partnership’s election, a base rate or a LIBOR plus applicable premiums based on a percent of the borrowing base that is outstanding. The interest rate as of June 30, 2018 is 4.60%.

 

7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The Partnership entered into three crude oil commodity swaps on January 25, 2018 for the purpose of hedging the impact of market fluctuations of crude oil prices for 2018 through 2021. The Partnership’s commodity derivative instruments generally serve as hedges of commodity price risk exposure, however, the Partnership has elected not to account for the derivatives as cash flow hedges. The Partnership had no outstanding commodity derivatives as of December 31, 2017. The Partnership had the following commodity derivatives outstanding as of June 30, 2018, none of which have been designated as cash flow hedges:

  

      OIL  
      TOTAL BARRELS     WEIGHTED
AVERAGE PRICE
PER BBL
 
  SWAPS --            
  July 2018 - December 2018     70,023     $ 62.98  
  January 2019 - December 2019     103,408     $ 58.37  
  January 2020 - February 2021     83,145     $ 55.22  

 

The Partnership’s derivatives are accounted for as non-hedge derivatives and therefore all changes in the fair values of its derivative contracts are recognized as gains or losses in the earnings of the periods in which they occur. The changes in fair value of derivatives are represented on the statement of income as unrealized gains (losses) on hedging activities, and net derivative settlements are represented on the statement of income as realized gains (losses) on hedging activities. The table below summarizes the Company's gains (losses) on derivative instruments for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:

 

(In thousands)

    Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
      2018     2017     2018     2017  
                         
  Changes in fair value of derivatives   $ (1,614 )   $ 394     $ (1,708 )   $ 1,569  
  Net derivative settlements     (209 )     357       (206 )     387  

 

The Partnership reports the fair value of derivatives on the consolidated balance sheet. The determination of the current and noncurrent classification is based on the timing of expected future cash flows from the individual trades. The Partnership reports these on a gross basis by contract. The following table summarizes the fair value of derivative contracts outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively:

 

(In thousands)

    June 30,
2018
    December 31,
2017
 
  Derivative asset   $ -     $ -  
  Derivative liability     (1,707 )     -  
  Net derivative liability   $ (1,707 )   $ -  

   

  - 9 -  

 

 

The fair values of the Partnership’s commodity derivative instruments are classified as Level 2 measurements in accordance with the fair value hierarchy, because they are calculated using industry standard models using assumptions and inputs which are substantially observable in active markets throughout the full term of the instruments. These include market price curves, contract terms and prices, credit risk adjustments, implied market volatility and discount factors. The following table provides the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2018 (In thousands):

  

      Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Fair Value
as of June 30,
2018
 
  Derivative Instruments–                        
  Oil price swap-current liability   $     $ (1,003 )   $     $ (1,003 )
  Oil price swap-noncurrent liability   $     $ (704 )   $     $ (704 )

 

8. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

 

The Partnership’s two business segments are: 1) royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties and 2) working interests in oil and natural gas properties. Management has chosen to organize the Partnership into two reportable segments based on the nature of the interests in oil and gas properties. The performance of our operating segments is evaluated based on segment net income (loss), which is defined as income (loss) before income taxes. All reported revenues are from external customers. The following is a summary as of and for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:

  

      Three Months Ended June 30,  
      2018     2017  
      Royalty
interests
    Working
interests
    Total     Royalty
interests
    Working
interests
    Total  
  Oil and natural gas revenue   $ 28,135     $ 2,322     $ 30,457     $ 22,879     $ 2,097     $ 24,976  
  Gain on sale of assets   $ 108   $ -     $ 108   $ -     $ -     $ -  
  Net income   $ 15,988     $ 1,015     $ 17,003     $ 9,284     $ 560     $ 9,844  

  

      Six Months Ended June 30,  
      2018     2017  
      Royalty
interests
    Working
interests
    Total     Royalty
interests
    Working
interests
    Total  
  Oil and natural gas revenue   $ 48,529     $ 4,766     $ 53,295     $ 50,898     $ 3,498     $ 54,396  
  Gain on sale of assets   $ 41,382     $ -     $ 41,382     $ -     $ -     $ -  
  Net income   $ 68,869     $ 2,048     $ 70,917     $ 22,088     $ 996     $ 23,084  

  

  - 10 -  

 

 

As described in Note 3, the Partnership completed the sale of its interests in a portion of its oil and natural gas properties, reducing the net book value of oil and natural gas properties. The following is a summary as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

  

      2018     2017  
      Royalty
interests
    Working
interests
    Total     Royalty
interests
    Working
interests
    Total  
  Oil and natural gas properties, net of DD&A   $ 216,231     $ 21,210     $ 237,441     $ 304,663     $ 22,253     $ 326,916  
  Total assets   $ 261,832     $ 27,288     $ 289,120     $ 326,893     $ 25,590     $ 352,483  

  

9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Contingent Liabilities  — The Partnership may, from time to time, be involved in various legal matters arising in the ordinary course of business, including claims and litigation proceedings. We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings and are not aware of any material legal or government proceedings against the Partnership or contemplated to be brought against the Partnership.

 

10. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Management Agreement  — The Partnership pays management fees to related entities, which are included within general and administrative expenses. Management fees incurred for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were $448 and $388, respectively. Management fees incurred for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were $795 and $860, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accrued expenses payable to partners were $795 and $1,601, respectively.

 

11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Partnership has performed its evaluation of subsequent events through August 22, 2018, the date the condensed consolidated financial statements were issued. Based on such evaluation, no events were identified that required disclosure or adjustment to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

******

 

  - 11 -  

Exhibit 99.6

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED COMBINED
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this section shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Form 8-K”) to which this section is attached as an exhibit.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined statements of operations of Osprey for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and for the year ended December 31, 2017 combine the historical statements of operations of Osprey and the historical consolidated statements of the contributed operations of Royal pro forma for removal of certain of Royal LP’s subsidiaries, giving effect to the following transactions (the “Transaction”) as if they had been consummated on January 1, 2017, the beginning of the earliest period presented:

 

  the acquisition by Osprey from the Contributors of (i) all of the Contributors’ equity interests of the Royal Entities, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, in exchange for (i) the issuance by Opco at the closing of 40,000,000 common units to the Contributors, (ii) the issuance by Osprey at the closing of 40,000,000 shares of Class C common stock to the Contributors and (iii) an amount of cash equal to $400,000,000 plus the reimbursement of certain of their transaction expenses;

 

  the redemption by Osprey of shares of Class A common stock held by public stockholders in connection with the Transaction and the adjustments to the foregoing consideration received by the Contributors as more fully described below; and

 

  the conversion of 6,875,000 shares of Class B common stock into 6,875,000 shares of Class A common stock, in connection with the closing.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined balance sheet of Osprey as of June 30, 2018 combines the historical condensed balance sheet of Osprey and the historical condensed consolidated balance sheet of Royal and then removes certain of Royal LP’s subsidiaries, as well as certain of Royal’s assets and liabilities, not being contributed in the Transactions, as if they had been consummated on June 30, 2018.

 

The historical consolidated financial statements have been adjusted in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements to give pro forma effect to events that are: (i) directly attributable to the Transaction; (ii) factually supportable; and (iii) with respect to the statement of operations, expected to have a continuing impact on Osprey’s results following the completion of the Transaction.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements have been developed from and should be read in conjunction with:

 

  the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements;

 

  the (i) historical audited financial statements of Osprey as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 incorporated by reference to the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on August 3, 2018 (the “Proxy Statement”) and (ii) historical condensed unaudited financial statements of Osprey as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2018, included elsewhere in the Form 8-K;

 

  the (i) historical audited consolidated financial statements of Royal as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement and (ii) historical condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements of Royal as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2018, included elsewhere in the Form 8-K; and

 

  other information relating to Osprey and Royal contained in the Proxy Statement and in the Form 8-K.

 

Pursuant to the Charter, public stockholders were offered the opportunity to redeem, upon the closing, shares of Class A common stock then held by them for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit (as of two business days prior to the closing) in the Trust Account. No shares were redeemed in connection with the closing.

 

  1  

 

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements have been prepared as follows:

 

  (i) the acquisition of the Royal Entities under the Contribution Agreement has been accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Osprey will be treated as the acquired company and Royal will be treated as the acquirer for financial reporting purposes.

 

Assumptions and estimates underlying the unaudited pro forma adjustments set forth in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements are described in the accompanying notes. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements have been presented for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the operating results and financial position that would have been achieved had the Transaction and the other related transactions occurred on the dates indicated. Further, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements do not purport to project the future operating results or financial position of Osprey following the completion of the Transaction and the other related transactions. The unaudited pro forma adjustments represent management’s estimates based on information available as of the date of these unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and analyses are performed.

 

  2  

 

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Balance Sheet
June 30, 2018
(in thousands)

 

    Osprey (A)     Royal Historical (B)     Adjustment for Royal Entities not Contributed (C)    

Pro Forma

Contributed Royal Entities

    Pro Forma Adjustments       Pro Forma Combined  
ASSETS                                      
CURRENT ASSETS:                                      
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 708     $ 35,388     $ (5,291 )   $ 30,097     $ (28,301 ) (D)   $ 2,504  
Prepaid expenses     121       1,277       (1,277 )     -       -         121  
Accounts receivable     -       15,014       (1,156 )     13,858       -         13,858  
Total current assets     829       51,679       (7,724 )     43,955       (28,301 )       16,483  
                                                   
Marketable securities held in Trust Account     277,496       -       -       -       (277,496 ) (F)     -  
Deferred tax asset     -       -       -       -       68,282   (W)     68,282  
Royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties     -       237,441       (21,210 )     216,231       -         216,231  
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 278,325     $ 289,120     $ (28,933 )   $ 260,186     $ (237,515 )     $ 300,996  
                                                   
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                                  
CURRENT LIABILITIES:                                                  
Current portion of long–term hedge liability   $ -     $ 1,003     $ -     $ 1,003     $ (1,003 ) (J)   $ -  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     94       3,011       (2,560 )     451       (59 ) (J)     486  
Accrued expenses – to partners     -       795       -       795       (795 ) (K)     -  
Income taxes payable     147       -       -       -       -         147  
Intercompany Payable     -       -       2,382       2,382       (2,382 ) (K)     -  
Total current liabilities     241       4,809       (178 )     4,631       (4,239 )       633  
                                                   
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:                                                  
Asset retirement obligation     -       187       (187 )     -       -         -  
Long-term hedge liability     -       704       -       704       (704 ) (J)     -  
Long-term debt, net     -       30,881       (982 )     29,899       5,401   (M)     35,300  
Deferred underwriting fees     9,625       -       -       -       (9,625 ) (H)     -  
Total long-term liabilities     9,625       31,772       (1,169 )     30,603       (4,928 )       35,300  
                                                   
Commitments and Contingencies                                                  
                                                   
Common stock subject to redemption     263,459       -       -       -       (263,459 ) (P)     -  
                                                   
SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY:                                                  
Partners’ Capital     -       252,539       (27,586 )     224,953       (224,953 ) (Q)     -  
Class A common stock     -       -       -       -       5   (R)     5  
Class B common stock     1       -       -       -       (1 ) (R)     -  
Additional Paid-in Capital     3,418       -       -       -       148,380   (S)     151,798  
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)     1,581       -       -       -       (8,962 ) (T)(V)     (7,381 )
Non-controlling interest     -       -       -       -       120,641   (L)     120,641  
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY   $ 278,325     $ 289,120     $ (28,933 )   $ 260,186     $ (237,515 )     $ 300,996  

 

See notes to pro forma financial statements.

 

  3  

 

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
(in thousands, except per share amounts) 

 

    Osprey (A)     Royal Historical (B)     Adjustment for Royal Entities not Contributed (C)    

Pro Forma

Contributed Royal Entities

    Pro Forma Adjustments       Pro Forma Combined  
REVENUES:                                      
Oil and gas sales   $ -     $ 53,295     $ (6,112 )   $ 47,183     $ -       $ 47,183  
Realized loss on hedging activities     -       (206 )     -       (206 )     206   (E)     -  
Unrealized loss on hedging activities     -       (1,708 )     -       (1,708 )     1,708   (E)     -  
Total revenues     -       51,381       (6,112 )     45,269       1,914         47,183  
COSTS AND EXPENSES:                                                  
Production and ad valorem taxes     -       2,972       (509 )     2,463       -         2,463  
Lease operating expense     -       396       (396 )     -       -         -  
Marketing and transportation     -       1,173       (282 )     891       -         891  
Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties     -       10,078       (1,394 )     8,685       -         8,685  
General, administrative and other     608       6,153       (3,529 )     2,624       -         3,232  
Total costs and expenses     608       20,772       (6,109 )     14,663       -         15,271  
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSE):                                                  
Gain on sale of assets     -       41,382       (41,382 )     -       -         -  
Other income     -       -               -       -         -  
Unrealized gain on marketable securities     27       -       -       -       (27 ) (G)     -  
Interest income     1,995       -       -       -       (1,995 ) (G)     -  
Interest expense     -       (1,074 )     31       (1,043 )     (229 ) (D)     (1,272 )
Total other income (expense)     2,022       40,308       (41,351 )     (1,043 )     (2,251 )       (1,272 )
Income before provision for income taxes     1,414       70,917       (41,353 )     29,564       (337 )       30,640  
Provision for income taxes     (354 )     -       -       -       (3,419 ) (F)     (3,773 )
NET INCOME     1,060       70,917       (41,353 )     29,564       (3,756 )       26,868  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest     -       (95 )     14       (81 )     (12,437 ) (H)     (12,518 )
Net income attributable to class A shareholders   $ 1,060     $ 70,822     $ (41,339 )   $ 29,483     $ (16,193 )     $ 14,350  
Weighted average shares
outstanding, basic
    8,224,230                               37,630,770         45,855,000  
Basic net income per shares attributable to class A shareholders   $ (0.08 )                                     $ 0.31  
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted     8,224,230                               77,630,770         85,855,000  
Diluted net income per shares attributable to class A shareholders   $ (0.08 )                                     $ 0.28  

 

See notes to pro forma financial statements.

 

  4  

 

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Statements of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

    Osprey (A)     Royal Historical (B)    

Adjustment for Royal Entities not Contributed

(C)

   

Pro Forma

Contributed Royal Entities

    Pro Forma Adjustments       Pro Forma Combined  
REVENUES:                                      
Oil and gas sales   $     $ 104,321     $ (42,956 )   $ 61,365     $ -       $ 61,365  
Realized gain on hedging activities           751       (360 )     391       (391 ) (D)     -  
Unrealized gain on hedging activities           1,040       (499 )     541       (541 ) (D)     -  
Total revenues           106,112       (43,816 )     62,296       (931 )       61,365  
COSTS AND EXPENSES:                                                  
Production and ad valorem taxes           5,980       (2,714 )     3,266       -         3,266  
Lease operating expense           674       (674 )           -          
Marketing and transportation           6,926       (3,799 )     3,127       -         3,127  
Amortization of royalty and working interests in oil and natural gas properties           37,085       (19,189 )     17,896       -         17,896  
General, administrative and other     378       8,450       (2,432 )     6,018       -         6,396  
Total costs and expenses     378       59,115       (28,807 )     30,308       -         30,686  
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSE):                                                  
Gain on sale of assets           31,441       (31,441 )           -         -  
Other income           34       26       60       -         60  
Unrealized loss on marketable securities     (194 )                       194   (G)     -  
Interest income     1,465                         (1,465 ) (G)     -  
Interest expense           (2,799 )     1,354       (1,445 )     (870 ) (E)     (2,314 )
Total other income (expense)     1,271       28,676       (30,061 )     (1,385 )     (2,141 )       (2,254 )
Income before provision for income taxes     893       75,673       (45,069 )     30,604       (3,072 )       28,425  
Provision for income taxes     (370 )                       (5,257 ) (F)     (5,627 )
NET INCOME     523       75,673       (45,069 )     30,604       (8,329 )       22,798  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest           (155 )     21       (134 )     (10,488 ) (H)     (10,622 )
Net income attributable to class A shareholders.   $ 523     $ 75,518     $ (45,048 )   $ 30,470     $ (18,817 )     $ 12,176  
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic     7,069,719                               38,785,281         45,855,000  
Basic net income per shares attributable to class A shareholders   $ (0.08 )                                     $ 0.27  
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted     7,069,719                               78,785,281         85,855,000  
Diluted net income per shares attributable to class A shareholders   $ (0.08 )                                     $ 0.21  

 

See notes to pro forma financial statements.

 

  5  

 

 

  NOTES TO OSPREY ENERGY ACQUISITION CORP.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Basis of Presentation

 

Overview

 

The pro forma adjustments have been prepared as if the Transaction had been consummated on January 1, 2017, the beginning of the earliest period presented, in the case of the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined statements of operations and on June 30, 2018 in the case of the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined balance sheet.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements have been prepared assuming the following methods of accounting in accordance with GAAP.

 

The acquisition will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Osprey will be treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. This determination was primarily based on Royal being the largest single individual or group of owners, Royal having the largest minority voting interest, Royal operations comprising the ongoing operations of the combined entity, and Royal comprising a majority of the governing body of the combined entity. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the acquisition will be treated as the equivalent of Royal issuing stock for the net assets of Osprey, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of Osprey will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the acquisition will be those of Royal.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with (i) Osprey’s historical audited financial statements and related notes for the period from the year ended December 31, 2017 and the historical unaudited condensed financial statements as of and for the six months ended June, 2018, as well as “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Osprey,” included elsewhere in the Form 8-K and (ii) Royal historical audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2017 incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement and the historical unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the six months ended June, 2018, as well as “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Royal,” included elsewhere in the Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.

 

The pro forma adjustments represent management’s estimates based on information available as of the date of the Form 8-K and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and additional analyses are performed. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial statements do not reflect possible adjustments related to restructuring or integration activities that have yet to be determined or transaction or other costs following the Transaction that are not expected to have a continuing impact. Further, one-time transaction-related expenses anticipated to be incurred prior to, or concurrent with, closing the Transaction and the other related transactions are not included in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined statements of operations. However, the impact of such transaction expenses is reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined balance sheet as a decrease to retained earnings and a decrease to cash.

 

2. Adjustments and Assumptions to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Combined Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2018

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 reflects the following adjustments assuming the Transaction occurred on June 30, 2018.

 

  A. Represents the Osprey unaudited historical condensed balance sheet as of June 30, 2018.

 

  B. Represents the Royal unaudited historical condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2018.

 

  6  

 

 

  C. Represents the pro forma adjustments to the Royal unaudited historical condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 to reflect only the Royal Entities being contributed pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, and not any of Royal’s other subsidiaries.

 

  D. Represents the pro forma adjustments to the Royal cash balance to reflect the following (in thousands):

 

  Royal cash balance   $ (30,097 ) E
  Investments held in Trust Account     277,496   F
  Funds from PIPE investment     114,800   G
  Estimated transaction costs     (28,500 ) H
  New debt balance     38,000   O
  Cash payment to Royal     (400,000 ) I
      $ (28,301 ) D

 

  E. Represents the adjustment to eliminate Royal cash and intercompany balances in connection with the closing as the Contribution Agreement allows for the distribution of the cash of the contributed Royal Entities prior to the closing.

 

  F. Represents the adjustment related to the reclassification of the $277.5 million of investments held in the Trust Account in the form of investments to cash and cash equivalents to reflect the fact that these investments are available for use in connection with the Transaction.

 

  G. Represents the net proceeds of $114.8 million from the private placement of 11,480,000 shares of Class A common stock at $10.00 per share pursuant to the Private Placement.

 

  H. Represents estimated transaction costs totaling $28.5 million (inclusive of $9.6 million of deferred underwriting compensation and $2.7 million debt finance costs related to new debt financing upon completion of the Transaction) for advisory, banking, legal and accounting fees that are not able to be capitalized as part of the Transaction (except for debt finance costs netted against long-term debt). The unaudited pro forma condensed combined consolidated balance sheet reflects these costs as a reduction of cash with a corresponding decrease to long-term debt and decrease in deferred underwriting fees and retained earnings. These costs (except for debt finance cost amortization) are not included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined consolidated statement of operations as they are directly related to the Transaction and will be nonrecurring.

 

  I. Represents cash consideration paid to the Contributors pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement of $400 million.

 

  J. Represents the elimination of the Royal derivative contracts not contributed as the Contribution Agreement calls for them to be settled in connection with the closing.

 

  K. Represents the elimination of Royal intercompany and related party balances not contributed in connection with the closing.

 

  L. Represents pro forma adjustments to the non-controlling interest portion of net assets for the period ended June 30, 2018 to reflect the following (in thousands):

 

  Non-controlling interest recapitalization adjustment   $ 129,435    
  Non-controlling interests retained earnings adjustment     (8,794 )  
      $ 120,641   L

 

The non-controlling interest represents the Contributors ownership of Opco at closing. The non-controlling interest is 46.6%.

 

  7  

 

 

  M. Represents pro forma adjustments to debt to reflect the following (in thousands):

 

  Existing Royal debt   $ (29,899 ) N
  New debt     38,000   O
  Debt finance costs     (2,700 ) O
      $ 5,401   M

 

  N. Represents the elimination of the $29.9 million Royal debt balance not contributed in connection with the closing pursuant to the terms Contribution Agreement.

 

  O. Represents the new debt financing of $38 million incurred to facilitate closing and the payment of the cash consideration to the Contributors and transaction expenses. The debt financing costs are $2.7 million.

 

  P. Represents all shares converted to common stock at closing following the redemptions.

 

  Q. Represents pro forma adjustments to Partners’ Capital to reflect the following (in thousands):

 

  Royal cash balance   $ (30,097 ) E
  Elimination of Royal derivative contracts not contributed     1,766   J
  Existing Royal debt     29,899   N
  Repayment of intercompany balances     2,382   K
  Repayment of accrued expenses to partners     795   K
  Transfer remaining partners’ capital to APIC     (229,697 ) U
      $ (224,953 ) Q

 

  R. Represents the recapitalization of common shares between common stock and additional paid in capital.

 

  S. Represents pro forma adjustments to additional paid in capital to reflect the following (in thousands):

 

  Transfer of common stock   $ 263,459   P
  Funds from PIPE investment     114,800   G
  Cash payment to Royal     (400,000 ) I
  Transfer remaining partners’ capital to APIC     229,697   U
  Elimination of Osprey retained earnings     1,581   T
  Recapitalization of common shares     (4 ) R
  Deferred tax asset     68,282   W
  Non-controlling interest recapitalization adjustment     (129,435 ) L
      $ 148,380   S

 

  8  

 

 

  T. Represents pro forma adjustments to record the elimination of Osprey retained earnings of the accounting acquiree.

 

  U. Represents pro forma adjustments to reflect the reclassification of partners’ capital to additional paid in capital.

 

  V. Represents pro forma adjustments to retained earnings to reflect the following (in thousands):

 

  Transaction costs, net of deferred underwriting fees and debt financing costs   $ (16,175 ) H
  Non-controlling interests retained earnings adjustment     8,794   L
  Elimination of Osprey retained Earnings     (1,581 ) T
      $ (8,962 ) V

 

  W. Represents a deferred income tax asset associated with the basis difference of oil and natural gas properties. An estimated combined federal and state income tax rate of 21.9% was used in calculating the deferred tax asset.

   

3. Adjustments and Assumptions to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Combined Statement of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 reflects the following adjustments assuming the Transaction occurred on January 1, 2017:

 

  A. Represents the Osprey unaudited historical condensed statement of operations for the six Months Ended June 30, 2018.

 

  B. Represents the Royal unaudited historical condensed statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018.

 

  C. Represents the pro forma adjustments to the Royal unaudited historical condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 to reflect only the Royal entities being contributed pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.

 

  D. Represents pro forma adjustments to record an adjustment to interest expense to remove Royal interest and add interest on the Revolving Credit Facility. The interest rate assumed for Osprey is consistent with the historical interest rate on the Royal credit facility.

 

  E. Represents pro forma adjustments to reflect the exclusion of hedges not contributed as the Contribution Agreement calls for them to be settled in connection with the closing.

 

  F. To record normalized blended statutory income taxes at the corporate rate of 21.9% for pro forma financial presentation purposes, being a combination of a 21% federal tax rate and a 0.90% incremental state tax rate. The expense is adjusted for the non-taxable income attributable to the non-controlling interests.

 

  G. Represents pro forma adjustments to record the elimination of interest income and unrealized gains held in the Trust Account.

 

  H. Represents pro forma adjustments to reflect the non-controlling interest. The non-controlling interest represents the Contributors ownership of Opco at closing. The non-controlling interest is 46.6%.

 

  9  

 

4. Adjustments and Assumptions to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Combined Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 reflects the following adjustments assuming the Transaction occurred on January 1, 2017:

 

  A. Represents the Osprey historical condensed statement of operation for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

  B. Represents the Royal historical condensed statement of operation for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

  C. Represents the pro forma adjustments to the Royal unaudited historical condensed statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 to reflect only the Royal entities being contributed pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.

 

  D. Represents pro forma adjustments to reflect the exclusion of hedges not contributed as the Contribution Agreement calls for them to be settled in connection with the closing.

 

  E. Represents pro forma adjustments to record an adjustment to interest expense to remove Royal interest and add interest on the Revolving Credit Facility. The interest rate assumed for Osprey is consistent with the historical interest rate on the Royal credit facility.

 

  F. To record normalized blended statutory income taxes at the corporate rate of 35.75% for pro forma financial presentation purposes, being a combination of a 35% assumed federal tax rate and an incremental 0.75% for state taxes. The expense is adjusted for the non-taxable income attributable to the non-controlling interests.

 

  G. Represents pro forma adjustments to record the elimination of interest income and unrealized losses held in the Trust Account.

 

  H. Represents pro forma adjustments to reflect the non-controlling interest. The non-controlling interest represents the Contributors ownership of Opco at closing. The non-controlling interest is 46.6%.

 

5. Pro Forma Earnings Per Share

 

The table below reflects the adjustments to basic and fully diluted net income per common share for the effect of the Transactions had such transactions occurred on January 1, 2017. The computation of diluted income per share excludes the effect of warrants to purchase 21,250,000 shares of common stock because we cannot be sure that the stock price will exceed the exercise price for pro forma purposes.

 

    Pro Forma
Combined
 
    (in thousands except share and per share information)  
(Basic EPS      
Numerator:      
Net Income Attributable to Class A shareholders   $ 12,176  
         
Denominator:        
Osprey Founder shares     6,875,000  
Osprey Public shares     27,500,000  
PIPE Investment     11,480,000  
         
Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding     45,855,000  
         
Basic EPS Attributable to Shareholders   $ 0.27  
         
Diluted EPS        
Numerator:        
Net Income Attributable to Class A shareholders     12,176  
Effect of conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares     6,036  
Diluted Net Income Attributable to Class A shareholders     18,212  
         
Denominator:        
Osprey Founder shares     6,875,000  
Osprey Public shares     27,500,000  
PIPE Investment     11,480,000  
Conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares     40,000,000  
         
Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding     85,855,000  
         
Diluted EPS Attributable to Shareholders   $ 0.21  

  10  

 

 

The table below reflects the adjustments to basic and fully diluted net income per common share for the effect of the Transactions had such transactions occurred on January 1, 2017. The computation of diluted income per share excludes the effect of warrants to purchase 21,250,000 shares of common stock because we cannot be sure that the stock price will exceed the exercise price for pro forma purposes.

 

    Pro Forma  
    (in thousands except share and per share information)  
Basic EPS      
Numerator:      
Net Income Attributable to Class A shareholders   $ 14,350  
         
Denominator:        
Osprey Founder shares     6,875,000  
Osprey Public shares     27,500,000  
PIPE Investment     11,480,000  
         
Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding     45,855,000  
         
Basic EPS Attributable to Shareholders   $ 0.31  
         
Diluted EPS        
Numerator:        
Net Income Attributable to Class A shareholders   $ 14,350  
Effect of conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares     9,536  
Diluted Net Income Attributable to Class A shareholders   $ 23,886  
         
Denominator:        
Osprey Founder shares     6,875,000  
Osprey Public shares     27,500,000  
PIPE Investment     11,480,000  
Conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares     40,000,000  
         
Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding     85,855,000  
         
Diluted EPS Attributable to Shareholders   $ 0.28  

   

  11  

 

 

COMPARATIVE SHARE INFORMATION

 

The following table sets forth selected historical equity ownership information for Osprey and the Royal Entities and unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined per share ownership information of Osprey after giving effect to the business combination.

 

The pro forma book value, net income (loss) and cash dividends per share information reflects the business combination as if it had occurred on June 30, 2018 and reflects pro forma income (loss) as if it had occurred on January 1, 2017.

 

The historical information should be read in conjunction with the sections entitled “Selected Historical Financial Information of Osprey” and “Selected Historical Financial Information of Royal,” as well as the historical consolidated and combined financial statements of Osprey and the Royal Entities and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in the Form 8-K. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined per share data are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of actual or future financial position or results of operations that would have been realized if the business combination had been completed as of the date indicated or will be realized upon the closing.

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)     Osprey         Royal Entities     Pro Forma Combined  
Book value per share(1)   $ 0.61     $ N/A     $ 3.09  
Basic net income (loss) per share for the six months ended June 30, 2018   $ (0.08 )   $ N/A     $ 0.31  
Diluted net income (loss) per share for the six months ended June 30, 2018   $ (0.08 )   $ N/A     $ 0.28  
Basic net income (loss) per share for the year ended December 31, 2017   $ (0.08 )   $ N/A     $ 0.27  
Diluted net income (loss) per share for the year ended December 31, 2017   $ (0.08 )       N/A     $ 0.21  
Cash dividends per share   $     $ N/A     $  

 

  (1) Book value per share = (Total stockholders’ equity)/shares outstanding.

 

  12