Exhibit 10.1

​

​

AMENDED AND RESTATED SENIOR SECURED CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

November 24, 2021

among

BATTALION OIL CORPORATION,

as Holdings,

HALCÓN HOLDINGS, LLC,

as Borrower,

MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED,

as Administrative Agent,

and

The Lenders Party Hereto

MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED

as Sole Lead Arranger

​

​

​

​

​

TABLE OF CONTENTS

​

​

​

i

​

Table of Contents

(continued)

​

​

​

ii

​

Table of Contents

(continued)

​

​

iii

​

Table of Contents

(continued)

​

​

iv

​

Table of Contents

(continued)

​

​

​

v

​

vi

​

​

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SENIOR SECURED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of November 24, 2021 is among HALCÓN HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), each of the Lenders from time to time party hereto and MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED (in its individual capacity, “MBL”), as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and, solely with respect to Article IX-A hereof, BATTALION OIL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, (“Holdings”).

R E C I T A L S

A.Holdings previously entered into that certain Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2019 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), by and among Holdings, as borrower, Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Existing Administrative Agent”), and the lenders party thereto (the “Existing Lenders”), which provided for a revolving credit facility made available by the Existing Lenders to Holdings.

B.Pursuant to that certain Amendment No. 6 and Assignment of Loans and Liens dated as of November 24, 2021 (the “Master Assignment”) among the Existing Lenders, the Existing Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, (i) the Existing Lenders have assigned and conveyed the Assigned Interests (as defined therein) to the Lenders and (ii) the Existing Administrative Agent has resigned as administrative agent under the Existing Credit Agreement and assigned and conveyed the Assigned Security Interests (as defined therein) to the Administrative Agent.

C.Pursuant to the Borrower Assumption Agreement, immediately after giving effect to the Master Assignment, the Borrower assumed all of the Existing Obligations of the Existing Borrower from the Existing Borrower;

D.Holdings, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety by this Agreement.

E.In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and of the loans, extensions of credit and commitments hereinafter referred to, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS

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

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

“Accounting Change” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05.

​

​

​

​

“Acquisition Conditions” means, with respect to any acquisition of assets (including any assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division) or Equity Interests, (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 Subsidiary and, to the extent required by Section 8.14, a Guarantor; (b) such acquisition shall result in the Administrative 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 8.14; (c) subject to Section 1.07, immediately after giving effect to such acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (d) immediately after giving effect to such acquisition, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in pro forma compliance with Section 9.01 as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(b) (or, if the most recently ended fiscal quarter is the fiscal quarter ending on December 31 of any year, for which annual financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(a)); (e) (i) the Asset Coverage Ratio immediately after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition shall be no lower than the Asset Coverage Ratio immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition shall be no greater than the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to giving pro forma effect to such acquisition; and (f) immediately after giving effect to such acquisition, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with Section 9.07.

“Actual Specified PDP Production” means, for any period, the aggregate actual production of Hydrocarbons (measured in barrels of oil equivalent) from the Specified PDP Reserves for such period.

“Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

“Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

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

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

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

“Agreement” means this Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Agreement, including the Annexes, Schedules and Exhibits hereto, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or modified from time to time.

​

2

​

​

“Annual Budget” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01(e).

“Anti-Corruption Laws” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and all other laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

“APOD” means the oil and gas wells located within the APOD Boundary and described on Schedule 1.02(a) proposed to be developed by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, as the same may be updated from time to time in accordance with Section 8.22.

“APOD Boundary” means the geographic boundary depicted on Schedule 1.02(a).

“APOD Economic Test” means, as of any APOD Economic Test Date, the internal rate of return (calculated as of such date in accordance with the IRR Parameters) of all Producing APOD Wells as of such date.  The Borrower shall deemed to be in compliance with the APOD Economic Test as of any APOD Economic Test Date if the internal rate of return described in the preceding sentence is equal to or greater than thirty percent (30%).

“APOD Economic Test Date” means (a) the last day of the calendar month in which the APOD Tranche consisting of the Initial APOD Wells first becomes a Producing APOD Tranche and (b) the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter.

“APOD Tranche” means (a) the Initial APOD Wells and (b) each group of six (6) wells in the APOD to be drilled after the Initial APOD Wells.

“Applicable Borrowing Date” means (a) for the Initial Term Loans, the Closing Date and (b) for any Delayed Draw Term Loans, the date on which such Delayed Draw Term Loans are made to the Borrower.

“Applicable Margin” means 7.00% per annum.

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, a percentage equal to a fraction (a) the numerator of which is an amount equal to such Lender’s Credit Exposure (b) the denominator of which is the sum of the Credit Exposure of all Lenders; provided that, in the case of Section 4.04 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall be adjusted to disregard any Defaulting Lender’s Credit Exposure.

“Applicable Prepayment Premium” means, with respect to any Loans being prepaid or repaid (i) following an acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.01 (including following an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 10.01(h), (i) or (j)), (ii) at the Borrower’s option pursuant to Section 3.04(a), or (iii) as a result of a mandatory prepayment required by Section 3.04(c)(ii) or Section 3.04(c)(iv) (excluding Net Cash Proceeds attributable to Casualty Events not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate since the Closing Date), a fee (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Loan being prepaid or repaid) equal to the percentage set forth below relating to the applicable date of prepayment or repayment:

​

​

3

​

​

​

“Approved Counterparty” means (a) Macquarie Bank Limited or any of its Affiliates, (b) J. Aron & Company LLC or any of its Affiliates and (c) any Person who, at the time a Swap Agreement is entered into, (i) is (A) the Administrative Agent or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or (B) any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender and (ii) has (or whose parent company has) a long term senior unsecured debt rating of A- or higher by S&P or A3 or higher by Moody’s (or their equivalent).

“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 11.14.

“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

“Approved Petroleum Engineers” means NSAI and any other independent petroleum engineers reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

“Arranger” means Macquarie Bank Limited in its capacity as sole lead arranger.

“Asset Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date, the ratio of (a) Total PDP PV-10 as of such date (plus, for purposes of compliance with Section 9.01(c) only, as of such date, the Quarterly D&C Expenses incurred during the most recently ended fiscal quarter) to (b) Consolidated Total Net Indebtedness as of such date.

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section

​

4

​

​

12.04(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit F or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (e) of Section 3.03.

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

“Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

“Bankruptcy Code” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment or has had any order for relief in such proceeding entered in respect thereof, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person 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 Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

“Benchmark” means, initially, ICEBA LIBOR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to ICEBA LIBOR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) or clause (c) of Section 3.03.

​

5

​

​

“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

(1)the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(2)the sum of: (a) Daily Simple SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(3)the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

provided that, in the case of clause (1), such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; provided further that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event, and the delivery of a Term SOFR Notice, on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date the “Benchmark Replacement” shall revert to and shall be deemed to be the sum of (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, as set forth in clause (1) of this definition (subject to the first proviso above).

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1), (2) or (3) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement:

(1)for purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent:

(a)the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for the applicable Corresponding Tenor;

​

6

​

​

(b)the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that would apply to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon an index cessation event with respect to such Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor; and

(2)for purposes of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities;

provided that, in the case of clause (1) above, such adjustment is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(1)in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

​

7

​

​

(2)in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein; or

(3)in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the date a Term SOFR Notice is provided to the Lenders and the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.03(b); or

(4)in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(1)a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(2)a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

​

8

​

​

(3)a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.03 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.03.

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

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

“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in 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.”

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

“Blowdown Trigger Event” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.21(b).

“Blowdown Wells” had the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.22(b).

“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America or any successor Governmental Authority.

“Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

“Borrower Assumption Agreement” means that certain Assumption Agreement dated as of November 24, 2021, by and among the Existing Borrower and the Borrower.

“Borrowing” means Loans made on the same date.

​

9

​

​

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit B or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent, for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or Houston, Texas are authorized or required by law to remain closed; and if such day relates to a Borrowing of, or a payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on, a Loan or a notice by the Borrower with respect to any such Borrowing, payment or prepayment, any day which is also a day on which dealings in dollar deposits are carried out in the London interbank market.

“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person, all expenditures by such Person for the acquisition or leasing of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements and capitalized workover expenses) that are required to be capitalized under GAAP on a balance sheet of such Person.  For purposes of this definition, the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment owned by such Person or with insurance proceeds shall be included in Capital Expenditures only to the extent of the gross amount of such purchase price minus the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for such equipment being traded in at such time, or the amount of such proceeds, as the case may be.  For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby understood and agreed that expenditures pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of “Investment” shall not constitute Capital Expenditures.

“Cash Equivalent” means cash held in US dollars and all Investments of the type identified in Section 9.05(c) through Section 9.05(f).

“Casualty Event” means any loss, casualty or other insured damage to, or any nationalization, taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Change in Control” means (a) Holdings ceases to own directly one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower, (b) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person (other than a Permitted Holder) or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC) (other than a group of Permitted Holders) of Equity Interests representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings, (c) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of Holdings by Persons who were not (i) directors of Holdings on the Closing Date, (ii) nominated or appointed by the board of directors of Holdings or (iii) approved by the board of directors of Holdings as director candidates prior to their election or (d) a Specified Change of Control shall have occurred.

“Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of or taking effect of any law, rule or regulation or treaty after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or treaty or in the administration, in the interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 5.01(b)), by any lending office of such Lender or by

​

10

​

​

such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States of America or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III (but not Basel II), shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, issued, adopted, promulgated or implemented.

“Closing Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 6.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 12.02).

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

“Collateral” means all Property of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien is purported to be created by any Security Instrument; provided that at no time shall Excluded Assets be included in the Collateral (only for so long as such assets constitute “Excluded Assets”).

“Collateral Coverage Minimum” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.14(a).

“Commitment” means an Initial Term Loan Commitment or a Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment, as the context requires.

“Commodities Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Compliance Certificate” means the Compliance Certificate, signed by a Financial Officer, substantially in the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

“Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Agreement, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

“Compounded SOFR” means the compounded average of SOFRs for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, with the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate (which may include compounding in arrears with a lookback and/or suspension period as a

​

11

​

​

mechanism to determine the interest amount payable prior to the end of each Interest Period) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with: (a) the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining compounded SOFR; provided that: (b) if, and to the extent that, the Administrative Agent determines that Compounded SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (a) above, then the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate that the Administrative Agent determines are substantially consistent with at least five currently outstanding dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) that are publicly available for review.

“Consolidated Cash Balance” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of (a) cash, (b) Cash Equivalents and (c) any other marketable securities, treasury bonds and bills, certificates of deposit, investments in money market funds and commercial paper, in each case, held or owned by (either directly or indirectly), credited to an account of or that would otherwise be required to be reflected as an asset on the balance sheet of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary as of such date; provided that the Consolidated Cash Balance shall exclude, without duplication, (i) any cash or Cash Equivalents for which the Borrower or any Subsidiary have, in the ordinary course of business, issued checks or initiated wires or ACH transfers in order to utilize such cash or Cash Equivalents, (ii) any cash or Cash Equivalents set aside to pay royalty obligations, working interest obligations including operating and capital expenses, production payments, suspense payments and severance taxes of the Borrower or any Subsidiary then due and owing to third parties and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary has issued checks or has initiated wires or ACH transfers (or will issue checks or initiate wires or ACH transfers within three (3) Business Days in order to make such payments); (iii) any cash of Cash Equivalents set aside to pay payroll, payroll taxes, other taxes, employee wage and benefit payments and trust and fiduciary obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary then due and owing and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary has issued checks or has initiated wires or ACH transfers (or will issue checks or initiate wires or ACH transfers within three (3) Business Days in order to make such payments); (iv) while and to the extent refundable, any cash or Cash Equivalents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary constituting purchase price deposits held in escrow pursuant to a binding and enforceable purchase and sale agreement permitted hereunder with a third party containing customary provisions regarding the payment and refunding of such deposits; (v) restricted cash or Cash Equivalents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary associated with the plugging and abandonment liabilities and other similar obligations imposed by a Governmental Requirement and arising in connection with acquisitions and divestitures of Oil and Gas Properties permitted hereunder; (vi) any refundable deposits held by unaffiliated third parties made in connection with transactions in the ordinary course of business; (vii) with respect to any calculation of the Consolidated Cash Balance as of the last day of any fiscal quarter occurring during the period from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024, the aggregate amount of cash projected to be spent by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on Capital Expenditures in accordance with the APOD during the immediately succeeding fiscal quarter, which projection shall be based on the Budget required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(p) within thirty-five (35) days after the end of such fiscal quarter; and (viii) cash constituting Reinvestment Proceeds to the extent being held in a Reinvestment Proceeds Account.

​

12

​

​

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for any period, the aggregate of the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded therefrom:

(a)the net income (or loss) of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions actually paid in cash during such period by such other Person to the Borrower or to a Consolidated Subsidiary;

(b)the net income of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of that net income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument or Governmental Requirement applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders;

(c)any gains or losses attributable to any write-ups or write-downs of assets, including ceiling test write-downs;

(d)any gain (or loss), together with any related provision for Taxes on such gain (or loss), realized in connection with: (i) any Disposition which is not made in the ordinary course of business or (ii) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries; and

(e)any non-recurring non-cash gains or losses.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall acquire or dispose of any Property during such period, then Consolidated Net Income shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, merger, disposition or redesignation, as if such acquisition, disposition or redesignation had occurred on the first day of such period.

“Consolidated Subsidiaries” means, as to any Person, each Subsidiary of such Person (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial statements of which shall be (or should have been) consolidated with the financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, without duplication, 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 only to the extent such Indebtedness comprises (a) Indebtedness for borrowed money, (b) obligations in respect of Finance Leases, (c) obligations evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, promissory notes or similar instruments, (d) obligations in respect of unreimbursed drawn letters of credit, (e) Indebtedness of the type described in clause (c) of the definition thereof and (f) any Indebtedness to the extent included in the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) of others guaranteed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the Indebtedness

​

13

​

​

(howsoever such assurance shall be made) to the extent of the lesser of the amount of such Indebtedness and the maximum stated amount of such guarantee or assurance against loss; provided that Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall not include Indebtedness in respect of obligations under Swap Agreements, other than to the extent such obligations are due and payable and not paid on such date, or, undrawn (or if drawn, to the extent cash collateralized in the manner set forth in Section 2.07(j)) letters of credit, bank guarantees and performance or similar bonds.

“Consolidated Total Net Indebtedness” means as of any date of determination, Consolidated Total Indebtedness minus Unrestricted Cash that would be listed on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such date.

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  For the purposes of this definition, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Person that owns directly or indirectly 10% or more of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of the directors or other governing body of a Person (other than as a limited partner of such other Person) will be deemed to “control” such other Person.  “Controlled” has the meaning correlative thereto.

“Control Agreement” means a control agreement or similar agreement, as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executed by the applicable Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and the relevant financial institution party thereto, which (a) provides a first priority perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (provided such Control Agreement may permit certain Excepted Liens according to its terms) and (b) establishes the Administrative Agent’s control, in each case, with respect to any Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodities Account of such Loan Party.

“Controlled Account” means a Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodities Account that is subject to a Control Agreement.

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

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

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

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

“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.22.

“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

​

14

​

​

“Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate unused Commitments of such Lender at such time plus (b) the aggregate principal amount of its Loans outstanding at such time.

“Current Assets” means, as of any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of (a) all amounts that would, in accordance with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such date, plus (b) the unused Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments then available to be borrowed (including as a result of the conditions set forth in clauses (b) through (f) of Sections 6.02 being satisfied as of such date), but excluding (i) all non-cash assets under FASB ASC Topic 815, (ii) the aggregate amount of any deposits (whether in cash or otherwise) posted by the Borrower or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to secure Swap Obligations owing by such Persons or to cover market exposures, (iii) any deferred tax assets and (iv) any cash or Cash Equivalents deemed to be “restricted” in accordance with GAAP.

“Current Liabilities” means, as of any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of all amounts that would, in accordance with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on such date, but excluding (a) all non-cash obligations under FASB ASC Topic 815, (b) the current portion of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Loans under this Agreement, (c) any deferred tax liabilities, (d) any current maturities of long-term Indebtedness for borrowed money, (e) royalties in suspense which are more than ninety (90) days past due in an amount not to exceed $7,500,000 in the aggregate and (f) accounts payable which are more than ninety (90) days past due and are being contested in good faith by appropriate action (and adequate reserves for the same are being maintained in accordance with GAAP) in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate.

“Current Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Current Assets as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter (which may be such date of determination) to (b) Current Liabilities on such day.

“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

“DDTL Commitment Expiration Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which the Maximum DDTL Amount has been fully drawn, (b) the date on which the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments are otherwise terminated and (c) the date that is eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date.

“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

​

15

​

​

“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans or (ii) pay over to any Loan Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Loan Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by a Loan Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations as of the date of certification) to fund prospective Delayed Draw Term Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Loan Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (A) a Bankruptcy Event or (B) a Bail-In Action.

“Delayed Draw Term Lender” means, as of any date of determination, each Lender having a Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment or that holds Delayed Draw Term Loans.

“Delayed Draw Term Loan Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to and including the DDTL Commitment Expiration Date.

“Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment” means, as to any Delayed Draw Term Lender, the aggregate commitment of such Delayed Draw Term Lender to make Delayed Draw Term Loans as set forth on Schedule 1.02(b) or in the most recent Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby executed by such Delayed Draw Term Lender, as such commitment may be (i) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06(b) and (ii) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 12.04. The aggregate amount of the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments of the Delayed Draw Term Lenders as of the Closing Date is $35,000,000.

“Delayed Draw Term Loans” means the loans (including Tranche A Loans and Tranche B Loans) made by the Delayed Draw Term Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.02.

“Disposition” means, with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer, condemnation or other disposition thereof (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a division or otherwise).  The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.

“Disposition Threshold” means $20,000,000.

​

16

​

​

“Disqualified Capital Stock” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as a result of the optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests (which would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (b) is convertible or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for Indebtedness or (c) is redeemable for any consideration other than other Equity Interests (which would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock) at the option of the holder thereof, in each case, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is one year after the Maturity Date.

“dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

“Early Opt-in Election” means, if the then-current Benchmark is ICEBA LIBOR, the occurrence of:

(1)a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and

(2)the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to trigger a fallback from ICEBA LIBOR and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders.

“EBITDAX” means, for any period, an amount determined for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries equal to the sum of Consolidated Net Income for such period plus the following expenses or charges to the extent deducted from Consolidated Net Income in such period: (a) interest expense, (b) income taxes, (c) depreciation, (d) depletion, (e) amortization, (f) all other non-cash charges, (g) exploration expenses or costs (to the extent the Borrower adopts the successful efforts method of accounting), (h) any fees, expenses and other transaction costs which are incurred in connection with the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby and (i) the amount of any non-recurring cash expenses and charges (other than any such non-recurring expenses and charges arising in the ordinary course of business), determined in accordance with GAAP, in an amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of EBITDAX for such period (determined prior to giving effect to such addback), minus the following items of income to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income in such period: (i) all non-cash income (including cancellation of indebtedness income and non-cash income resulting from the requirements of Accounting Standards Codifications 410 and 815) and (ii) the amount of any non-recurring cash items of income, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that for purposes of calculating EBITDAX for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters (each, a “Reference

​

17

​

​

Period”), (i) if during such Reference Period (or, in the case of pro forma calculations, during the period from the last day of such Reference Period to and including the date as of which such calculation is made) the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall have made a Material Disposition or Material Acquisition, EBITDAX (including Consolidated Net Income) for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Disposition or Material Acquisition by the Borrower or its Consolidated Subsidiaries occurred on the first day of such Reference Period and (ii) if any calculations in the foregoing clause (i) are made on a pro forma basis, such pro forma adjustments are factually supportable and are determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer and subject to supporting documentation reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition by the Borrower or its Consolidated Subsidiaries of property or series of related acquisitions of property that involves consideration in excess of $5,000,000, and “Material Disposition” means any Disposition of property or series of related sales, transfers or other dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary in excess of $5,000,000.

“ECP” means any Person who qualifies as an “eligible contract participant” under Section 2(e) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

“EEA Financial Institution” means (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” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

“Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

“Emergency Capital Expenditures” means any Capital Expenditures that are incurred in response to and to resolve or mitigate an emergency or threat to human health, safety or protection of the environment, as determined by the Borrower in good faith in consultation with the Administrative Agent, or to the extent required under any applicable law, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority (including Environmental Laws).

“Environmental Laws” means any and all Governmental Requirements pertaining in any way to health, safety the environment or the preservation or reclamation of natural resources, in effect in any and all jurisdictions in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is conducting or at any time has conducted business, or where any Property of the Borrower or any

​

18

​

​

Subsidiary is located, including without limitation, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”), as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), as amended, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”), as amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, and other environmental conservation or protection Governmental Requirements.  For the purpose of this definition, (i) the term “oil” shall have the meaning specified in OPA, (ii) the terms “hazardous substance” and “release” (or “threatened release”) have the meanings specified in CERCLA, (iii) the terms “solid waste” and “disposal” (or “disposed”) have the meanings specified in RCRA and (iv) the term “oil and gas waste” shall have the meaning specified in Section 91.1011 of the Texas Natural Resources Code (“Section 91.1011”); provided, however, that (a) in the event either OPA, CERCLA, RCRA or Section 91.1011 is amended so as to broaden the meaning of any term defined thereby, such broader meaning shall apply subsequent to the effective date of such amendment and (b) to the extent the laws of the state or other jurisdiction in which any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is located establish a meaning for “oil,” “hazardous substance,” “release,” “solid waste,” “disposal” or “oil and gas waste” which is broader than that specified in either OPA, CERCLA, RCRA or Section 91.1011, such broader meaning shall apply.

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such Equity Interest.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time.

“ERISA Affiliate” means each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with the Borrower or a Subsidiary would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of section 414 of the Code.

“ERISA Event” means (a) a “reportable event” described in section 4043 of ERISA with respect to a Plan or a controlled group member, as applicable, for which the reporting requirements have not been waived, (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan subject to section 4063 or 4064 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 as provided in section 4062(e) of ERISA, (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under section 4041 of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC, (e) receipt of a notice of withdrawal liability pursuant to section 4202 of ERISA, (f) the failure of Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to meet the minimum funding standards under section 430 of the Code or section 303 of ERISA (determined without regard to any waiver of funding provisions therein) with respect to a Plan, (g) the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate incurs a withdrawal liability under Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA with respect to a

​

19

​

​

Multiemployer Plan or (h) any other event or condition which constitutes grounds under section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan.

“Erroneous Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.06(a).

“Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.16(d)(i).

“Erroneous Payment Impacted Class” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.16(d)(i).

“Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.16(d)(i).

“Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.16(e).

“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.

“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01.

“Excepted Liens” means:  (a) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained to the extent required in accordance with GAAP; (b) Liens in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability obligations which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (c) landlord’s liens, operators’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, workers’, materialmen’s, construction or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties each of which is in respect of obligations that are not more than sixty (60) days delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (d) contractual Liens which arise in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, marketing agreements, processing agreements, net profits agreements, development agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or other geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements which are usual and customary in the oil and gas business and are for claims which are not more than sixty (60) days delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with

​

20

​

​

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 Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (e) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies and burdening only deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution, provided that no such deposit account is a dedicated cash collateral account or is subject to restrictions against access by the depositor in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Board and no such deposit account is intended by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to provide collateral to the depository institution; (f) easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations in any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission lines, transportation lines, distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil, coal or other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real estate, rights of way, facilities and equipment, that do not secure any Indebtedness for borrowed money and which in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of such Property for the purposes of which such Property is held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (g) Liens on cash or securities pledged to secure performance of tenders, surety and appeal bonds, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds, bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, regulatory obligations and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money; (h) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default, provided that any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceeding may be initiated shall not have expired and no action to enforce such Lien has been commenced; (i) Liens arising from UCC financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business covering only the Property under any such operating lease; (j) Liens listed on the exhibits to the Security Instruments with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, so long as such Liens (1) do not reduce the Net Revenues Interest (or “NRI” or terms of similar effect) attributable to any well, unit or lease included in the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, materially below that shown on such exhibits to the Security Instruments or (2) increase the Working Interest (or “WI” or terms of similar effect) attributable to any well, unit or lease included in the Oil and Gas Properties of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, materially above that shown on such exhibits to the Security Instruments; and (k) Liens pursuant to merger agreements, stock purchase agreements, asset sale agreements and similar agreements (1) limiting the transfer of properties and assets pending the consummation of the subject transaction, or (2) in respect of earnest money deposits, good faith deposits, purchase price adjustment and indemnity escrows and similar deposit or escrow arrangements made or established thereunder; provided, further that Liens described in clauses (a) through (e) shall remain “Excepted Liens” only for so long as no action to enforce such Lien has been commenced and no intention to subordinate the first priority Lien granted in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders is to be hereby implied or expressed by the permitted existence of such Excepted Liens.

“Excluded Accounts” means (a) Deposit Accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of (i) withheld income Taxes and federal, state or local employment Taxes required to be paid to the Internal Revenue Service or state or local Governmental Authorities with respect to employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) amounts required to be paid over to an employee

​

21

​

​

benefit plan on behalf of or for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iii) amounts set aside for payroll and the payment of accrued employee benefits, medical, dental and employee benefits claims to employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iv) amounts constituting purchase price deposits held in escrow pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement with a third party containing customary provisions regarding the payment and refunding of such deposits, (v) amounts held in escrow or in trust pending litigation or other settlement claims, and (vi) amounts held in trust or as fiduciaries for third parties in respect of such third party’s ratable share of the revenues of Oil and Gas Properties and (b) other Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts or Commodities Accounts so long as (i) the average daily maximum balance in each such account over a thirty (30) day period does not at any time exceed $1,000,000 and (ii) the aggregate balance for all such accounts excluded pursuant to this clause (b) on any day does not exceed $3,000,000.

“Excluded Assets” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

“Excluded Swap Agreement Unwind” means, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Unwind of Swap Agreements effected by the Borrower in order to comply with the requirements of Section 9.19(d), but only with respect to Swap Agreements covering notional amounts not to exceed the amount required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with the requirements of Section 9.19(d).

“Excluded Swap Obligation” means (as such definition may be modified from time to time as agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent), with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation, if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, as applicable, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order thereunder (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder, at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap Agreement, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Agreements for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (a) Taxes on income (however denominated), branch profits Taxes or franchise Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed by any jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 5.04(b)), any withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending

​

22

​

​

office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such federal withholding Tax pursuant to Section 5.03, (c) Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with Section 5.03(e) and (d) any withholding Tax that is imposed under FATCA.

“Existing Borrower” means Battalion Oil Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

“Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals.

“Existing Obligations” means all “Secured Obligations” as such term is defined in the Existing Credit Agreement.

“Exiting Administrative Agent” means the “Administrative Agent”, as such term is defined in the Existing Credit Agreement.

“Exiting Lender” means any “Lender” (if any), as such term is defined in the Existing Credit Agreement, that is not a Lender under this Agreement.

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement between the United States and any other such jurisdiction that facilitates the implementation of the foregoing.

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

“Fee Letters” means (a) that certain Fee Letter, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the initial lenders party hereto as of the Closing Date and the Borrower, (b) that certain Administrative Agent Fee Letter, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (c) that certain Upfront Fee Letter, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

“Finance Leases” means, in respect of any Person, all leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as finance leases on the balance sheet of the Person liable (whether contingent or otherwise) for the payment of rent thereunder; provided that any lease that would not have been recorded as a finance lease if it had been entered into prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842)” and ASU No. 2018-11 “Leases (Topic 842)” shall not be a Finance Lease whether or not so designated in accordance with GAAP as in effect at the time of the execution of such lease.

​

23

​

​

“Financial Officer” means, for any Person, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such Person.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Financial Officer means a Financial Officer of the Borrower.

“Financial Statements” means the financial statement or statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries referred to in Section 7.04(a).

“Five-Year Strip Price” means, as of the date that is five (5) days prior to delivery of a Reserve Report or other information and materials required to be delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (a) for the sixty (60) month period commencing with the month in which such date occurs, as quoted on the NYMEX and published in a nationally recognized publication for such pricing as selected by the Administrative Agent (as such prices may be corrected or revised from time to time by the NYMEX in accordance with its rules and regulations), the corresponding monthly quoted futures contract price for months 0–60 and (b) for periods after such sixty (60) month period, the average corresponding monthly quoted futures contract price for months 49–60; provided, however, that (i) in the event that the NYMEX no longer provides futures contract price quotes for sixty (60) month periods, the longest period of quotes of less than sixty (60) months shall be used and (ii) if the NYMEX no longer provides such futures contract quotes or has ceased to operate, the Required Lenders shall, in consultation with the Borrower, designate another nationally recognized commodities exchange to replace the NYMEX for purposes of the references to the NYMEX in this definition.

“Flood Insurance Regulations” means (a) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC § 4001, et seq.), (d) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and (e) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, in each case as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and including any regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the LIBO Rate.  For the avoidance of doubt, the initial Floor for the LIBO Rate shall be 0.0%.

“Force Majeure Event” means any catastrophic accident, act of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbance, natural catastrophe or act of God, and significant interruptions, losses or malfunctions of utilities services (in each case, which are not caused by and are outside the control of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees and agents).

“Forecasted Specified PDP Production” means, for any period, the aggregate forecasted production of Hydrocarbons (measured in barrels of oil equivalent) from the Specified PDP Reserves for such period, as set forth on Schedule 1.02(c).

“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

​

24

​

​

“G&A Allocation Percentage” means (x) prior to a Subsidiary Trigger Event, 100% and (y) with respect to any fiscal quarter ending after a Subsidiary Trigger Event, subject to the reasonable prior approval of the Administrative Agent, a percentage equal to a fraction (i) the numerator of which is an amount equal to the portion of G&A Expenses of Holdings and all of its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter that are allocated to the Loan Parties in a reasonable manner and in proportion to the G&A Expenses actually attributable to the Loan Parties, in the good faith business judgment of the Borrower, and (ii) the denominator of which is the sum of all G&A Expenses of Holdings and all its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower and the Administrative Agent are unable to agree on the allocation of G&A Expenses pursuant to this definition for a period of three (3) calendar months, then Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to submit such dispute to a nationally recognized financial valuation firm proposed by the Majority Lenders for resolution, which resolution shall be binding on Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

“G&A Expenses” means expenses and costs incurred by the Borrower and each other Loan Party that are classified as “general and administrative costs”, including Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 9.04(a)(iii), Section 9.04(a)(iv) or Section 9.04(a)(vi) (other than Section 9.04(a)(vi)(B)), consulting fees, salary, rent, supplies, travel, insurance, accounting, audit, legal, engineering and broker related fees required to manage the affairs of the Loan Parties; provided, that G&A Expenses shall not include (x) any expenses or costs incurred in connection with the Transactions or (y) any one-time expenses or costs relating to unusual or extraordinary events (including, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) settlement costs and (ii) expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of any investment, acquisition, merger, disposition, equity issuance or capital contribution, but excluding any retention or bonus payments paid in cash).

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 1.05.

“Gas Balancing Obligations” means those obligations set forth on Schedule 7.18 (as may be updated pursuant to the terms of Section 7.18).

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

“Governmental Requirement” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, rules of common law, authorization or other directive or requirement, whether now or hereinafter in effect, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls, of any Governmental Authority.

“Guarantors” means, collectively:

(a)as of the Closing Date, each Subsidiary of the Borrower, which Subsidiaries shall be set forth on Schedule 7.14 hereto; and

​

25

​

​

(b)following the Closing Date, each other  Subsidiary that guarantees the Secured Obligations pursuant to Section 8.14(b) or any other Subsidiary that guarantees the Secured Obligations at the election of the Borrower.

“Guarantee and Collateral Agreement” means an Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K and executed by the Guarantors.

“Highest Lawful Rate” means, with respect to each Lender, the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Loans or on other Secured Obligations under laws applicable to such Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws allow as of the date hereof.

“Holdings” means Battalion Oil Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

“Hydrocarbon Interests” means all rights, titles, interests and estates now or hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests and production payment interests, including any reserved or residual interests of whatever nature.

“Hydrocarbons” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.

“Indebtedness” means, for any Person, the sum of the following (without duplication): (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, bankers’ acceptances, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (b) all obligations of such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of letters of credit, surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (c) all accounts payable and all accrued expenses, liabilities or other obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (excluding accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business that (i) are not overdue by more than ninety (90) days past the date of invoice or (ii) are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and adequate reserves for the same have been maintained in accordance with GAAP); (d) all obligations under Finance Leases; (e) all obligations under Synthetic Leases; (f) all Indebtedness (as defined in the other clauses of this definition) of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) a Lien on any Property of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; (g) all Indebtedness (as defined in the other clauses of this definition) of others guaranteed by such Person or in which such Person otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the Indebtedness (howsoever such assurance shall be made) to the extent of the lesser of the amount of such Indebtedness and the maximum stated amount of such guarantee or assurance against loss; (h) all obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to purchase the Indebtedness or Property of others; (i) obligations to deliver commodities, goods or services, including, without limitation, Hydrocarbons, in consideration of one or more advance payments for periods in excess of 120 days prior to the day of delivery, other

​

26

​

​

than gas balancing arrangements in the ordinary course of business; (j) obligations to pay for goods or services whether or not such goods or services are actually received or utilized by such Person; (k) any Indebtedness of a partnership for which such Person is liable either by agreement, by operation of law or by a Governmental Requirement but only to the extent of such liability; (l) Disqualified Capital Stock; and (m) the undischarged balance of any production payment created by such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or indirectly received payment.  The Indebtedness of any Person shall include all obligations of such Person of the character described above to the extent such Person remains legally liable in respect thereof notwithstanding that any such obligation is not included as a liability of such Person under GAAP; provided, however, the contingent obligations of Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower pursuant to any purchase and sale agreement, stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement shall not constitute “Indebtedness” within this definition so long as none of the same contains an obligation to pay money over time.

“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document.

“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.03(b).

“Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.11.

“Initial APOD Wells” means the first five wells to be drilled after the Closing Date pursuant to the APOD.

“Initial Reserve Report” means the report with respect to certain Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared by NSAI with an as of date of November 1, 2021.

“Initial Term Lender” means, as of any date of determination, each Lender having an Initial Term Loan Commitment or that holds Initial Term Loans.

“Initial Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Initial Term Lender, the commitment of such Initial Term Lender to make Initial Term Loans as set forth on Schedule 1.02(b) or in the most recent Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby executed by such Lender.  The aggregate amount of the Initial Term Loan Commitments of the Initial Term Lenders as of the Closing Date is $200,000,000.

“Initial Term Loans” means the loans made by the Initial Term Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.02.

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) the last day of each fiscal quarter and (b) the Maturity Date.

“Interest Period” means (a) initially, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date and (b) each subsequent period

​

27

​

​

commencing on the day after the last Interest Payment Date and ending on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

“Investment” means, for any Person: (a) the acquisition (whether for cash, Property, services or securities or otherwise) of Equity Interests of any other Person (including any “short sale” or any sale of any securities at a time when such securities are not owned by the Person entering into such short sale); (b) the making of any deposit with, or advance, loan or capital contribution to, assumption of Indebtedness of, purchase or other acquisition of any other Indebtedness of, or equity participation or interest in, or other extension of credit to, any other Person (including the purchase of Property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such Property to such Person, but excluding any such advance, loan or extension of credit having a term not exceeding ninety (90) days representing the purchase price of inventory, goods, supplies or services sold by such Person in the ordinary course of business); (c) the purchase or acquisition (in one or a series of transactions) of Property of another Person that constitutes a business unit or (d) the entering into of any guarantee of, or other contingent obligation (including the deposit of any Equity Interests to be sold) with respect to, Indebtedness or other liability of any other Person and (without duplication) any amount committed to be advanced, lent or extended to such Person.

“IRR Parameters” means, for purposes of the APOD Economic Test, (a) the price forecast used to calculate the projected internal rate of return shall be (i) for crude oil, $50.00/bbl (WTI) and (ii) for natural gas, the then-current Five Year Strip Price, in each case adjusted by taking into account all then-existing Swap Agreements attributable to projected production from the Producing APOD Wells subject to the applicable APOD Economic Test, (b) the projected internal rate of return for any Producing APOD Tranche shall be measured from the date when Capital Expenditures associated with such Producing APOD Tranche were initially made, (c) the cumulative projected internal rate of return shall (i) reflect actual economic and production results of existing Producing APOD Tranches (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pricing actually realized) and (ii) with respect to forecasted economic and production results, be based on the latest forecast provided by the Borrower in good faith and based on reasonable assumptions and approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that, if the Administrative Agent does not approve any such forecast, the Borrower shall provide an updated forecast from NSAI and (d) all costs and expenses associated with the drilling and completion of the wells included in each Producing APOD Tranche shall be included in the calculation of the projected internal rate of return, regardless of whether the Borrower shall have received invoices therefor at the time of measurement of the APOD Economic Test.

“Issuing Bank” means Macquarie Bank Limited.  The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

“JV Holdco” means any Subsidiary formed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to directly own the Equity Interests in any joint venture listed on Schedule 1.02(d) or described in clause (iii) of the definition of “JV Entities”.

​

28

​

​

“JV Entities” means (i) each JV Holdco, (ii) each of the Persons listed on Schedule 1.02(d) and (iii) each joint venture formed after the Closing Date in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary owns Equity Interests but which does not constitute a “Subsidiary” of any Loan Party pursuant to clause (a) or (b) of the definition thereof.

“LC Commitment” means, at any time, an amount equal to $5,000,000. For the avoidance of doubt, the LC Commitment is in addition to the aggregate Commitments.

“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time.

“LC Fee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.05(b).

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 1.02(b) and any Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption other than, in each case, any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Issuing Bank.

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

“Letter of Credit Agreements” means all letter of credit applications and other agreements (including any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto) submitted by the Borrower, or entered into by the Borrower, with the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit.

“LIBO Rate” means, for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if such rate is not available to the Administrative Agent for any reason, then the applicable Rate for the relevant Interest Period shall instead be the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which Macquarie offers to place deposits in Dollars with first class banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, in the approximate amount of the relevant Advance and having a maturity equal to three months; provided further that if the LIBO Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

“LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for dollars for a period equal to three months as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion).

​

29

​

​

“Lien” means any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but not limited to (a) the lien or security interest arising from a deed of trust, mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes or (b) production payments and the like payable out of Oil and Gas Properties.  The term “Lien” shall include easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a financing.

“Loan Documents” means (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Notes, if any, (iii) the Letter of Credit Agreements, (iv) the Letters of Credit, (v) the Security Instruments, (vi) the Fee Letters and (vii) any other agreements entered into in connection herewith by the Borrower or any Loan Party with or in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, which such agreements are expressly identified therein as a “Loan Document”.

“Loan Party” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

“Loans” means, collectively, the Initial Term Loans and the Delayed Draw Term Loans and “Loan” means any of the foregoing.

“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any Loans being prepaid or accelerated (whether pursuant to Section 10.01, at the Borrower’s option pursuant to Section 3.04(a) or as required pursuant to Section 3.04(c)(ii) or Section 3.04(c)(iv)), an amount equal to (i) the sum of interest payments (calculated using a per annum rate of interest equal to the interest rate at the date of prepayment or acceleration (prior to giving effect to any increase in interest rate pursuant to Section 3.02(b)) that would have been paid on the full principal amount of the Loans so prepaid or accelerated if such principal amount had been outstanding from the date of prepayment or acceleration to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, plus (ii) 2.00% of the principal amount of such Loans being prepaid or accelerated.

“Majority Lenders” means, at any date, (a) if the Commitments have not been terminated, Non-Defaulting Lenders and the Issuing Bank having or holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Credit Exposure, unused LC Commitment, and total LC Exposure in the aggregate at such date or (b) if the Commitments have been terminated, Non-Defaulting Lenders and the Issuing Bank having or holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Outstandings and the total LC Exposure in the aggregate at such date; provided that the Majority Lenders must include, at any time that the Lenders consist solely of two (2) or three (3) un-affiliated Non-Defaulting Lenders, all Non-Defaulting Lenders.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, financial condition, operations, performance or properties of the Borrower, the Guarantors and their respective Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their

​

30

​

​

respective material obligations under the Loan Documents, or (c) the ability of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders to enforce the Loan Documents.

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding $10,000,000.  For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

“Material Midstream Agreement” means any gas gathering or transportation agreement to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is party that provides for or contemplates payments to be made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in excess of $5,000,000 during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months.

“Material Oil and Gas Properties” means Oil and Gas Properties (x) owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with an aggregate fair market value in excess of $1,000,000 or (y) subject to the APOD.

“Maturity Date” means November 24, 2025.

“Maximum DDTL Amount” means $35,000,000.

“Minimum Volume Commitment” means any “ship or pay” or other similar arrangement where any Person (a) commits to utilize a minimum capacity in a pipeline or otherwise guarantees a minimum thru-put volume in respect of a pipeline, processing or other midstream facility and (b) agrees to pay for such capacity or thru-put regardless of whether such capacity or thru-put is actually utilized.

“Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.23.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

“Mortgage” means each of the mortgages or deeds of trust executed by any one or more Loan Parties for the benefit of the Secured Parties as security for the Secured Obligations, together with any supplements, modifications or amendments thereto and assumptions or assignments of the obligations thereunder by any Loan Party.  “Mortgages” means all of such Mortgages collectively.

“Mortgaged Property” means any Property owned by any Loan Party which is subject to the Liens existing and to exist under the terms of the Security Instruments.

“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in sections 3(37) or 4001 (a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the immediately preceding six years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

​

31

​

​

“Net Cash Proceeds” means in connection with any issuance or sale of Equity Interests, debt securities or instruments, the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, any Disposition of Property, any Unwind of Swap Agreements (other than an Excluded Swap Agreement Unwind) or any Casualty Event, the aggregate cash proceeds received from such issuance, sale, incurrence, Disposition, Unwind or Casualty Event, as applicable, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith.

“New Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

“Non-Producing APOD Wells” means wells contained in the APOD that are spud but do not constitute Proved Developed Producing Reserves (based on the Borrower’s reasonable estimates thereof).

“Non-Recourse Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of any JV Entity, in each case in respect of which the holder or holders thereof (a) shall have recourse only to, and shall have the right to require the obligations of such JV Entity to be performed, satisfied, and paid only out of, the Property of such JV Entity and/or one or more of its subsidiaries and/or any other Person (other than Borrower and/or any Subsidiary (other than in respect of Equity Interests of such JV Entity)) and (b) shall have no direct or indirect recourse (including by way of guaranty, support or indemnity) to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or to any of the Property of Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than in respect of Equity Interests of such JV Entity), whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise.

“Notes” means the promissory notes of the Borrower as requested by a Lender and described in Section 2.02(d) and being substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2, as applicable, together with all amendments, modifications, replacements, extensions and rearrangements thereof.

“NSAI” means Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

“NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

“NYMEX” means the New York Mercantile Exchange.

“Oil and Gas Properties” means (a) Hydrocarbon Interests; (b) the Properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; (c) all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; (d) all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements, including production sharing contracts and agreements, which relate to any of the Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase,

​

32

​

​

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 the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and Properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the 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 hereinafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such 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, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, 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.

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely 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 Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

“Other Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.03(a).

“Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar taxes that arise solely from any payment made under or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement and any other Loan Document except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 5.04(b)).

“Outstanding Amount” means the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.04(c)(i).

“Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.04(c)(i).

“Patriot Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.23.

“Payment Conditions” means (a) at the time of, and after given effect to the occurrence of the proposed transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) after giving pro forma effect to the proposed event, (i) the Specified Asset

​

33

​

​

Coverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 2.50 to 1.00, (ii) the Specified Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed 1.50 to 1.00, (iii) the Current Ratio is equal to or greater than 1.00:1.00 and (iv) at least $1.00 is available under the Total Available Amount Basket and (c) prior to the occurrence of the proposed transaction, delivery to the Administrative Agent of a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer certifying as to the matters set forth in the preceding clauses (a) and (b).

“Payment in Full” means (a) the Commitments and the LC Commitment have expired or been terminated, (b) the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder and all other amounts payable under the Loan Documents shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash (other than contingent indemnification obligations), (c) all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated (or are cash collateralized or otherwise secured to the satisfaction of the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed and (d) the expiration or termination of all Secured Swap Agreements and all amounts owing by any Loan Party thereunder shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash (other than Secured Swap Agreements as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Secured Swap Provider have been made).

“Payment Recipient” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.16(a).

“PDP Production Test” means, as of any date of determination, the Actual Specified PDP Production for the period beginning October 1, 2021 and ending on such date (the “PDP Production Test Measurement Period”), measured as a percentage of the Forecasted Specified PDP Production for the same period.  The Borrower shall deemed to be in compliance with the PDP Production Test as of any date of determination if the Actual Specified PDP Production for the PDP Production Test Measurement Period ending on such date is not more than five percent (5%) less than the Forecasted Specified PDP Production for such PDP Production Test Measurement Period.

“Permitted Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition, by merger or otherwise, by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries of any assets (including any assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division) or Equity Interests, so long as (a) the Acquisition Conditions are satisfied and (b) the consideration for such acquisition, together with all other Permitted Acquisitions consummated since the Closing Date, shall not exceed $50,000,000, except to the extent funded with the proceeds of a substantially concurrent issuance of Equity Interests in Holdings (other than Disqualified Capital Stock).

“Permitted Capital Expenditures” means (a) Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries on or after the Closing Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000, (b) so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied at the time of making any such Capital Expenditures, Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries on or after January 1, 2023 in an aggregate amount not to  exceed $40,000,000, (c) to the extent constituting Capital Expenditures, Permitted Reinvestment Transactions and (d) to the extent funded with the proceeds of a substantially concurrent issuance of Equity Interests in Holdings (other than Disqualified Capital Stock), other Capital Expenditures.

“Permitted Holders” means Luminus Management, LLC, Oaktree Capital Management L.P., Lion Point Capital L.P. and Gen IV Investment Opportunities, LLC, and each

​

34

​

​

of their respective Affiliates and funds managed or advised by any of them or any of their respective Affiliates (but excluding any operating portfolio companies of the foregoing persons).

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (for purposes of this definition, “New Indebtedness”) incurred in exchange for, or proceeds of which are used to refinance, all of any other Indebtedness (the “Refinanced Indebtedness”); provided that:

(a)such New Indebtedness is in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of the sum of (i) the aggregate principal of, plus accrued interest on, the amount then outstanding of the Refinanced Indebtedness (or, if the Refinanced Indebtedness is exchanged or acquired for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration thereof, such lesser amount) and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such exchange or refinancing,

(b)such New Indebtedness has a stated maturity no earlier than the stated maturity of the Refinanced Indebtedness and a weighted average life no shorter than the weighted average life of the Refinanced Indebtedness and does not, by its terms, restrict the prepayment or repayment of the Secured Obligations,

(c)such New Indebtedness contains covenants, events of default and guarantees which (other than “market” interest rate, fees, funding discounts and redemption or prepayment premiums as determined at the time of issuance or incurrence of any such Indebtedness) are not more restrictive on the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries than the terms of this Agreement (as in effect at the time of such issuance or incurrence),

(d)such New Indebtedness may not provide for cash interest payments in excess of 10.00% per annum in respect of such New Indebtedness;

(e)no Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a Guarantor or a Person who becomes a Guarantor in connection therewith) is an obligor under such New Indebtedness,

(f)such New Indebtedness (and any guarantees thereof) is subordinated in right of payment to the Secured Obligations (or, if applicable, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) to at least the same extent as the Refinanced Indebtedness and otherwise on terms satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,

(g)if such Refinanced Indebtedness is unsecured, such New Indebtedness shall be unsecured, and

(h)the terms and conditions of such New Indebtedness are not materially less favorable to the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Refinanced Indebtedness.

“Permitted Reinvestment Transaction” shall mean (a) the acquisition, by merger or otherwise, by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries of any assets (including any assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division) or Equity Interests, so long as (i) the Acquisition Conditions are satisfied and (ii) such acquisition is funded solely with Reinvestment Proceeds or (b) to the extent the Payment Conditions are satisfied at the time of making thereof,

​

35

​

​

the making by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Capital Expenditures funded solely with Reinvestment Proceeds.

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

“Petroleum Industry Standards” means the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (or any generally recognized successor) as in effect at the time in question.

“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA other than a Multiemployer Plan, which (a) is currently or hereafter sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate or (b) was at any time during the immediately preceding six years, sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.

“Pledge Agreement” means the Pledge Agreement dated as of the Closing Date and executed by Holdings in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

“Producing APOD Tranche” means an APOD Tranche for which all of the wells in such APOD Tranche are Producing APOD Wells.

“Producing APOD Wells” means wells contained in the APOD that were previously Non-Producing APOD Wells but had a first sale of crude oil at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of determination and constitute Proved Developed Producing Reserves (based on the Borrower’s reasonable estimates thereof).

“Production Test Default” means, as of any date of determination, that the Borrower is not in compliance with either (a) the PDP Production Test as of such date or (b) the APOD Economic Test as of such date, except, in either case, as a result of a Force Majeure Event that directly, materially and adversely impacts the business operations of the Borrower for a period no longer than forty-five (45) days, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower.

“Property” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

“Proposed Acquisition” has the meaning given to such term in Section 9.19(a)(iii).

“Proposed APOD” has the meaning given to such term in Section 8.22(c).

“Proved Developed Producing Reserves” or “PDP Reserves” means oil and gas reserves that, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and “Developed Producing Reserves”.

“Proved Reserves” means oil and gas reserves that, in accordance with Petroleum Industry Standards, are classified as both “Proved Reserves” and one of the following:

​

36

​

​

(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.

“Public-Sider” means a Lender whose representatives may trade in securities of the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries while in possession of the financial statements provided by the Borrower under the terms of this Agreement, and has notified the Administrative Agent in writing that such Lender wishes to receive only information consisting exclusively of information with respect to the Borrower and its Affiliates that is either publicly available or not material with respect to the Borrower and its Affiliates, any of their respective securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws.

“PV-10” means, on any date of determination, with respect to any Proved Reserves expected to be produced from any Oil and Gas Properties to which Proved Reserves are attributed, the net present value, discounted at 10% per annum, of the future net revenues expected to accrue to the Borrower’s and the other Subsidiaries’ collective interests in such Proved Reserves during the remaining expected economic lives of such reserves, calculated in accordance with the Five-Year Strip Price.

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.22.

“Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each of the Borrower, any Subsidiary and any Guarantor that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time such Swap Obligation is incurred or such other person as constitutes an ECP under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Quarterly D&C Expenses” means, for any fiscal quarter, the amount of actual cash payments made by the Borrower constituting Capital Expenditures in connection with non-producing wells and drilled but uncompleted wells (excluding plugged wells or wells that are not reasonably expected to be completed), in each case, made pursuant to the then-current APOD during such fiscal quarter.

“Redemption” means with respect to any Indebtedness, the repurchase, redemption, prepayment, repayment, defeasance, purchase or any other acquisition or retirement for value (or the segregation of funds with respect to any of the foregoing) of such Indebtedness.  “Redeem” has the correlative meaning thereto.

“Reference Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “EBITDAX”.

“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is ICEBA LIBOR, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two London banking days preceding the date of such setting, and (2) if such Benchmark is not ICEBA LIBOR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

​

37

​

​

“Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.04(b)(iv).

“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board, as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

“Reinvestment Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.04(c).

“Reinvestment Proceeds Account” means a deposit account of the Borrower subject to a Control Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent which exclusively holds Reinvestment Proceeds.

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, partners, representatives and advisors (including attorneys, accountants and experts) of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board and/or the NYFRB or any successor thereto.

“Remedial Work” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01(a).

“Required APOD Swap Agreements” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.20(c).

“Required Lenders” means, at any date, (a) if the Commitments have not been terminated, Non-Defaulting Lenders and the Issuing Bank having or holding at least sixty-six and two thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the total Credit Exposure, unused LC Commitment, and total LC Exposure in the aggregate at such date or (b) if the Commitments have been terminated, Non-Defaulting Lenders and the Issuing Bank having or holding at least sixty-six and two thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the Total Outstandings and the total LC Exposure in the aggregate at such date; provided that the Required Lenders must include, at any time that the Lenders consist solely of two (2) or three (3) un-affiliated Non-Defaulting Lenders, all Non-Defaulting Lenders.

“Reserve Report” means the Initial Reserve Report and any other subsequent report, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth, as of each March 31st, June 30, September 30 or December 31st, the oil and gas reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, based upon the pricing assumptions consistent with SEC reporting requirements at the time.

“Reserve Report Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.12(b).

“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

​

38

​

​

“Responsible Officer” means, as to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, any Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer or Executive Vice President of such Person.  Unless otherwise specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein means a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other Property) with respect to any Equity Interests in any Person, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other Property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of (a) any such Equity Interests or (b) any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any comprehensive Sanctions (as of the Closing Date, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any European Union member state, or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any government, including any agency or instrumentality thereof,  of a Sanctioned Country or Venezuela, or (d) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c).

“Sanctions” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes, or other requirements imposed under similar laws or regulations, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

“SBA” means the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor Governmental Authority.

“Secured Obligations” means any and all amounts owing or to be owing by the Borrower or any Guarantor to (a) the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender under any Loan Document, (b) any Secured Swap Provider with respect to any Secured Swap Agreement and (c) all renewals, extensions and/or rearrangements of any of the foregoing, in each case, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising (including interest and fees accruing after the maturity of the Loans and LC Disbursements or the termination of the Secured Swap Agreements and interest accruing after the filing of any petition for bankruptcy, or the commencement of any

​

39

​

​

insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding); provided that solely with respect to any Loan Party that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act, Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party shall in any event be excluded from “Secured Obligations” owing by such Loan Party.

“Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Lenders, each Secured Swap Provider and any other Person owed Secured Obligations. “Secured Party” means any of the foregoing individually.

“Secured Swap Agreement” means a Swap Agreement between (a) any Loan Party and (b) a Secured Swap Provider (including any such Swap Agreements in effect on the Closing Date and, for the avoidance of doubt, any Swap Agreements being novated to any Secured Swap Provider on the Closing Date).

“Secured Swap Provider” means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Swap Agreement with a Loan Party (including by novation), is an Approved Counterparty; provided that any such Person that ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent shall not be a Secured Swap Counterparty with respect to any Swap Agreement that it thereafter enters into (or that is assigned or transferred to it) while it is not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent; provided further that if any such Swap Agreement is novated or otherwise transferred by such Person to a third party that is not an Approved Counterparty, such third party shall not constitute a Secured Swap Provider.

“Securities Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

“Security Instruments” means (a) the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (b) the Mortgages, (c) any Perfection Certificate, (d) any Control Agreement, (e) the Pledge Agreement and (f) the other agreements, instruments or certificates described or referred to in Exhibit E and (f) any and all other agreements, instruments or certificates now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Borrower or any other Person (other than Swap Agreements with the Lenders or any Affiliate of a Lender or participation or similar agreements between any Lender and any other lender or creditor with respect to any Secured Obligations pursuant to this Agreement), in each case in connection with, or as security for the payment or performance of the Secured Obligations, the Loans, the Notes, if any, this Agreement, or reimbursement obligations under the Letters of Credit, as such agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

“Small Business Act” means the Small Business Act (15 U.S. Code Chapter 14A – Aid to Small Business).

“SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at approximately 8:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

​

40

​

​

“SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s Website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.”

“Solvency Certificate” means a solvency certificate signed by a Financial Officer in substantially the form of Exhibit H hereto.

“Specified Additional Indebtedness” means unsecured senior or senior subordinated Indebtedness issued or incurred by the Borrower and any guarantees thereof by the Guarantors (including any Persons becoming Guarantors simultaneously with the incurrence of such Indebtedness):

(a)that does not restrict, by its terms, the prepayment or repayment of the Secured Obligations,

(b)that has terms which do not provide for the maturity of such Indebtedness to be or any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation to occur prior to ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date (other than customary offers to purchase upon a change of control and customary acceleration rights after an event of default),

(c)where the covenants, events of default and guarantees which (other than “market” interest rate, fees, funding discounts and redemption or prepayment premiums as determined at the time of issuance or incurrence of any such Indebtedness) are not more restrictive on the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries than the terms of this Agreement (as in effect at the time of such issuance or incurrence),

(d)where, if such Indebtedness is subordinated Indebtedness in right of payment, the terms of such Indebtedness provide for customary subordination of such Indebtedness to the Secured Obligations,

(e)where no Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a Guarantor or a Person who becomes a Guarantor in connection therewith) is an obligor under such Indebtedness; and

(f)such Indebtedness does not provide for the payment of cash interest in excess of 10.00% per annum.

“Specified Asset Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date, the ratio of (a) Total PDP PV-10 as of such date to (b) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date.

“Specified Change of Control” means a “Change of Control” (or any other defined term having a similar purpose or meaning) as defined in any Specified Additional Indebtedness or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

“Specified Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).

​

41

​

​

“Specified PDP Reserves” means (a) PDP Reserves of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date and (b) PDP Reserves attributable to the Initial APOD Wells from and after the time all such wells become Producing APOD Wells.

“Specified Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date to (b) EBITDAX for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such date (or, of such date is not the last day of a fiscal quarter, the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter).

“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Federal Reserve Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D).  Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D.  Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation.  The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

“Subsidiary” means: (a) any Person of which at least a majority of the outstanding Equity Interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, manager or other governing body of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such Person shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries or by the Borrower and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (b) any partnership of which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.  Unless otherwise indicated herein, each reference to the term “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that, notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, it is hereby understood and agreed that no JV Entity shall be deemed a “Subsidiary” for any purposes hereunder.

“Subsidiary Trigger Event” means, after the Closing Date, the creation, formation or acquisition of any Subsidiary by Holdings which is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.22.

“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction, collar or option or similar agreement, whether exchange traded, “over-the-counter” or otherwise, involving, or settled by reference to, one or more interest rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

​

42

​

​

“Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

“Synthetic Leases” means, in respect of any Person, all leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, treated as operating leases on the financial statements of the Person liable (whether contingently or otherwise) for the payment of rent thereunder and which were properly treated as indebtedness for borrowed money for purposes of U.S. federal income taxes, if the lessee in respect thereof is obligated to either purchase for an amount in excess of, or pay upon early termination an amount in excess of, 80% of the residual value of the Property subject to such operating lease upon expiration or early termination of such lease.

“Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

“Term SOFR” means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

“Term SOFR Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event.

“Term SOFR Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term SOFR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term SOFR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event has previously occurred resulting in a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 3.03 that is not Term SOFR.

“Title Coverage Minimum” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.13(a).

“Total Available Amount Basket” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) $50,000,000 less the sum of (b)(i) the amount of Permitted Capital Expenditures made pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of the definition thereof since the Closing Date, plus (ii) the amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 9.04(a)(v) since the Closing Date, plus (iii) the amount of Investments made pursuant to Section 9.05(m) since the Closing Date.

“Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Net Indebtedness as of such date to (b) EBITDAX for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such date (or, if such date is not the last day of a fiscal quarter, the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter).

“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

“Total PDP PV-10” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) the estimated market value (whether positive of negative) of the Loan Parties’ hedge position,

​

43

​

​

discounted using an annual discount rate of 10%, plus (b) the present value of estimated future revenues to be realized from the production of Hydrocarbons from the Oil and Gas Properties of the Loan Parties to which Proved Developed Producing Reserves are attributed as set forth in the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant hereto and calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines for reporting proved oil and gas reserves, with appropriate deductions for take or pay and other prepayments, severance and ad valorem taxes, operating, gathering, transportation and marketing expenses, capital expenditures (including capitalized workover expenses) and plugging and abandonment costs. Each calculation of such estimated future revenues shall be made (a) using the Five Year Strip Price, adjusted in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent for (i) any basis differential between the actual delivery location and the reference price delivery location and price differential between the actual product delivered and the reference product, in each case, using in each case using methodology consistent with past practices and in good faith based on observable differentials (which utilized differentials shall be, volume weighted on the basis of current and expected future arrangements for the sale of production, the lesser of (A) the average actual differentials for the last twelve months and (B) those future differentials which may be hedged by contract); and (ii) quality and gravity, (b) using costs as of the date of estimation without future escalation and without giving effect to non-property related expenses such as general and administrative expenses, debt service, future income tax expense and depreciation, depletion and amortization, (c) discounted using an annual discount rate of 10% and (d) to the extent not otherwise specified in the preceding clauses of this sentence, using reasonable economic assumptions consistent with such clauses.  Total PDP PV-10 shall be calculated on a pro forma basis, giving effect to (x) acquisitions and Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties consummated by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties since the date of the most recently delivered Reserve Report (provided that, in the case of any acquisition of Oil and Gas Properties, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Reserve Report, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it, evaluating the Proved Developed Producing Reserves attributable thereto) and (y) the unwind, monetization or termination of any Swap Agreement to which a Loan Party is a party, in each case occurring since the date of the most recently delivered Reserve Report.

“Tranche A Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(b).

“Tranche B Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(b).

“Tranche A Draw Period” means the period from the Closing Date until the earlier of (a) the date that is eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date and (b) the date on which Delayed Draw Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount at least equal to $20,000,000 have been made to the Borrower under Section 2.02.

“Tranche B Draw Period” means the period from the date on which the Initial APOD Wells each become Producing APOD Wells to the date that is eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date.

“Transactions” means, with respect to (a) the Borrower, the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of its obligations under this Agreement, each other Loan Document to which it is a party, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, and the grant of Liens by the Borrower on Mortgaged Properties and other Properties pursuant to the Security Instruments and (b) each Guarantor, the execution,

​

44

​

​

delivery and performance by such Guarantor of each Loan Document to which it is a party, the guaranteeing of the Secured Obligations and the other obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement by such Guarantor and such Guarantor’s grant of the security interests and provision of collateral thereunder, and the grant of Liens by such Guarantor on Mortgaged Properties and other Properties pursuant to the Security Instruments and (c) the assignment, termination or release of all Liens, Indebtedness and guarantees under the Existing Credit Agreement.

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the perfection of security interests in any collateral.

“UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

“Unrestricted Cash” means cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that (a) cash and Cash Equivalents that would appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries solely because such cash or Cash Equivalents are subject to a Control Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent shall constitute Unrestricted Cash hereunder, (b) cash and Cash Equivalents shall be included in the determination of Unrestricted Cash only to the extent that such cash and Cash Equivalents are maintained in accounts subject to a Control Agreement or are Excluded Accounts of the type specified in clause (b) of the definition thereof, in each case, in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and (c) cash and Cash Equivalents that are maintained in accounts to the extent required under this Agreement to cash collateralize LC Exposure shall not be included in Unrestricted Cash.

“Unwind” means, with respect to any transaction under a Swap Agreement, the early termination, unwind, or cancelation of any transaction under such Swap Agreement. “Unwound” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing.

“U.S. Person” has the meaning given in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning given to such term in Section 12.22.

​

45

​

​

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of which all of the outstanding Equity Interests (other than any directors’ qualifying shares mandated by applicable law), on a fully-diluted basis, are owned by the Borrower or one or more of the Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or by the Borrower and one or more of the Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

“Workover Expenses” means any expenses relating to workovers, “re-works” or other remedial treatments in respect of producing oil & gas wells.

“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

Section 1.03[Reserved].

Section 1.04Terms Generally; Rules of Construction.  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.  Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth in the Loan Documents), (b) any reference herein to any law shall be construed as referring to such law as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to the restrictions contained in the Loan Documents), (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) with respect to the determination of any time period, the word “from” means “from and including” and the word “to” means “to and including” and (f) any reference herein to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement.  The use of the phrase “subject to” as used in connection with Excepted Liens or otherwise and the permitted existence of any Excepted Liens or any other Liens shall not be interpreted to expressly or impliedly subordinate any Liens granted in favor of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties as there is no intention to subordinate the Liens granted in favor of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties.  No provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be

​

46

​

​

interpreted or construed against any Person solely because such Person or its legal representative drafted such provision.

Section 1.05Accounting Terms and Determinations; GAAP.  Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP (including the impact of “fresh start” accounting under Accounting Standards Codification 852, which for the avoidance of doubt shall be applicable only on a post-emergence basis), applied on a basis consistent with the Financial Statements, except for Accounting Changes (as defined below) with which the Borrower’s independent certified public accountants concur and which are disclosed to the Administrative Agent on the next date on which financial statements are required to be delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 8.01(a).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the preceding sentence or in the definitions of “Finance Leases,” in the event of an accounting change requiring all leases to be capitalized, only those leases (assuming for purposes hereof that such leases were in existence on the date hereof) that would constitute Finance Leases in conformity with GAAP as in effect prior to giving effect to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842)” and ASU No. 2018-11 “Leases (Topic 842)” shall be considered Finance Leases, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith.  In the event that any “Accounting Change” shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into negotiations in good faith in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to reflect equitably such Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower’s financial condition shall be the same after such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been made.  Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred.  “Accounting Changes” refers to changes in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or, if applicable, the SEC.

Section 1.06Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification.  Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, Section 3.03(b) and Section 3.03(c) provide the mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower, pursuant to Section 3.03(e), of any change to the reference rate specified in the definition of LIBOR Rate.  However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of  “LIBO Rate” or “ICEBA LIBOR” or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including, without limitation, (i) any such alternative, successor or replacement rate implemented pursuant to Section 3.03(b) or (c), whether upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, and (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes pursuant to Section 3.03(d)), including without limitation,

​

47

​

​

whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, ICEBA LIBOR or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability.

Section 1.07Divisions.  For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

Section 2.01Commitments.

(a)Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Initial Term Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make Initial Term Loans to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount equal to such Initial Term Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment by making immediately available funds available to the Administrative Agent’s designated account, not later than the time specified by the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of the Initial Term Loans may not be reborrowed. Each Initial Term Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment shall automatically and without notice be reduced to zero immediately after the funding of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date.

(b)Subject to the term and conditions set forth herein (including Section 6.02), each Delayed Draw Term Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make Delayed Draw Term Loans to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Delayed Draw Term Loan Availability Period; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of any Delayed Draw Term Loan made by any Delayed Draw Term Lender during the Tranche A Draw Period shall not exceed $20,000,000 (“Tranche A Loans”), (ii) the aggregate principal amount of any Delayed Draw Term Loans made by any Delayed Draw Term Lender during the Tranche B Draw Period shall not exceed $15,000,000 (“Tranche B Loans”), (iii) the principal amount of any Delayed Draw Term Loan made by any Delayed Draw Term Lender on the occasion of any Borrowing of Delayed Draw Term Loans shall not exceed the then available Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment of such Lender (immediately prior to giving effect to the making of such Delayed Draw Term Loan) and (iv) the aggregate principal amount of all Delayed Draw Term Loans made by the Delayed Draw Term Lenders during the Delayed Draw Term Loan Availability Period shall not exceed the Maximum DDTL Amount. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of the Delayed Draw Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

Section 2.02Loans and Borrowings.

(a)Borrowings; Several Obligations.  Each Loan shall be made by the applicable Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Initial Term Loan Commitments or

​

48

​

​

Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments, as applicable.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b)Amount.  The Borrowing of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date shall be in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate Initial Term Loan Commitments. Each Borrowing of Delayed Draw Term Loans shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000.

(c)Notes.  Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a Note.  In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to such Lender and substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2, as applicable, dated, in the case of (i) any Initial Term Lender party hereto as of the date of this Agreement, as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) any Delayed Draw Term Lender, as of the funding date of any Delayed Draw Term Loans, or (iii) any Lender that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, as of the effective date of the Assignment and Assumption.  The date, amount and interest rate of each Loan made by each Lender, and all payments made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by such Lender on its books for its Note, and, prior to any transfer, may be endorsed by such Lender on a schedule attached to such Note or any continuation thereof or on any separate record maintained by such Lender.  Failure to make any such notation or to attach a schedule shall not affect any Lender’s or the Borrower’s rights or obligations in respect of such Loans or affect the validity of such transfer by any Lender of its Note.

Section 2.03Requests for Borrowings.  To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by submitting a Borrowing Request not later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, (a) in the case of the Borrowing of Initial Term Loans, (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing and (b) in the case of a Borrowing of Delayed Draw Term Loans, (5) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing.  Such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to make the Initial Term Loans available to the Borrower in immediately available funds on the Closing Date unless and until the Administrative Agent has received from the applicable Lenders, in its designated account, the aggregate amount equal to the Initial Term Loans requested by the Borrower to be funded hereunder.

(i)the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing of Initial Term Loans or Delayed Draw Term Loans, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.02(b);

(ii)the date of such Borrowing of Initial Term Loans or Delayed Draw Term Loans, which shall be a Business Day; and

(iii)the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which the proceeds of such Borrowing are to be disbursed.

​

49

​

​

Promptly following receipt of such Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section 2.03, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.  Not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing, each Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent an amount in Dollars and in immediately available funds equal to the Loan to be made by such Lender on the date of the proposed Borrowing.  The Administrative Agent shall then make available to Borrower the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Lenders, in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

Section 2.04[Reserved]

Section 2.05Evidence of Debt.

(a)Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(b)The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(c)The Register and the corresponding entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any conflict exists between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

Section 2.06Scheduled Termination of Commitments; Optional Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

(a)The Initial Term Loan Commitments shall terminate on the Closing Date immediately after the funding of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date. Unless previously terminated, the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments shall terminate on the DDTL Commitment Expiration Date; provided that, on the date of each Borrowing of Delayed Draw Term Loans, the portion of the delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments being funded pursuant to such Borrowing shall terminate immediately after the funding of such Delayed Draw Term Loans.

(b)The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments; provided that (i) each partial reduction of the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000.

​

50

​

​

(c)The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any election to terminate or reduce the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section by 11:00 a.m. New York City time, as least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the applicable Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable. Each reduction of the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments shall be made ratably among the Delayed Draw Term Lenders in accordance with their respective Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments.

Section 2.07Letters of Credit.

(a)General; Conditions.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of dollar denominated Letters of Credit for its own account or for the account of any of its Subsidiaries, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank, at any time, and subject to the conditions set forth in the last paragraph of this clause (a), and from time to time during the period from the Closing Date until the day which is ten (10) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided that the Borrower may not request the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of Letters of Credit hereunder if the LC Exposure would exceed the LC Commitment.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuing Bank shall have no obligation hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person in violation of Section 9.09.

The obligation of the Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions: (i) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) all representations and warranties of the Loan Parties in each applicable Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except in the case of any representation and warranty which (A) expressly relates to a given date, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the respective date and (B) is qualified by a materiality or Material Adverse Effect standard in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, and (iii) the receipt by the Issuing Bank of a request for a Letter of Credit (or an amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit) in accordance with Section 2.07(b).  Each request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in this paragraph.

(b)Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions.  To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall provide to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent a Letter of Credit request not less than five (5) Business Days in advance of

​

51

​

​

the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension unless otherwise consented to by the Issuing Bank by facsimile, or via PDF copy sent by email: (i) requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, (ii) specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) specifying the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with Section 2.07(c)), (iv) specifying the amount of such Letter of Credit, (v) specifying the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit, and (vi) specifying such other information as is reasonably requested by the Issuing Bank in accordance with its practices for issuing (or amended, renewing or extending) Letters of Credit.  Each notice shall constitute a representation that, after giving effect to the requested issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, as applicable, the LC Exposure shall not exceed the LC Commitment on the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension.  If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit.

(c)Expiration Date.  Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (1) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (2) the date that is ten (10) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided that if any Letter of Credit remains outstanding 30 days prior to the Maturity Date, Borrowers shall cash collateralize each such Letter of Credit 30 days prior to the Maturity Date in an amount equal to one hundred and three percent (103%) of the face amount thereof.

(d)[Reserved].

(e)Reimbursement.  If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Issuing Bank an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, (i) on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or (ii) if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice.  If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Issuing Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent of such failure.

(f)Obligations Absolute.  The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in Section 2.07(e) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any term or provision therein, (ii) 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, (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply substantially with the terms of such Letter of Credit or any Letter of Credit Agreement, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.07(f),

​

52

​

​

constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.  Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential 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 the 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.  The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised all requisite care in each such determination.  In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its reasonable discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, 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.

(g)Disbursement Procedures.  The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit.  The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail) of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

(h)Interim Interest.  If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, until the Borrower shall have reimbursed the Issuing Bank for such LC Disbursement (either with its own funds or a Borrowing under Section 2.07(e)), the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to the Loans and such interest shall be due and payable on the date when such reimbursement is payable; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to Section 2.07(e), then Section 3.02(c) shall apply.  Interest accrued pursuant to this Section 2.07(h) shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank.

(i)Resignation and Replacement of the Issuing Bank.  Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank which is reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, the Issuing Bank may resign as Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such

​

53

​

​

Issuing Bank shall be replaced by another Person that is willing to become the Issuing Bank hereunder and is reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such resignation and replacement of the Issuing Bank.  At the time any such resignation and replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.05(b).  From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall also be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require.  After the replacement of the Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

(j)Cash Collateralization.  If (i) any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the Borrower receives notice from the Issuing Bank demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this Section 2.07(j), (ii) the LC Exposure exceeds the LC Commitment at any time, including as a result of the termination of the LC Commitment or (iii) ten (10) Business Days prior to Payment in Full at the Maturity Date then, in each case, the Borrower shall deposit, in an account with the Issuing Bank, in the name of the Issuing Bank and for the benefit of the Issuing Bank, an amount in cash equal to 103% of (A) in the case of an Event of Default, the LC Exposure (net of any cash collateral already held at the applicable time by the Issuing Bank with respect to such LC Exposure) or (B) in the case of the LC Exposure exceeding the LC Commitment, the amount of such excess; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary described in Section 10.01(h) or Section 10.01(i).  The Borrower hereby grants to the Issuing Bank for the sole benefit of the Issuing Bank, an exclusive first priority and continuing perfected security interest in and Lien on such account and all cash, checks, drafts, certificates and instruments, if any, from time to time deposited or held in such account, all deposits or wire transfers made thereto, any and all investments purchased with funds deposited in such account, all interest, dividends, cash, instruments, financial assets and other Property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise payable in respect of, or in exchange for, any or all of the foregoing, and all proceeds, products, accessions, rents, profits, income and benefits therefrom, and any substitutions and replacements therefor.  The Borrower’s obligation to deposit amounts pursuant to this Section 2.07(j) shall be absolute and unconditional, without regard to whether any beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit has attempted to draw down all or a portion of such amount under the terms of a Letter of Credit, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be subject to any defense or be affected by a right of set-off, counterclaim or recoupment which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may now or hereafter have against any such beneficiary, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any other Person for any reason whatsoever.  Such deposit shall be held as collateral securing the payment and performance of the Borrower’s and the Guarantor’s obligations to the Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  The Issuing Bank shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than

​

54

​

​

any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Issuing Bank and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest.  Interest or profits, if any, on such deposit shall accumulate in such account.  Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Issuing Bank to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors to the Issuing Bank under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

(k)Letters of Credit Issued for Account of Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder supports any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, or states that a Subsidiary is the “account party,” “applicant,” “customer,” “instructing party,” or the like of or for such Letter of Credit, and without derogating from any rights of the applicable Issuing Bank (whether arising by contract, at law, in equity or otherwise) against such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse, indemnify and compensate the Issuing Bank hereunder for such Letter of Credit (including to reimburse any and all drawings thereunder) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of the Borrower.  The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of such Letters of Credit for its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

55

​

​

(a)To the extent not previously repaid, the Borrower unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the outstanding principal amount of the Loans on the Maturity Date.

Section 3.02Interest.

(a)Interest.  The Loans shall bear interest during each Interest Period at the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(b)Post-Default Rate.  If (i) an Event of Default pursuant to Section 10.01(a), Section 10.01(b), Section 10.01(h), Section 10.01(i) or Section 10.01(j) has occurred and is continuing, then all Loans and other amounts outstanding shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) plus the applicable interest rate (or, in the event there is no applicable rate, two percent (2%) plus the rate applicable to Loans as provided in Section 3.02(a)), but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate and (ii) any other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, then the Majority Lenders by written notice (which may be given on their behalf by the Administrative Agent (including by electronic mail)) may elect to have all Loans and other amounts outstanding bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) plus the applicable interest rate (or, in the event there is no applicable rate, two percent (2%) plus the rate applicable to Loans as provided in Section 3.02(a)), but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(c)Interest Payment Dates.  Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and on the Maturity Date; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to Section 3.02(c) shall be payable on demand, and (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment.

(d)Interest Rate Computations.  All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, unless such computation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The applicable Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and be binding upon the parties hereto.

Section 3.03Alternate Rate of Interest.

(a)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any

​

56

​

​

other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Majority Lenders.

(b)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document and subject to the proviso below in this paragraph, if a Term SOFR Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, this clause (b) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Borrower a Term SOFR Notice.

(c)In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(d)The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 3.03, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 3.03.

(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR or ICEBA LIBOR) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such

​

57

​

​

Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

(f)Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Borrowing to be made during any Benchmark Unavailability Period. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the components of the LIBO Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the LIBO Rate.

Section 3.04Prepayments.

(a)Optional Prepayments.  The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with Section 3.04(b).

(b)Notice and Terms of Optional Prepayment.  The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in written notice (which may be by electronic mail) of any prepayment hereunder not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that a notice of prepayment delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit or debt facilities or any other transaction, in which case, such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.  Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 3.03, (ii) the Applicable Prepayment Premium and (iii) any amounts due under Section 5.02. Each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $1,000,000 or integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

(c)Mandatory Prepayments.

(i)Application in Connection with Consolidated Cash Balance. If, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter occurring on or after January 31, 2023, the Consolidated Cash Balance exceeds $20,000,000, the Borrower shall, within forty (40) days after the last day of such fiscal quarter, (A) prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess and (B) if any excess remains after prepaying all such Loans, pay to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Issuing Bank an amount equal to such Issuing Bank’s LC Exposure to be held as cash collateral as provided in Section 2.07(j); provided that if a Loan Party does not subsequently issue checks or

​

58

​

​

initiate wires or ACH transfers within the three (3) Business Day period pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of the definition of “Consolidated Cash Balance”, (x) the cash and/or Cash Equivalents associated with such proposed transfer shall no longer be excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Cash Balance”, (y) the Consolidated Cash Balance shall be recalculated, giving effect to the inclusion of such amounts and (z) if, as a result of such recalculation, the Consolidated Cash Balance exceeds $20,000,000, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to such excess on the first Business Day after the end of such three (3) Business Day period.

(ii)Indebtedness Incurrence.  Upon the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness not expressly permitted by Section 9.02, the Borrower shall, on the next Business Day, prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal one hundred percent (100%) of the Net Cash Proceeds received in respect of such Indebtedness.

(iii)[Reserved].

(iv)Dispositions and Unwinds. In addition to the foregoing mandatory prepayments set forth in this Section 3.04(c), within five (5) Business Days following the receipt by any Loan Party of any Net Cash Proceeds from any Disposition made pursuant to Section 9.13(d), Section 9.13(f) or Section 9.13(k), or any Unwind of a Swap Agreement, to the extent that the aggregate amount of all such Net Proceeds received since the Closing Date exceeds the Disposition Threshold Amount, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition or Unwind (or, if less, such excess above the Disposition Threshold Amount); provided that so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Loan Parties may reinvest the amount of any such Net Cash Proceeds (the “Reinvestment Proceeds”) within one hundred and eighty (180) days after the receipt thereof (x) by making Capital Expenditures related to the APOD or (y) by making a Permitted Reinvestment Transaction; provided that if the recipient does not intend to fully reinvest such Reinvestment Proceeds, or if the time period set forth in this sentence expires without such recipient having reinvested such Reinvestment Proceeds, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to such Reinvestment Proceeds (to the extent not reinvested within such time period); provided further that the Reinvestment Proceeds shall be deposited into a Reinvestment Proceeds Account within three (3) Business Dates from the date of receipt of such Reinvestment Proceeds until the date such Reinvestment Proceeds are reinvested in accordance with this Section 3.04(c)(iv).

(v)[Reserved].

(vi)Interest to be Paid with Prepayments; Applicable Prepayment Premium. Each prepayment of Borrowings pursuant to this Section 3.04(c) shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowings; provided that the Borrower may elect on not more than two (2) occasions for a prepayment of Borrowings pursuant to this Section 3.04(c) be applied in direct order of maturity solely to the next scheduled installment of principal with respect to such Loans set forth in Section 3.01, and, thereafter, ratably to the succeeding installments of the Loans (including the amount due on the Maturity Date).  Prepayments pursuant to this Section 3.04(c) shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 3.02, (ii) with respect to prepayment made pursuant to Section 3.04(c)(ii) and Section 3.04(c)(iv) (excluding

​

59

​

​

Net Cash Proceeds attributable to Casualty Events not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate), the Applicable Prepayment Premium and (iii) any break funding payments required by Section 5.02.

Section 3.05Fees.

(a)Administrative Agent Fees.  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon in writing between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(b)Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrower agrees to pay (i)  to the Issuing Bank, a fee (the “LC Fee”), equal to the product of (x) the Applicable Margin multiplied by (y) the average daily amount of the Issuing Bank’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the date of this Agreement to but excluding the later of  the date of termination of the LC Commitment and the date of which there cease to be any LC Exposure, (ii) to the Issuing Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.25% per annum, on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the date of this Agreement to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the LC Commitment and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, provided that in no event shall such fee be less than $500 during any quarter, and (iii) to the Issuing Bank, for its own account, its standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder.  The LC Fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date of this Agreement; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the termination date and any such fees accruing after the termination date shall be payable on demand.  Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 3.05(b) shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand.  All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, unless such computation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(c)Delayed Draw Commitment Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Delayed Draw Term Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to 2.00% of the average daily amount of the undrawn portion of the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment of such Delayed Draw Term Lender during the Delayed Draw Term Loan Availability Period.  Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the DDTL Commitment Expiration Date. All commitment fees under this Section 3.05(c) shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

​

60

​

​

ARTICLE IV

​

PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; SHARING OF SET-OFFS

Section 4.01Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.

(a)Payments by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or of amounts payable under Section 5.01, Section 5.02, Section 5.03 or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date when due or the date fixed for any prepayment hereunder, in immediately available funds, without defense, deduction, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim.  Fees, once paid, shall be fully earned and shall not be refundable under any circumstances.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon, but shall be considered received on the date paid for purposes of Section 10.01.  All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices specified in Section 12.01, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Section 5.01, Section 5.02, Section 5.03 and Section 12.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto.  The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof.  If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.  All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

(b)Application of Insufficient Payments.  If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

(c)Sharing of Payments by Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this Section 4.01(c) shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or

​

61

​

​

sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or Participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 4.01(c) shall apply).  The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

Section 4.02Presumption of Payment by the Borrower.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment or prepayment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank that the Borrower will not make such payment or prepayment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

Section 4.03Disposition of Proceeds.  The Security Instruments contain an assignment by the Borrower and/or the Guarantors to and in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties of all of the Borrower’s or each Guarantor’s interest in and to production and all proceeds attributable thereto which may be produced from or allocated to the Mortgaged Property. The Security Instruments further provide in general for the application of such proceeds to the satisfaction of the Secured Obligations and other obligations described therein and secured thereby. Notwithstanding the assignment contained in such Security Instruments, unless and until an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (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 or advisable to cause such proceeds to be paid to the Borrower and/or such Subsidiaries.

Section 4.04Payments and Deductions to a Defaulting Lender.

(a)If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(a), Section 2.05(a), or Section 4.02 then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid in cash.

(b)If a Defaulting Lender as a result of the exercise of a set-off shall have received a payment in respect of its Credit Exposure which results in its Credit Exposure being

​

62

​

​

less than its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Credit Exposures, then no payments will be made to such Defaulting Lender until such time as all amounts due and owing to the Lenders have been equalized in accordance with each Lender’s respective pro rata share of the aggregate Credit Exposures.  Further, if at any time prior to the acceleration or maturity of the Loans, the Administrative Agent shall receive any payment in respect of principal of a Loan while one or more Defaulting Lenders shall be party to this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall apply such payment first to the Borrowing(s) for which such Defaulting Lender(s) shall have failed to fund its pro rata share until such time as such Borrowing(s) are paid in full or each Lender (including each Defaulting Lender) is owed its Applicable Percentage of all Loans then outstanding.  After acceleration or maturity of the Loans, subject to the first sentence of this Section 4.04(b), all principal will be paid ratably as provided in Section 10.02(c).

(c)Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(i)Fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 3.05.

(ii)The Commitment and the outstanding principal balance of the Loans of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders, the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 12.02), provided that (except as expressly set forth in Section 12.02 and in the next proviso) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of each affected Lender and which affects such Defaulting Lender, shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender;.

(iii)[Reserved].

(iv)any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 10.02(c) or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 12.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows:  first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, [reserved]; third, as the Borrower may request, to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement; fourth if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Event of Default is continuing, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court

​

63

​

​

of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (i) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (ii) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 6.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to Section 4.04(c)(iii).  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section 4.04 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(d)In the event that the Administrative Agent and the Borrower each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then 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, the Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

ARTICLE V

INCREASED COSTS; BREAK FUNDING PAYMENTS; TAXES

Section 5.01Increased Costs.

(a)Changes in Law.  If any Change in Law shall:

(i)impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate);

(ii)shall subject any Lender or Issuing Bank to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes indemnified under Section 5.03 and (B) 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

(iii)impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or Issuing Bank of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Loan Party of issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum

​

64

​

​

received or receivable by such Lender or Issuing Bank (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b)Capital and Liquidity Requirements.  If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or liquidity on the capital or liquidity of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c)Certificates.  A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b) shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof.

(d)Effect of Failure or Delay in Requesting Compensation.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 5.01 for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

Section 5.02Break Funding Payments.  In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto or (d) the assignment of any Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.04(b), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event.  In the case of a Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the

​

65

​

​

principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market.

A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 5.02 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

Section 5.03Taxes.

(a)Payments Free of Taxes.  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Guarantor under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If a withholding agent shall be required under applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion by the applicable withholding agent) to deduct any Taxes from such payments, then (i) the applicable withholding agent shall make such deductions, (ii) the applicable withholding agent shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and (iii) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax, the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.03), the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made.

(b)Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for such Other Taxes.

(c)Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower and Guarantors shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within twenty (20) days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent and such Lender, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.03) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender as to the amount of such payment or liability under this Section 5.03 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 5.03 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s right to demand such compensation.

​

66

​

​

(d)Evidence of Payments.  As soon as reasonably practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or a Guarantor to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 5.03, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e)Status of Lenders.  (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by a Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable such 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 5.03(e)(i)(A), Section 5.03(e)(i)(B) and Section 5.03(e)(i)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s 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.

(i)Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(A)any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax;

(B)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

​

67

​

​

(2)executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(3)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; or

(4)to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Foreign Lender is a partnership), executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3, Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more beneficial owners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such beneficial owner;

(C)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(D)if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

​

68

​

​

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(f)Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower or Guarantors have not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower and Guarantors to do so) and (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register, in either case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 5.03(f).

(g)Tax Refunds.  If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion (exercised in good faith), that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.03, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 5.03 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  This Section 5.03 shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

(h)For purposes of this Section 5.03, the term Lender shall include the Administrative Agent.

Section 5.04Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a)Designation of Different Lending Office.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.01, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.03, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant

​

69

​

​

to Section 5.01 or Section 5.03, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)Replacement of Lenders.  If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.01, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.03, (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iv) any Lender has failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, modification, consent, discharge or termination that requires the consent of all the Lenders (or the affected Lenders and such Lender is an affected Lender) pursuant to Section 12.02 and with respect to which the Required Lenders have consented, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 12.04(b)), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 5.01 or Section 5.03) and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (1) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unrea­sonably be withheld, (2) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (3) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.01 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.03, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments.  A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that (1) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph (b) may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (2) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 6.01Closing Date.  The effectiveness of this Agreement and the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement are subject to satisfaction or waiver in accordance with Section 12.02 of each of the following conditions:

​

70

​

​

(a)Credit Agreement. The Loan Documents shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and in connection therewith the Administrative Agent shall have received from each party hereto counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party.

(b)Loan Documents.

(i)Execution of Security Instruments.  The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party thereto counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of the Security Instruments described on Exhibit E, including the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages and Perfection Certificate, that have been executed and delivered by a Responsible Officer of each party thereto.  (A) The Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied that, upon recording the Mortgages, the reaffirmation agreements, the assignments or other documents reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, if any, in each case, in the appropriate filing offices, it shall have a first priority Lien on at least the Collateral Coverage Minimum and (B)  the Borrower shall have executed and delivered Control Agreements in connection with its Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts (other than any Excluded Accounts), as applicable.

(ii)Filings, Registrations and Recordings.  Each Security Instrument and any other document (including any UCC financing statement) required by any Security Instrument or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than Liens permitted by Section 9.03) shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

(iii)Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes.  The Administrative Agent shall have received (A) the certificates (if any) representing the shares of Equity Interests required to be pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (B) each promissory note (if any) required to be pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.

(c)Fees.  All fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid. All reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be paid to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

(d)Solvency Certificate.  The Administrative Agent shall have received the Solvency Certificate from a Financial Officer.

(e)Secretary’s Certificates.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings and each Loan Party setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of directors or other appropriate governing body with respect to the authorization of

​

71

​

​

Holdings or such Loan Party to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to enter into the transactions contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of Holdings or such Loan Party (A) who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which Holdings or such Loan Party is a party and (B) who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of such authorized officers and (iv) the articles or certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other applicable organizational documents of Holdings or such Loan Party, certified by such Responsible Officer as being true and complete.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until the Administrative Agent receives notice in writing from Holdings or such Loan Party, as applicable, to the contrary.

(f)Legal Opinions.  The Administrative Agent shall have received an opinion of (i) Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties and Holdings and (ii) local counsel in any jurisdictions where Security Instruments will be recorded to perfect first priority Liens on any Oil and Gas Properties, in each case in form and of substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

(g)Financial Statements; No Other Debt.  The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of a Financial Officer in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent certifying that to such certificate is a pro forma unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated to occur on the Closing Date, which will reflect that the Borrower and the other Loan Parties will have no Indebtedness on the Closing Date other than the Secured Obligations or other Indebtedness permitted by Section 9.02 and (ii) the Financial Statements.

(h)Approvals and Consents; No Material Adverse Effect; Officer’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent certifying that (i) all necessary governmental and third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained (without the imposition of any materially adverse conditions that are not reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) and shall remain in effect; (ii) since December 31, 2020, there has been no event, occurrence, development or change that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) the conditions set forth in clauses (r) and (s) of this Section 6.01 have been satisfied.

(i)Insurance.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of insurance coverage of the Borrower evidencing that the Borrower is carrying insurance in accordance with Section 8.07.

(j)Good Standing Certificates.  The Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of the appropriate State agencies with respect to the existence or good standing, as applicable, of the Borrower and each Guarantor, in each case, in their respective jurisdiction of organization and foreign qualification in any other jurisdiction in which such Person owns Oil and Gas Properties.

​

72

​

​

(k)Patriot Act; Beneficial Ownership Regulation.  Each Lender who has requested in writing the same at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date shall have received, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, (i) all documentation and other information in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, and (ii) to the extent applicable, in connection with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each requesting Lender.

(l)Title Information.  The Administrative Agent shall have received title information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth the status of title to (x) at least ninety percent (90%) of the PV-10 of the Proved Reserves of the Loan Parties evaluated in the Initial Reserve Report and (y) ninety percent (90%) or the Oil and Gas Properties described in the APOD as of the Closing Date.

(m)Initial Reserve Report.  The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the Initial Reserve Report and (ii) a Reserve Report Certificate with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties covered by the Initial Reserve Report and covering only the matters described in Section 8.12(b)(i), Section 8.12(b)(ii), Section 8.12(b)(iii), Section 8.12(b)(v) and Section 8.12(b)(vi) with respect thereto.

(n)Production Reports and Lease Operating Statements.  The Administrative Agent shall have received production reports and accounting lease operating statements in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021 and the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021 and the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021, on a production date basis, the volume of production and sales attributable to production for which cash activity has been recorded (and the prices at which such sales were made and the revenues derived from such sales) for each such period from the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the Initial Reserve Report, and setting forth the related ad valorem, severance and production taxes and lease operating expenses attributable thereto and incurred for each such period.

(o)Assignment of Indebtedness and Liens under Existing Credit Agreement; No Other Liens.

(i)On the Closing Date, or substantially contemporaneously with the Loans advanced hereunder on the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that (A) all Liens under the Existing Credit Agreement have been assigned by the Existing Administrative Agent to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Master Assignment and Assumption Agreement, (B) all Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement has been assigned by the Existing Lenders to the Lenders pursuant to the Master Assignment and Assumption Agreement and (C) all Existing Obligations of the Existing Borrower have been assumed by the Borrower pursuant to the Borrower Assumption Agreement.

(ii)The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that all Liens on the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Liens under the Existing Credit Agreement and Liens permitted by Section 9.03) shall have been (or will be or substantially contemporaneously with the Loans advanced hereunder on the Closing Date) released

​

73

​

​

or terminated and that duly executed recordable releases or terminations in forms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent with respect thereto have been obtained by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

(p)[Reserved].

(q)Borrowing Request.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request for the Initial Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.03.

(r)No Default.  As of the Closing Date, immediately after giving effect to the Borrowing of Initial Loans, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(s)Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties of the Loan Parties in each applicable Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date, except in the case of any representation and warranty which (A) expressly relates to a given date, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the respective date and (B) is qualified by a materiality or Material Adverse Effect standard, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects.

(t)Reorganization. The Administrative Agent shall have received documentation  in form and substance satisfactory to it that Battalion Oil Management Inc. is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

(u)Gas Gathering and Transportation Agreements. The Administrative Agent shall have received all copies of gas gathering and transportation agreements that the Borrower or any other Loan Party is party thereto on the Closing Date.

(v)[Reserved].

(w)Accounts Payable Aging and Suspense Report. The Administrative Agent shall have received for the calendar month ending October 31, 2021, (i) an accounts payable aging schedule and (ii) a report of suspense accounts and revenues attributable thereto, in each case, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in reasonable detail, including with respect to due dates and days past due (if any), and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(x)Other Documents.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received copies of all other documents, certificates and instruments reasonably requested thereby with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 6.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or be satisfied with, each document or other matter required under this Section 6.01 to be consented to or approved by a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

​

74

​

​

Section 6.02Each Delayed Draw Term Loan Borrowing. The obligation of each Delayed Draw Term Lender to make a Delayed Draw Term Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing of Delayed Draw Term Loans is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a)Borrowing Request.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request in accordance with Section 2.03.

(b)Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, with respect to any representation and warranty qualified by materiality or a material adverse change or material adverse effect standard, in all respects) on and as of the date of such Borrowing (although any representations and warranties which expressly relate to an earlier date shall be required only to be true and correct in all material respects (or, with respect to any representation and warranty qualified by materiality or a material adverse change or material adverse effect standard, in all respects) as of the specified earlier date).

(c)No Default.  At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(d)Financial Covenants.  Immediately after giving pro forma effect to such Borrowing and the application of proceeds therefrom, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with the financial ratios set forth in Section 9.01(a), Section 9.01(b) and Section 9.01(c).

(e)Production and Economic Tests.

(i)The Borrower is in compliance with the PDP Production Test as of the last day of the most recently ended calendar month and, with respect to a Borrowing of solely Tranche B Loans, the PDP Production Test takes into account the Initial APOD Wells.

(ii)With respect to a Borrowing of solely Tranche B Loans, the Borrower is in compliance with the APOD Economic Test as of the most recent APOD Economic Test Date.

(f)Liquidity to Complete Wells.  The Borrower (i) immediately prior to the incurrence of such Borrowing, (x) has cash available on its balance sheet and (y) in the Borrower’s reasonable estimation, will have projected future cash flows during the immediately succeeding two fiscal quarters (based on the updated Annual Budget most recently delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(p)) that, when taken together, will be in an amount sufficient to drill, complete and equip all APOD wells previously commenced, and (ii) immediately after the incurrence of such Borrowing, (x) has cash available on its balance sheet and (y) in the Borrower’s reasonable estimation, will have projected future cash flows from the immediately succeeding two fiscal quarters (based on the updated Annual Budget most recently delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(p)) that, when taken together, will be in an amount sufficient to drill, complete and equip all APOD wells with respect to which the proceeds of such Borrowing will be used to develop.

​

75

​

​

(g)Initial APOD Wells (Tranche A Loans).  With respect to a Borrowing of Tranche A Loans, the Borrower shall have entered into the Required APOD Swap Agreements in respect of the Initial APOD Wells.

(h)Initial APOD Wells (Tranche B Loans). With respect to a Borrowing of Tranche B Loans, each of the Initial APOD Wells shall be a Producing APOD Well.

Each Borrowing of Delayed Draw Term Loans shall be accompanied by a certificate of  Responsible Officer certifying as to the matters described in the foregoing clauses (b) through (h) (as applicable depending on whether such Borrowing is of Tranche A Loans or Tranche B Loans).

ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

Section 7.01Organization; Powers.  Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and (b) has all requisite power and authority, and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary, to own its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except, in the case of this clause (b), where the failure to have such power, authority, licenses, authorizations, consents, approvals and qualifications could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.02Authority; Enforceability.  The Transactions are within the Borrower’s and each Guarantor’s constituent powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership, and, if required, stockholder action (including, without limitation, any action required to be taken by any class of directors of the Borrower or any other Person, whether interested or disinterested, in order to ensure the due authorization of the Transactions).  Each Loan Document to which a Loan Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and such Guarantor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower and such Guarantor, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 7.03Approvals; No Conflicts.  The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority or any other third Person, nor is any such consent, approval, registration, filing or other action necessary for the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or the consummation of the Transactions, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect other than (i) the recording and filing of the Security Instruments as required by this Agreement and (ii) those third party approvals or consents which, if not made or obtained, would not cause a Default hereunder, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or do not have an adverse effect on the enforceability of the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the

​

76

​

​

Borrower or any Subsidiary or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its Properties, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or such Subsidiary and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents).

Section 7.04Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a)The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders Holdings’ consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.  Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of Holdings and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the unaudited quarterly financial statements.

(b)Since December 31, 2020, (i) there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has been conducted only in the ordinary course consistent with past business practices.

(c)Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has on the date hereof any material Indebtedness (including Disqualified Capital Stock) or any contingent liabilities, off-balance sheet liabilities or partnerships, unusual forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments (other than the Gas Balancing Obligations and the Swap Agreements listed on Schedule 7.20) which are not referred to or reflected or provided for in the Financial Statements.

Section 7.05Litigation.

(a)Except as set forth on Schedule 7.05, there are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) not fully covered by insurance (except for normal deductibles) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions.

(b)Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the matters disclosed in Schedule 7.05 that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect.

​

77

​

​

Section 7.06Environmental Matters.  Except as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (or with respect to (b), (c), (d) and (e) below, where the failure to take such actions could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect):

(a)neither any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary nor the operations conducted thereon violate any order or requirement of any court or Governmental Authority or any Environmental Laws.

(b)no Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary nor the operations currently conducted thereon or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, by any prior owner or operator of such Property or operation, are in violation of or subject to any existing, pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding by or before any court or Governmental Authority or to any remedial obligations under Environmental Laws.

(c)all notices, permits, licenses, exemptions, approvals or similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of any and all Property of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, including, without limitation, past or present treatment, storage, disposal or release of a hazardous substance, oil and gas waste or solid waste into the environment, have been duly obtained or filed, and the Borrower and each Subsidiary are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses and similar authorizations.

(d)all hazardous substances, solid waste and oil and gas waste, if any, generated at any and all Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have in the past been transported, treated and disposed of in accordance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, all such transport carriers and treatment and disposal facilities have been and are operating in compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and are not the subject of any existing, pending or threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority in connection with any Environmental Laws.

(e)the Borrower has taken all steps reasonably necessary to determine and has determined that no oil, hazardous substances, solid waste or oil and gas waste, have been disposed of or otherwise released and there has been no threatened release of any oil, hazardous substances, solid waste or oil and gas waste on or to any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary except in compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment.

(f)to the extent applicable, all Property of the Borrower and each Subsidiary currently satisfies all design, operation, and equipment requirements imposed by the OPA, and the Borrower does not have any reason to believe that such Property, to the extent subject to the OPA, will not be able to maintain compliance with the OPA requirements during the term of this Agreement.

​

78

​

​

(g)neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has any known contingent liability or Remedial Work in connection with any release or threatened release of any oil, hazardous substance, solid waste or oil and gas waste into the environment.

Section 7.07Compliance with Laws and Agreements; No Defaults.

(a)Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all Governmental Requirements applicable to it or its Property and all agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its Property, and possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, exemptions, approvals and other governmental authorizations necessary for the ownership of its Property and the conduct of its business, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)No Default has occurred and is continuing.

Section 7.08Investment Company Act.  Neither the Borrower, any JV Holdco nor any Subsidiary is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company,” within the meaning of, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 7.09Taxes.  Each of the Borrower, each JV Holdco and the Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower, such JV Holdco or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves to the extent required in accordance with GAAP or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.10ERISA.

(a)Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower, each JV Holdco, the Subsidiaries and each ERISA Affiliate have complied in all respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable federal and state laws with respect to each Plan.

(b)Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan is, and has been, established and maintained in substantial compliance with its terms and applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable federal and state laws.

(c)Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no act, omission or transaction has occurred which could result in imposition on the Borrower, any JV Holdco, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of (i) either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i), (l) or (m) of section 502 of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under section 409 of ERISA.

​

79

​

​

(d)Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, full payment when due has been made of all amounts which the Borrower, any JV Holdco, the Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is required under applicable law or the terms of each Plan or Multiemployer Plan to have paid as contributions to such Plan or Multiemployer Plan as of the date hereof.

(e)Neither the Borrower, any JV Holdco, nor any of the Subsidiaries sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that may not be terminated by the Borrower, or a Subsidiary in its sole discretion at any time without any material liability other than the payment of accrued benefits under such plan.

(f)Neither the Borrower, any JV Holdco, the Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in the six-year period preceding the date hereof sponsored, maintained or contributed to, any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code.

Section 7.11Disclosure; No Material Misstatements.

(a)None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information (other than projections and other forward-looking information and information of a general economic or industry specific nature) furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any of their Affiliates in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to any projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that actual results may vary from the projected financial information).  There is no fact peculiar to the Borrower or any Subsidiary which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or in the future is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect and which has not been set forth in this Agreement or the Loan Documents or the other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary on the date hereof in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.  No statements or conclusions exist in any Reserve Report which are based upon or include misleading information or which fail to take into account material information regarding the matters reported therein to the extent such misstatement, misleading information or failure could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)As of the Closing Date, to the knowledge of the Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Closing Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.

​

80

​

​

Section 7.12Insurance.  The Borrower has, and has caused all its Subsidiaries to have, (a) all insurance policies sufficient for the compliance by each of them with all material Governmental Requirements and all material agreements and (b) insurance coverage in at least amounts and against such risk (including, without limitation, public liability) that are usually insured against by companies similarly situated and engaged in the same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.  The Administrative Agent is named as an additional insured in respect of such liability insurance policies and as lender loss payee and mortgagee with respect to Property loss insurance. Each liability insurance shall name the Administrative Agent as “additional insured” and, to the extent consistent with such insurer’s ordinary business practices, will provide that the insurer will endeavor to give no less than 30 days prior written notice of any cancellation to Administrative Agent (or not less than 10 days prior written notice for non-payment).

Section 7.13Restriction on Liens.  Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is a party to any material agreement or arrangement (other than Finance Leases creating Liens permitted by Section 9.03(c), but then only on the Property subject of such Finance Lease), or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree, which either restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant Liens to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or in respect of their Properties to secure the Secured Obligations and the Loan Documents.

Section 7.14Subsidiaries.  Except as set forth on Schedule 7.14 or as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly furnish a copy to the Lenders), which shall be a supplement to Schedule 7.14, the Borrower has no subsidiaries.

Section 7.15Location of Business and Offices.  The Borrower’s jurisdiction of organization is Delaware; the name of the Borrower as listed in the public records of its jurisdiction of organization is Halcón Holdings, LLC as of the Closing Date; and the organizational identification number of the Borrower in its jurisdiction of organization is 3761452 (or, in each case, as set forth in a notice delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.01(n) in accordance with Section 12.01).  The Borrower’s principal place of business and chief executive offices are located at the address specified in Section 12.01 (or as set forth in a notice delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(n) and Section 12.01(c)).  Each Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of organization, name as listed in the public records of its jurisdiction of organization, organizational identification number in its jurisdiction of organization, and the location of its principal place of business and chief executive office is stated on Schedule 7.14 (or as set forth in a notice delivered pursuant to Section 8.01(n)).

Section 7.16Properties; Titles, Etc.

(a)Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in the most recently delivered Reserve Report and good title to all its other personal Properties, in each case, free and clear of all Liens except Liens permitted by Section 9.03.  After giving full effect to the Excepted Liens, the Borrower or the Subsidiary specified as the owner owns the net interests in production attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests as reflected in the most recently delivered Reserve Report, and the ownership of such Properties shall not in any material respect obligate the Borrower or such Subsidiary to bear the costs and expenses relating to the maintenance, development and operations of each such Property

​

81

​

​

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 Subsidiary’s net revenue interest in such Property. All Material Oil and Gas Properties are owned or leased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

(b)All leases and agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect, and there exists no default or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give rise to a default under any such lease or leases, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)The rights and Properties presently owned, leased or licensed by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries including, without limitation, all easements and rights of way, include all rights and Properties necessary to permit the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to conduct their business in all material respects in the same manner as its business has been conducted prior to the date hereof, except to the extent that the failure to include any such rights could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(d)All of the Properties of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries which are reasonably necessary for the operation of their businesses are in good working condition and are maintained in accordance with prudent business standards, except for any such failure to maintain such Properties, individually or in the aggregate, that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)The Borrower and each Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual Property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and such Subsidiary does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The Borrower and its Subsidiaries either own or have valid licenses or other rights to use all databases, geological data, geophysical data, engineering data, seismic data, maps, interpretations and other technical information used in their businesses as presently conducted, subject to the limitations contained in the agreements governing the use of the same, which limitations are customary for companies engaged in the business of the exploration and production of Hydrocarbons, with such exceptions as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.17Maintenance of Properties.  Except for such acts or failures to act as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Oil and Gas Properties (and Properties unitized therewith) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in conformity with all Governmental Requirements and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of the Hydrocarbon Interests and other contracts and agreements forming a part of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.  Specifically in connection with the foregoing, except for those as could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no Oil and Gas Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is subject to having allowable production reduced below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was

​

82

​

​

permissible at the time) and (ii) none of the wells comprising a part of the Oil and Gas Properties (or Properties unitized therewith) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is deviated from the vertical more than the maximum permitted by Governmental Requirements, and such wells are, in fact, bottomed under and are producing from, and the well bores are wholly within, the Oil and Gas Properties (or in the case of wells located on Properties unitized therewith, such unitized Properties) of the Borrower or such Subsidiary.  All pipelines, wells, gas processing plants, platforms and other material improvements, fixtures and equipment owned in whole or in part by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that are necessary to conduct normal operations are being maintained in a state adequate to conduct normal operations, and with respect to such of the foregoing which are operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in a manner consistent with the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ past practices (other than those the failure of which to maintain in accordance with this Section 7.17 could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

Section 7.18Gas Imbalances, Prepayments.  Except as set forth on Schedule 7.18 or on the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.12(b), on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments which would require the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to deliver Hydrocarbons produced from the Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor exceeding one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate volumes of Hydrocarbons (on an Mcf basis) attributable to the Proved Reserves of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries included in the most recent Reserve Report.

Section 7.19Marketing of Production.  Except for contracts listed on Schedule 7.19 and in effect on the date hereof, and thereafter either disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent or included in the most recently delivered Reserve Report (with respect to all of which contracts the Borrower represents that it or its Subsidiaries are receiving a price for all production sold thereunder which is computed substantially in accordance with the terms of the relevant contract and are not having deliveries curtailed substantially below the subject Property’s delivery capacity), no material agreements exist which are not cancelable on sixty (60) days’ notice or less without penalty or detriment for the sale of production from the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ Hydrocarbons (including, without limitation, calls on or other rights to purchase production, whether or not the same are currently being exercised) that (a) pertain to the sale of production at a fixed price and (b) have a maturity or expiry date of longer than six (6) months from the date hereof.

Section 7.20Swap Agreements.  Schedule 7.20 sets forth, as of the date hereof, and after the date hereof, each report required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.01(f) or as may otherwise be disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent, sets forth, a true and complete list of all Swap Agreements of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including 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.

Section 7.21Use of Loans and Letters of Credit.

(a)The proceeds of the Loans shall be used solely (a) in the case of Initial Term Loans, (i) to pay all amounts owing under the Existing Credit Agreement, (ii) to pay fees and

​

83

​

​

expenses related to the Transactions, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,(iii) to develop the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with the APOD, (iv) for working capital to directly support the Loan Parties’ operations of their Oil and Gas Properties and the execution of the APOD and (v) to make Permitted Capital Expenditures and (b) in the case of Delayed Draw Term Loans, to develop the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with the APOD.

(b)The Letters of Credit shall be used for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

(c)Neither the Borrower, any JV Holdco nor any Subsidiary is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Board).  No part of the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose which violates the provisions of Regulations T, U or X of the Board.

Section 7.22Solvency.  After giving effect the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including at the time of and immediately after giving effect to any issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, as applicable), (a) the aggregate assets (after giving effect to amounts that could reasonably be received by reason of indemnity, offset, insurance or any similar arrangement), at a fair valuation, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will exceed the aggregate debt and liabilities (including subordinated liabilities) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as the debt and liabilities (including subordinated liabilities) become absolute and mature, (b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not have incurred or intended to incur, and will not believe that they will incur, debt and liabilities (including subordinated liabilities) beyond their ability to pay such debt and liabilities (including subordinated liabilities) (after taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the amounts to be payable on or in respect of their liabilities, and giving effect to amounts that could reasonably be received by reason of indemnity, offset, insurance or any similar arrangement) as such debt and liabilities (including subordinated liabilities) become absolute and mature and (c) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not have (and will have no reason to believe that they will have thereafter) unreasonably small capital for the conduct of their business.

Section 7.23Money Laundering.  The operations of the Borrower, each JV Holdco and the Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no material action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Borrower, any JV Holdco or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened.

​

84

​

​

Section 7.24Anti-Corruption Laws. Neither the Borrower, any JV Holdco nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor any officer, or to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any director, agent or employee of the Borrower, any JV Holdco or any of the Subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a material violation by such Persons of any Anti-Corruption Laws, including without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of any Anti-Corruption Laws; and the Borrower, each JV Holdco and the Subsidiaries have conducted their business in material compliance with the Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

Section 7.25Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions; OFAC.

(a)The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by the Borrower, each JV Holdco and the Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

(b)the Borrower, each JV Holdco and the Subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees, directors and agents are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all respects and are not engaged in any activity that would reasonably be expected to result in any Loan Party being designated as a Sanctioned Person.

(c)None of the Borrower, any JV Holdco, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or any agent of the Borrower that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person.  The Borrower will not directly or, to its knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds from the Loans or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any JV Holdco or any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of financing or facilitating the activities or business of, with or for the benefit of, any Sanctioned Person or in a Sanctioned Country, or in any manner that will result in the violation of any applicable Sanctions.

Section 7.26EEA Financial Institutions.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an EEA Financial Institution.

Section 7.27Senior Debt Status.  The Secured Obligations constitute “Senior Indebtedness”, “Designated Senior Indebtedness” or any similar designation under and as defined in any agreement governing any unsecured, senior subordinated or subordinated Indebtedness and the subordination provisions set forth in each such agreement, if any, are legally valid and enforceable against the parties thereto subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

​

85

​

​

Section 7.28Suspense Accounts. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 7.28 set forth a true and complete list of all suspense accounts having a balance equal to or in excess of $100,000 (including a reasonably detailed description as to the revenues and nature thereof) of the Borrower and each Subsidiary.

Section 7.29Gas Gathering and Transportation Agreements. Schedule 7.29 set forth, as of the Closing Date, a true and complete list of all gas gathering and transportation agreements (including a reasonably detailed description as to the revenues and nature thereof) of the Borrower and each Subsidiary.

ARTICLE VIII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until Payment in Full, the Borrower, and, if applicable, Holdings, covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 8.01Financial Statements; Other Information.  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a)Annual Financial Statements.  As soon as available, but in any event in accordance with then applicable law and not later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (except for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 for which no comparison shall be required to be delivered other than as required by Accounting Standards Codification 852), all reported on by independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit, except for any such qualification or exception resulting solely from the impending maturity date of the Loans or any breach or anticipated breach of a financial covenant) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

(b)Quarterly Financial Statements.  As soon as available, but in any event in accordance with then applicable law and not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

​

86

​

​

(c)Consolidating Financial Information.  If there are any JV Entities as of the last day of any fiscal period of the Borrower, then following written request therefor from the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of the Borrower executed on its behalf by a Financial Officer setting forth consolidating spreadsheets that show the pro forma adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of such JV Entities from such consolidated financial statements in such form as would be presentable to the auditors of the Borrower or Holdings.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to a Subsidiary Trigger Event, (A) the obligations in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 8.01 may be satisfied by furnishing to the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s option, the applicable financial statements of Holdings and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and (B) (i) in the event that the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent an Annual Report on Form 10-K of Holdings for any fiscal year, as filed with the SEC or in such form as would have been suitable for filing with the SEC, within the time frames set forth in clause (a) above, such Form 10-K shall satisfy all requirements of clause (a) of this Section 8.01 with respect to such fiscal year to the extent that it contains the information and report and opinion required by such clause (a) and such report and opinion does not contain any qualification or exception as to “going concern” or the scope of the audit (other than any such qualification, exception or explanatory paragraph that is expressly permitted to be contained therein under clause (a) of this Section 8.01) and (ii) in the event that the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Holdings for any fiscal quarter, as filed with the SEC or in such form as would have been suitable for filing with the SEC, within the time frames set forth in clause (b) above, such Form 10-Q shall satisfy all requirements of clause (b) of this Section 8.01 with respect to such fiscal quarter to the extent that it contains the information required by such clause (b). To the extent the Borrower elects to satisfy the obligations in clause (a) and (b) of this Section 8.01 by furnishing the financial statements of Holdings and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as described in this paragraph, then, concurrently with the delivery of any financial statements under clause (a) and (b) of this Section 8.01, as applicable, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Borrower executed on its behalf by a Financial Officer setting forth consolidating spreadsheets that show the pro forma adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Holdings from such consolidated financial statements, in such form as would be presentable to the auditors of Holdings.

The Borrower represents and warrants that Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries file the financial statements provided under Section 8.01(a) and Section 8.01(b) with the SEC and/or make such financial statements available to potential holders of their 144A securities, and, accordingly, unless the Borrower has marked such financial statements as “PRIVATE”, the Borrower hereby (1) authorizes the Administrative Agent to make the financial statements to be provided under Section 8.01(a) and Section 8.01(b), along with the Loan Documents, available to Public-Siders and (2) agrees that at the time such financial statements are provided hereunder, they shall already have been made available to holders of its securities.  The Borrower will not request that any other material be posted to Public-Siders without expressly representing and warranting to the Administrative Agent in writing that (1) such materials do not constitute material non-public information within the meaning of the federal securities laws or (2) make such materials that do constitute material non-public information within the meaning of the federal securities laws publicly available by press release or public filing with the SEC.

​

87

​

​

(d)Certificate of Financial Officer – Compliance.  Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a) or Section 8.01(b), a Compliance Certificate (i) certifying as to whether a Default exists and, if a Default so exists, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) certifying that the Borrower is in compliance with Section 9.01 as of the last day of the fiscal period covered by such financial statements as required therein and in connection therewith, setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 9.01, (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 7.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate and (iv) stating (A) any new Material Midstream Agreements that the Borrower or any Subsidiary has entered into and (B) any material amendments, modifications, changes or terminations of or to any Material Midstream Agreements, in each case, since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the most recently delivered Compliance Certificate.

(e)Annual Budget. By December 15 of each year, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, reasonably detailed forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower (the “Annual Budget”) (including projected consolidated balance sheets, income statements, EBITDAX, cash flow statements, the projected production of Hydrocarbons by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the assumptions used in calculating such projections, the Borrower’s annual operating and capital expenditure budgets and financial forecasts, including cash flow projections covering proposed fundings, repayments, additional advances, investments and other cash receipts and disbursements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) on a quarterly basis for the immediately succeeding fiscal year, which forecasts shall be prepared in good faith on the basis of assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation thereof.

(f)Certificate of Financial Officer – Swap Agreements.  Within fifteen (15) Business Days after the end of each fiscal quarter, or at such other times as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, a certificate of a Financial Officer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth as of the last day of such fiscal quarter or such other date as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, as applicable, a true and complete list of all Swap Agreements of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value therefor, any new credit support agreements relating thereto not listed on Schedule 7.20, any margin required or supplied under any credit support document, and the counterparty to each such agreement.

(g)Certificate of Insurer – Insurance Coverage.  Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 8.01(a), a certificate of insurance coverage from each insurer with respect to the insurance required by Section 8.07, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or, if no material change to such insurance coverage has occurred since the date of the most recently delivered financial statements under Section 8.01(a), a statement from a Financial Officer to such effect.

(h)Other Accounting Reports.  Reasonably promptly following receipt thereof, a copy of each other material report or opinion submitted to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them

​

88

​

​

of the books of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, and a copy of any response by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, or the Board of Directors of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, to such material report or opinion.

(i)Notices Under Material Instruments.  Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any financial statement, report or notice furnished to or by any Person pursuant to the terms of any preferred stock designation, indenture, loan or credit or other similar agreement, other than this Agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other provision of this Section 8.01.

(j)Lists of Purchasers.  Concurrently with the delivery of the annual financial statements in accordance with Section 8.01(a), a list of all Persons who collectively purchased at least 70% of the aggregate production of Hydrocarbons from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the year presented in such annual financial statements.

(k)Notice of Sales of Oil and Gas Properties and Unwinds of Swap Agreements.  In the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary intends to sell, transfer, assign, Unwind or otherwise Dispose of any Oil and Gas Properties, Swap Agreements or any Equity Interests in any Subsidiary in accordance with Section 9.13 and the amount of Net Cash Proceeds is anticipated to be at least $1,000,000, prior written notice (of at least five (5) Business Days or such shorter time as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) of such Disposition or Unwind, the price thereof, in the case of Oil and Gas Properties (or any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary), and the anticipated decline in the mark-to-market value thereof or net cash proceeds therefrom, in the case of Swap Agreements, and, in each case, the anticipated date of closing and any other details thereof reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

(l)Notice of Casualty Events.  Prompt written notice, and in any event within three (3) Business Days after the Borrower obtains knowledge of the occurrence of any Casualty Event or the commencement of any action or proceeding that could reasonably be expected to result in a Casualty Event having a fair market value in excess of $7,500,000.

(m)Information Regarding Borrower and Guarantors.  At least five (5) Business Days prior to the occurrence thereof (or such later time as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), written notice of any change (i) in a Loan Party’s corporate name or in any trade name used to identify such Person in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its Properties, (ii) in the location of the Loan Party’s chief executive office or principal place of business, (iii) in the Loan Party’s identity or corporate structure or in the jurisdiction in which such Person is incorporated or formed, (iv) in the Loan Party’s jurisdiction of organization, and (v) in the Loan Party’s federal taxpayer identification number.

(n)Production Report and Lease Operating Statements.  Within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, a report setting forth, for each calendar month during the then current fiscal year to the end of such fiscal quarter on a production date basis, the volume of production and sales attributable to production for which cash activity has been recorded (and the prices at which such sales were made and the revenues derived from such sales) for each such calendar month from the Oil and Gas Properties, and setting forth the related ad valorem, severance

​

89

​

​

and production taxes and lease operating expenses attributable thereto and incurred for each such calendar month.

(o)Notices of Certain Changes.  (i) At least five (5) Business Days’ prior to the effectiveness thereof (or such later time as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion),written notice of any amendment, modification or supplement to the certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, any preferred stock designation or, to the extent such amendment, modification or supplement would have an adverse effect on the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, any other organic document of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) within five (5) days after the execution thereof (or such later time as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), copies of any such any amendment, modification or supplement.

(p)Issuance and Incurrences of Indebtedness.  At least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice of the incurrence by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Specified Additional Indebtedness, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or, if in excess of $5,000,000, any other Indebtedness for borrowed money as well as the amount thereof, the anticipated closing date and definitive documentation for the foregoing and any other related information reasonably requested.

(q)Budget.  As soon as available, but in any event not later than thirty-five (35) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, a certificate of a Financial Officer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth updates to the Annual Budget for each fiscal quarter covered by the Annual Budget, including updates to the projected production of Hydrocarbons by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the assumptions used in calculating such projections, the Borrower’s operating and capital expenditure budgets and financial forecasts, including cash flow projections covering proposed fundings, repayments, additional advances, investments and other cash receipts and disbursements.

(r)SEC and Other Filings; Reports to Shareholders.  Promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by Holdings or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or with any national securities exchange and distributed by Holdings to its shareholders.

(s)Accounts Payable Aging; Suspense Accounts.  As soon as available, and in any event within fifteen (15) Business Days after the end of each fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021), (i) an accounts payable aging schedule of all accounts payable aged more than ninety (90) days of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in reasonable detail, including with respect to due dates and days past due (if any), and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (ii) a report of suspense accounts (including all royalties in suspense) and revenues attributable thereto of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in reasonable detail and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(t)Capital Expenditures.  As soon as available, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar month, statements of capital expenditures, production profiles and results, reserve data and rates of return of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such calendar month and for the period beginning of the then-current fiscal

​

90

​

​

year to the end of such fiscal quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures as set forth in the APOD for such period, all in reasonable detail.

(u)Production Tests.  Until each well in the APOD has been completed, not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021), a certificate of a Responsible Officer setting forth reasonably detailed calculations showing compliance or non-compliance with the PDP Production Test as of the last day of such fiscal quarter.

(v)APOD Economic Test.  Not later than (i) twenty-one (21) days after the initial APOD Economic Test Date and (ii) forty-five (45) days after each subsequent APOD Economic Test Date, a certificate of a Responsible Officer setting forth reasonably detailed calculations showing compliance or non-compliance with the APOD Economic Test.

(w)JV Entities.  Reasonably promptly after the contribution of any assets to any JV Entity pursuant to Section 9.05(j) or 9.05(l), written notice of such contribution, describing the assets subject to such contribution and any other material information relating to the applicable JV Entity and its operations as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

(x)Other Requested Information.  Promptly following any request therefor, (i) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower, any JV Holdco or any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any joint venture agreements and any Plan and any reports (and subject to Section 8.15) or other information required to be filed by the Borrower, any JV Holdco or any of the Subsidiaries under ERISA in respect of any Plan), or compliance with the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request and (ii) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 8.01 may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which such materials are publicly available as posted on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) (or any successor system); or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether made available by the Administrative Agent); provided that:  (A) upon written request by the Administrative Agent (or any Lender through the Administrative Agent) to the Borrower, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or such Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (B) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.  The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely

​

91

​

​

responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such document to it and maintaining its copies of such documents.

Section 8.02Notices of Material Events.  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a)Defaults.  The occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

(b)Governmental Matters.  The filing or commencement of, or the threat in writing of, any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof not previously disclosed in writing to the Lenders or any material adverse development in any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or arbitration previously disclosed to the Lenders that could reasonably be expected to be adversely determined and result in liability in excess of the greater of $5,000,000  not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles; and

(c)Material Adverse Effect.  Any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section 8.02 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

Section 8.03Existence; Conduct of Business.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business and maintain, if necessary, its qualification to do business in each other jurisdiction in which its Oil and Gas Properties is located or the ownership of its Properties requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 9.12.  The Borrower shall at all times remain organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

Section 8.04Payment of Obligations.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary and each JV Holdco to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities of any JV Holdco, the Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower, such JV Holdco or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto to the extent required in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in (i) a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) the seizure or levy of any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof.

Section 8.05Performance of Obligations under Loan Documents.  The Borrower will pay the Loans according to the reading, tenor and effect thereof, and the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do and perform every act and discharge all of the obligations to be

​

92

​

​

performed and discharged by them under the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, this Agreement, at the time or times and in the manner specified.

Section 8.06Operation and Maintenance of Properties.  Except for matters that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower, at its own expense, will, and will cause each Subsidiary to:

(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 a careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance with all Governmental Requirements, including, without limitation, applicable pro ration requirements and Environmental Laws, and all applicable laws, rules and regulations of every other Governmental Authority from time to time constituted to regulate the development and operation of Oil and Gas Properties and the production and sale of Hydrocarbons and other minerals therefrom;

(b)keep and maintain all Property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted preserve, maintain and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of its Oil and Gas Properties and other Properties, including, without limitation, all equipment, machinery and facilities;

(c)promptly pay and discharge, or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be paid and discharged, all delay rentals, royalties, expenses and indebtedness accruing under the leases or other agreements affecting or pertaining to its Oil and Gas Properties and will do all other things necessary to keep unimpaired their rights with respect thereto and prevent any forfeiture thereof or default thereunder;

(d)promptly perform or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with industry standards, the obligations required by each and all of the assignments, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Oil and Gas Properties and other material Properties; and

(e)to the extent the Borrower or such Subsidiary is not the operator of any Property, use reasonable efforts to cause the operator to comply with this Section 8.06.

Section 8.07Insurance.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.  The loss payable clauses or provisions in said insurance policy or policies insuring any of the collateral for the Loans shall be endorsed in favor of and made payable to the Administrative Agent as its interests may appear and such policies shall (i) name the Administrative Agent as an “additional insured” in respect of liability insurance, (ii) name the Administrative Agent as lender loss payee and mortgagee with respect to Property insurance and (iii) provide that the insurer will use commercially reasonable efforts to give at least thirty (30) days prior notice of any cancellation to the Administrative Agent, but in any event not less than ten (10) days prior notice of such cancellation.

​

93

​

​

Section 8.08Books and Records; Inspection Rights.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its Properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as reasonably requested; provided, that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (a) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not exercise their rights under this Section 8.08 more than twice in any fiscal year and (b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for more than one inspection during any fiscal year.

Section 8.09Compliance with Laws.

(a)The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures regarding compliance by the Borrower, each JV Holdco, the Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

Section 8.10Environmental Matters.

(a)The Borrower shall at its sole expense: (i) comply, and shall cause its Properties and operations and Properties of each Subsidiary and each JV Holdco to comply, with all applicable Environmental Laws, the breach of which could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) not dispose of or otherwise release, and shall cause each Subsidiary and each JV Holdco not to dispose of or otherwise release, any oil, oil and gas waste, hazardous substance, or solid waste on, under, about or from any of the Properties of the Borrower, any JV Holdco or any Subsidiary or any other Property to the extent caused by the operations of the Borrower, any JV Holdco or any Subsidiary except in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, the disposal or release of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) timely obtain or file, and shall cause each Subsidiary and each JV Holdco to timely obtain or file, all notices, permits, licenses, exemptions, approvals, registrations or other authorizations, if any, required under applicable Environmental Laws to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of the Properties of the Borrower, any JV Holdco or any Subsidiary, which failure to obtain or file could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) promptly commence and diligently prosecute to completion, and shall cause each Subsidiary to promptly commence and diligently prosecute to completion, any assessment, evaluation, investigation, monitoring, containment, cleanup, removal, repair, restoration, remediation or other remedial obligations (collectively, the “Remedial Work”) in the event any Remedial Work is required or reasonably necessary under applicable Environmental Laws because of or in connection with the actual or suspected past, present or future disposal or other release of any oil, oil and gas waste, hazardous substance or solid waste on, under, about or from any of the

​

94

​

​

Properties of the Borrower, any JV Holdco or any Subsidiary, which failure to commence and diligently prosecute to completion could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (v) establish and implement, and shall cause each Subsidiary and each JV Holdco to establish and implement, such procedures as may be necessary to continuously determine and assure that the obligations of the Borrower, each JV Holdco and each Subsidiary under this Section 8.10(a) are timely and fully satisfied, which failure to establish and implement could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)The Borrower will promptly, but in no event later than five (5) days after the occurrence of a triggering event, notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing of any threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority or any threatened demand or lawsuit by any landowner or other third party against the Borrower, any JV Holdco or any of the Subsidiaries, or their respective Properties, of which the Borrower has knowledge in connection with any Environmental Laws (excluding routine testing and corrective action) if the Borrower reasonably anticipates that such action will result in liability (whether individually or in the aggregate) in excess of $10,000,000, not fully covered by insurance, subject to normal deductibles.

(c)The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary and each JV Holdco to, provide environmental audits and tests in accordance with ASTM International standards upon request by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and no more than once per year in the absence of any Event of Default (or as otherwise required to be obtained by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by any Governmental Authority), in connection with any future acquisitions of Oil and Gas Properties or other Properties.

Section 8.11Further Assurances.

(a)The Borrower at its expense will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent all such other documents, agreements and instruments reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to comply with, cure any defects or accomplish the conditions precedent, covenants and agreements of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, in the Loan Documents, including the Notes, if requested, or to further evidence and more fully describe the Collateral intended as security for the Secured Obligations, or to correct any omissions in this Agreement or the Security Instruments, or to state more fully the obligations secured therein, or to perfect, protect or preserve any Liens created pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Security Instruments or the priority thereof, or to make any recordings, file any notices or obtain any consents, all as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent, to ensure that the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, has a perfected security interest in all assets of the Loan Parties.  In addition, at the Administrative Agent’s reasonable written request, the Borrower, at its sole expense, shall enter into any Security Instruments to evidence the Liens on the Collateral and provide any information requested to identify any Collateral, including an updated Perfection Certificate, exhibits to Mortgages in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which such exhibits shall be in recordable form for the applicable jurisdiction) or any other information reasonably requested in connection with the identification of any Collateral.

​

95

​

​

(b)The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent or its designee to file one or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relative to all or any part of the Collateral (including the Mortgaged Property) without the signature of the Borrower or any other Guarantor where permitted by law.  A carbon, photographic or other reproduction of the Security Instruments or any financing statement covering the Collateral (including the Mortgaged Property) or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by law.  The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that any such financing statement may describe the collateral as “all assets” or “all assets and all personal property of Debtor, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising, wherever located, together with all proceeds thereof, substitutions and replacements therefor, and additions and accessions thereto” of the applicable Loan Party or words of similar effect as may be required by the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.12Reserve Reports.

(a)On or before April 1 and October 1 of  each year , the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a Reserve Report evaluating the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the immediately preceding December 31 and June 30, respectively.  On or before July 1 and January 1 of each year, beginning July 1, 2022, the Borrower shall deliver an update to the most recent Reserve Report delivered as of the immediately preceding March 31 and September 30, respectively, evaluating the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and such updated Reserve Report shall have been adjusted to reflect the production levels since the delivery of the most recent Reserve Report (including the removal of any cash flows attributable to the production during the time period prior to the delivery of such updated Reserve Report), shall be based on an updated Five-Year Strip Price as of the date or delivery of such report and shall otherwise be “rolled forward” in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. If such updated Reserve Report is not in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may request, and the Borrower shall deliver, an updated Reserve Report prepared by NSAI. The Reserve Report as of December 31 and June 30 of each year shall be prepared by one or more Approved Petroleum Engineers, and each March 31 and September 30 Reserve Report update shall be prepared by or under the supervision of the chief engineer of the Borrower who shall certify such Reserve Report update to be true and accurate in all material respects and to have been prepared in accordance with the procedures used in the immediately preceding December 31 or June 30 Reserve Report, as applicable.

(b)With the delivery of each Reserve Report, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit J (a “Reserve Report Certificate”) from a Responsible Officer certifying that in all material respects: (i) the information contained in the Reserve Report and any other information delivered in connection therewith is true and correct in all material respects, (ii) the Borrower or its Subsidiaries owns good and defensible title to the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report and such Properties are free of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 9.03, (iii) except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, on a net basis there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments in excess of the volume specified in Section 7.18 with respect to its Oil and Gas Properties evaluated in such Reserve Report which would require the Borrower or any Subsidiary

​

96

​

​

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, (iv) none of their Oil and Gas Properties have been sold since the date of the last Reserve Report except as set forth on an exhibit to the certificate, which exhibit shall list all of its Oil and Gas Properties sold other than Hydrocarbons sold in the ordinary course of business and in such detail as reasonably required by the Administrative Agent, (v) attached thereto is a list of all marketing agreements entered into subsequent to the later of the date hereof or the most recently delivered Reserve Report which the Borrower could reasonably be expected to have been obligated to list on Schedule 7.19 had such agreement been in effect on the date hereof and (vi) attached thereto is a schedule of the Oil and Gas Properties evaluated by such Reserve Report that are Mortgaged Properties and demonstrating that the Borrower is in compliance with Section 8.14(a).