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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

  

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 16, 2021 (July 13, 2021)

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware   001-35380   45-3007926
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

15 W. Sixth Street, Suite 900, Tulsa, Oklahoma   74119
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (918) 513-4570

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value   LPI   New York Stock Exchange

 

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

 

Emerging growth company o

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01.Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Purchase Agreement

 

On July 13, 2021, Laredo Petroleum, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Laredo Midstream Services, LLC and Garden City Minerals, LLC (together, the “Guarantors”), entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the several initial purchasers named in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement (together, the “Initial Purchasers”), providing for the private offer and sale by the Company (the “Offering”) of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7.75% senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the “Notes”).

 

The Notes and the related guarantees have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and applicable state securities laws. The notes and the related guarantees were offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

The Offering was made pursuant to an offering memorandum dated July 13, 2021 and closed on July 16, 2021. The Company received net proceeds from the Offering of approximately $392.0 million (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate purposes, including repaying a portion of the borrowings outstanding under the Company’s senior secured credit facility (as defined below).

 

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and customary obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Initial Purchasers against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Initial Purchasers may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

 

The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Certain of the Initial Purchasers or their affiliates are agents and/or lenders under the Company’s senior secured credit facility and, accordingly, received a portion of the net proceeds of the Offering. Some of the Initial Purchasers and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with the Company or its affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the Initial Purchasers and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the Company or its affiliates. Certain of the Initial Purchasers or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with the Company routinely hedge, or may hedge, their credit exposure to the Company consistent with their customary risk management policies.

 

Indenture

 

On July 16, 2021, in connection with the completion of the Offering, the Company entered into an indenture, dated as of July 16, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (“Wells Fargo”).

 

1

 

The Notes will mature on July 31, 2029 with interest accruing at a rate of 7.75% per annum and payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on January 31 and July 31 of each year, commencing January 31, 2022. The Company may redeem, at its option, all or part of the Notes at any time on or after July 31, 2024, at the applicable redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption. Further, before July 31, 2024, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes in an amount not exceeding the net proceeds from one or more private or public equity offerings at a redemption price of 107.750% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, if at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes remains outstanding immediately after such redemption and the redemption occurs within 180 days of the closing date of each such equity offering.

 

The Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Guarantors and certain of the Company’s future restricted subsidiaries.

 

The foregoing description of the Indenture is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Indenture, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1, and incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Seventh Amendment to Credit Agreement

 

On July 16, 2021, the Company entered into the Seventh Amendment (the “Seventh Amendment”) to the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as amended, the “senior secured credit facility”) among the Company, as borrower, Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, the Guarantors and the bank signatory thereto. The Seventh Amendment, among other things, includes technical amendments (including in connection with Eurodollar advances), extends the maturity date by two years to July 2025 (subject to a springing maturity date of July 29, 2024 if any of the Company’s $600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 9½% senior unsecured notes due 2025 are outstanding on such date), increases the applicable margins for advances made thereunder, increases certain commitment and letter of credit fees, revises certain exceptions to the limitations on the payment of distributions and the repayment of unsecured debt and decreases the leverage ratio for quarterly periods ending on and after September 30, 2021.

 

All capitalized terms above that are not defined elsewhere have the meanings ascribed to them in the Seventh Amendment or the senior secured credit facility, as applicable. The foregoing description of the Seventh Amendment is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Seventh Amendment, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

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

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to the Indenture and the Seventh Amendment is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Copies of the Indenture and the Seventh Amendment are attached hereto as Exhibits 4.1 and 10.2, respectively, and incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.

 

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)  Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number   Description
     
4.1   Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2021, among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., Laredo Midstream Services, LLC, Garden City Minerals, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
4.2   Form of 7.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2029 (included in Exhibit 4.1).
10.1   Purchase Agreement, dated July 13, 2021, among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., Laredo Midstream Services, LLC, Garden City Minerals, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the several initial purchasers named therein.
10.2   Seventh Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2021, among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., as borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, Laredo Midstream Services, LLC and Garden City Minerals, LLC, as guarantors and the banks signatory thereto.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL).
     

2

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

      LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.
Date: July 16, 2021    
     
 

By:

 /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
      Bryan J. Lemmerman
      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC., as Issuer,

 

THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO, as Guarantors

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of July 16, 2021

 

 

 

7.75% Senior Notes due 2029

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article One Definitions and Incorporation by Reference 1

 

  Section 1.01 Definitions 1
  Section 1.02 Other Definitions 39
  Section 1.03 Rules of Construction 40
  Section 1.04 Limited Condition Transactions 40

 

Article Two Issue and Description of Notes 41

 

  Section 2.01 Designation and Amount; Ranking Payments; Denomination 41
  Section 2.02 Form of Notes 42
  Section 2.03 Execution and Authentication 43
  Section 2.04 Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes 43
  Section 2.05 Registrar and Paying Agent 43
  Section 2.06 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust 44
  Section 2.07 Holder Lists 44
  Section 2.08 Transfer and Exchanges of Notes 44
  Section 2.09 Replacement Notes 53
  Section 2.10 Outstanding Notes 54
  Section 2.11 Treasury Notes 54
  Section 2.12 Temporary Notes 54
  Section 2.13 Cancellation 55
  Section 2.14 Defaulted Interest 55
  Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers 55
  Section 2.16 Issuance of Additional Notes 55
  Section 2.17 Persons Deemed Owners 56
  Section 2.18 Non-Business Day Payments 57
  Section 2.19 Computation of Interest 57

 

Article Three Redemption and Prepayment 57

 

  Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee 57
  Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed 57
  Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption 58
  Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption 59
  Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price 60
  Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part 60
  Section 3.07 Optional Redemption 60
  Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption 61
  Section 3.09 Application of Trust Money 61
  Section 3.10 No Limit on Other Purchases 61

 

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Article Four Covenants 62

 

  Section 4.01 Payment of Notes 62
  Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency 63
  Section 4.03 Reports 63
  Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate 65
  Section 4.05 Taxes 65
  Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 65
  Section 4.07 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock 66
  Section 4.08 Restricted Payments 69
  Section 4.09 Transactions with Affiliates 75
  Section 4.10 Liens 77
  Section 4.11 Asset Sales 78
  Section 4.12 Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries 82
  Section 4.13 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries 83
  Section 4.14 Sale and Leaseback Transactions 86
  Section 4.15 Unrestricted Subsidiaries 86
  Section 4.16 Payments for Consent 88
  Section 4.17 Offer to Repurchase upon a Change of Control Triggering Event 88
  Section 4.18 Corporate Existence 91
  Section 4.19 Covenant Termination 92

 

Article Five Successors 92

 

  Section 5.01 Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets 92

 

Article Six Defaults and Remedies 95

 

  Section 6.01 Events of Default 95
  Section 6.02 Acceleration 97
  Section 6.03 Other Remedies 98
  Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults 98
  Section 6.05 Control by Majority 99
  Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits 99
  Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment 99
  Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee 100
  Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 100
  Section 6.10 Priorities 100
  Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs 101

 

Article Seven Trustee 101

 

  Section 7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities 101
  Section 7.02 Notice of Defaults 103
  Section 7.03 Certain Rights of Trustee 103
  Section 7.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes 105
  Section 7.05 May Hold Notes 105
  Section 7.06 Money Held in Trust 105
  Section 7.07 Compensation and Reimbursement 105
  Section 7.08 [Intentionally Omitted] 106
  Section 7.09 Corporate Trustee Required: Eligibility 106
  Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal: Appointment of Successor 106
  Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor 108
  Section 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 108

 

ii

 

 

Article Eight Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance 108

 

  Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 108
  Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge 108
  Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance 109
  Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 110
  Section 8.05 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions 111
  Section 8.06 Repayment to the Company 111
  Section 8.07 Reinstatement 112

 

Article Nine Amendment, Supplement and Waiver 112

 

  Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders 112
  Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders 114
  Section 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents 115
  Section 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes 115
  Section 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc. 115
  Section 9.06 Effect of Supplemental Indentures 115

 

Article Ten Guarantees 116

 

  Section 10.01 Guarantee 116
  Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability 117
  Section 10.03 Guarantee Evidenced by Indenture; No Notation of Guarantee 117
  Section 10.04 Releases of Guarantors 117

 

Article Eleven Satisfaction and Discharge 118

 

  Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge 118
  Section 11.02 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions 119
  Section 11.03 Repayment to the Company 119

 

Article Twelve Miscellaneous 120

 

  Section 12.01 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements 120
  Section 12.02 Notices 120
  Section 12.03 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 121
  Section 12.04 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 122
  Section 12.05 Rules by Trustee and Agents 122
  Section 12.06 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders 122
  Section 12.07 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial 123
  Section 12.08 Successors 123
  Section 12.09 Severability 123
  Section 12.10 Counterpart Originals; Electronic Signatures 123
  Section 12.11 Acts of Holders 124
  Section 12.12 Benefit of Indenture 125
  Section 12.13 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 125
  Section 12.14 Language of Notices, Etc. 125
  Section 12.15 Tax Withholding 125
  Section 12.16 U.S.A. Patriot Act 125
  Section 12.17 Force Majeure 126
  Section 12.18 Calculations 126

 

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Exhibits:

 

Exhibit A FORM OF NOTE

 

Exhibit B FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

Exhibit C FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

 

Exhibit D FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

iv

 

 

 

THIS INDENTURE (this “Indenture”), dated as of July 16, 2021, among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (referred to herein as the “Company”), Laredo Midstream Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Garden City Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Initial Guarantors”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (referred to herein as the “Trustee”).

 

The Company, the Initial Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the 7.75% Senior Notes due 2029 of the Company (the “Notes”):

 

Article One
Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

 

Section 1.01        Definitions.

 

Acquired Debt” means Indebtedness of a Person (1) existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (2) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case, other than Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition, as the case may be. Acquired Debt shall be deemed to be incurred on the date of the related acquisition of assets from any Person or the date the acquired Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

Additional Assets” means (i) any assets or property (other than cash, Cash Equivalents or securities) used in the Oil and Gas Business or any business ancillary thereto, (ii) Investments in any other Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business or any business ancillary thereto (including the acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of such Person) as a result of which such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) the acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) Permitted Business Investments, (v) capital expenditures by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the Oil and Gas Business or (vi) Capital Stock constituting a Minority Interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (ii) and (vi), such Restricted Subsidiary is primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business.

 

Additional Notes” means any further Notes (other than the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date) issued upon original issue under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, including Sections 2.16 and 4.07.

 

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Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination, the remainder of:

 

(a)            the sum of

 

(i)              discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines before any state or federal income taxes, as estimated by the Company in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available, or, at the Company’s option, as estimated by the Company in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available, in either case, which reserve report was prepared by independent petroleum engineers or the Company’s petroleum engineers, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from (1) estimated proved oil and gas reserves acquired since such year-end or quarter-end, as applicable, which reserves were not reflected in such year-end or quarter-end, as applicable, reserve report, and (2) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since such year-end or quarter-end, as applicable, due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities, which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions (including the impact to proved reserves and future net revenues from estimated development costs incurred and the accretion of discount since such year-end), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from (3) estimated proved oil and gas reserves produced or disposed of since such year-end or quarter-end, as applicable, and (4) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since such year-end or quarter-end, as applicable, due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in each case calculated on a pre-tax basis in accordance with Commission guidelines, in the case of the foregoing clauses (1) through (4) utilizing the prices and costs calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines utilized in such year-end or quarter-end, as applicable, reserve report; provided, however, that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (1) through (4), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers,

 

(ii)             the capitalized costs that are attributable to Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest available annual or quarterly financial statements,

 

(iii)            the Net Working Capital of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, and

 

(iv)            the greater of (1) the net book value of other tangible assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (2) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements; provided that, if no such appraisal has been obtained, the Company shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal and only clause (a)(iv)(1) of this definition shall apply, minus

 

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(b) the sum of

 

(i)              Minority Interests,

 

(ii)             any net gas balancing liabilities of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as reflected in the Company’s latest annual or quarterly balance sheet, to the extent not deducted in calculating Net Working Capital of the Company in accordance with clause (a)(iii) of this definition,

 

(iii)            to the extent included in (a)(i) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines (but utilizing prices and costs calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines utilized in such year-end or quarter-end, as applicable, reserve report), attributable to reserves which are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto); and

 

(iv)            the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenues specified in (a)(i) above, would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto).

 

If the Company changes its method of accounting from the full cost method to the successful efforts method or a similar method of accounting, Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets will continue to be calculated as if the Company were still using the full cost method of accounting.

 

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

 

Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.

 

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any applicable redemption date, the greater of: (1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; and (2) the excess, if any, of: (a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at July 31, 2024 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.07(a)) plus (ii) all required interest payments (excluding accrued and unpaid interest to such redemption date) due on such Note through July 31, 2024, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the principal amount of such Note.

 

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Applicable Procedures” of a Depositary means, with respect to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

 

Asset Sale” means any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease (other than operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business) or other disposition (including by way of merger or consolidation or sale and leaseback transaction) (collectively, a “transfer”), directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, of:

 

(1)         any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors qualifying shares or shares required by law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary);

 

(2)         all or substantially all of the properties and assets of any division or line of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(3)         any other properties and assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

For the purposes of this definition, the term Asset Sale shall not include:

 

(A)             any disposition (including by way of a merger or consolidation) that is governed by the provisions described under Section 5.01,

 

(B)              any disposition that is by the Company to any Restricted Subsidiary or by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture,

 

(C)              any disposition that would be (i) a Restricted Payment under Section 4.08 and that would be permitted to be made as a Restricted Payment or (ii) a Permitted Investment or a Permitted Payment,

 

(D)             the disposition of Cash Equivalents, inventory, accounts receivable, surplus or obsolete equipment or other similar property (excluding the disposition of oil and gas in place and other interests in real property unless made in connection with a Permitted Business Investment),

 

(E)              the abandonment, assignment, lease, sublease or farm-out of Oil and Gas Properties, or the forfeiture or other disposition of such properties, pursuant to operating agreements or other instruments or agreements that, in each case, are entered into in a manner that is customary in the Oil and Gas Business,

 

(F)              the disposition of Property received in settlement of debts owing to such Person as a result of foreclosure, perfection or enforcement of any Lien or debt, which debts were owing to such Person,

 

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(G)             any Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales (other than incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the acquisition or financing of, and within 60 days after the acquisition of, the Property that is subject thereto,

 

(H)             the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles to the extent that such license does not prohibit the licensor from using the intellectual property and licenses, leases or subleases of other property,

 

(I)              an Asset Swap,

 

(J)              the creation or incurrence of any Lien and the exercise by any Person in whose favor a Permitted Lien is granted of any of its rights in respect of that Lien,

 

(K)             the surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind,

 

(L)             any disposition of assets or Capital Stock (in any Transaction) the Fair Market Value of which, when combined with the Fair Market Value at the time of disposition of all other such dispositions in the same Transaction effected pursuant to this clause (L), in the aggregate, does not exceed $10.0 million,

 

(M)            the sale or other disposition (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) of Oil and Gas Properties; provided that, at the time of such sale or other disposition, such properties do not have attributed to them any proved reserves,

 

(N)             any sale of equity interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or

 

(O)             the disposition of oil and natural gas properties in connection with tax credit transactions complying with Section 29 of the Internal Revenue Code or any successor or analogous provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Asset Swap” means any substantially contemporaneous (and in any event occurring within 120 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange of any oil or natural gas properties or assets or interests therein between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and another Person; provided that any cash received shall be applied in accordance with Section 4.11 as if the Asset Swap were an Asset Sale.

 

Attributable Indebtedness” in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended).

 

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Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, or any similar United States federal or state law or foreign law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors or any amendment to, succession to or change in any such law.

 

Board of Directors” means:

 

(A)             with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of such corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

 

(B)              with respect to a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such partnership;

 

(C)              with respect to a limited liability company, the board of directors or other governing body of such limited liability company, and in the absence of the same, the manager or board of managers or managing member or members or any controlling committee thereof; and

 

(D)             with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

Board Resolution” means, with respect to a Board of Directors, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Person or, in the case of a Person that is a partnership that has no such officers, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of a general partner of such Person, to have been duly adopted by such Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Borrowing Base” means the “Borrowing Base” (or comparable term) as defined in and determined from time to time pursuant to the Senior Credit Agreement; provided that the Borrowing Base under the Senior Credit Agreement is determined on a basis substantially consistent with customary terms for oil and gas secured reserve based loan transactions and has a lender group that includes one or more commercial financial institutions which engage in oil and gas reserve based lending in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.

 

Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York or the location of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Capital Lease Obligation” of any Person means any obligation of such Person under any capital lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) real or personal property which, in accordance with GAAP, is required to be recorded as a capitalized lease obligation (other than any obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as an operating lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date), and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligation determined in accordance with GAAP; and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty. For purposes of Section 4.10, a Capital Lease Obligation will be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased.

 

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Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, units, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock, other equity interests in such Person whether now outstanding or issued after the Issue Date, partnership interests (whether general or limited), limited liability company interests in such Person (if a limited liability company), any other interest or participation that confers on any other Person the right to receive a share of the overall profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, such Person, including any Preferred Stock, and any rights, warrants or options exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into such Capital Stock in any such case other than debt securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into Capital Stock.

 

Cash Equivalents” means

 

(1)         any evidence of Indebtedness issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof,

 

(2)         marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition and, at the time of acquisition, having a credit rating of at least “A” (or the equivalent thereof) from either S&P or Moody’s,

 

(3)         deposits, time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, money market deposits, overnight bank deposits or acceptances of any financial institution having capital and surplus in excess of $100.0 million and whose senior unsecured debt either (a) is rated at least “A-2” by S&P or at least “P-2” by Moody’s, or (b) has a Thompson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better,

 

(4)         commercial paper with a maturity of 365 days or less issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate or Subsidiary of the Company) organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and rated in one of the two highest ratings categories by S&P or Moody’s or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named Rating Agencies cease publishing ratings of investments,

 

(5)         repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating to Indebtedness of a type described in clause (1), (2) or (3) above that are entered into with a financial institution described in clause (3) above and mature within 365 days from the date of acquisition,

 

(6)         money market funds which invest substantially all of their assets in securities described in the preceding clauses (1) through (5), and

 

(7)         marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively, and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of the creation thereof.

 

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Cash Management Obligations” means, with respect to the Company or any Guarantor, any obligations of such Person to any lender in respect of treasury management arrangements, depositary or other cash management services, including any treasury management line of credit

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(1)         any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Person has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total outstanding Voting Stock of the Company (or its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all its assets) (measured by voting power rather than the number of shares);

 

(2)         during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period (or, if later, the Issue Date) constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election to such board or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period (or, if later, the Issue Date) or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved), cease for any reason to constitute a majority of such Board of Directors then in office;

 

(3)         the Company sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act); or

 

(4)         the Company is liquidated or dissolved or adopts a plan of liquidation or dissolution other than in a transaction which complies with Section 5.01.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity to a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Capital Stock in one form of entity for Capital Stock for another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as following such conversion or exchange the “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who “beneficially owned” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Person has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) the Capital Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transactions continue to “beneficially own” in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity (measured by voting power rather than the number of shares), or continue to “beneficially own” sufficient equity interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other Persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity, and, in either case no Person “beneficially owns” more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity (measured by voting power rather than the number of shares).

 

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Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both (x) a Change of Control and (y) a Rating Decline or, so long as any Existing Senior Notes remain outstanding, the obligation of the Company to make an offer to repurchase as a result of the occurrence of such Change of Control pursuant to the indentures governing the Existing Senior Notes.

 

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, Luxembourg, or any successor securities clearance agency.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted or created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

Commodity Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, any futures contract, forward contract, commodity swap agreement, commodity option agreement, hedging agreements and other agreements or arrangements (including swaps, caps, floors, collars, options and similar agreements) or any combination thereof entered into by such Person in respect of Hydrocarbons purchased, used, produced, processed or sold by such Person or its Subsidiaries for the purpose of protecting, on a net basis, against price risks, basis risks or other risks encountered in the Oil and Gas Business.

 

Company” means Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation, until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers of the Company.

 

Consolidated EBITDAX” of the Company means for any period the amount for such period specified in clause (a) of the definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” (after giving effect to the proviso thereto).

 

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” of the Company means, for any period, the ratio of

 

(a)         without duplication, the sum of Consolidated Net Income (Loss) and, in each case to the extent deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (Loss) for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination for which financial statements are available, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Income Tax Expense and Consolidated Non-cash Charges for such four fiscal quarters, less all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such four fiscal quarters, in each case, of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, all determined in accordance with GAAP, to

 

(b)         without duplication, Consolidated Interest Expense of the Company for such four fiscal quarters;

 

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provided, however, that

 

(1)         if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary:

 

(A)             has incurred any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that remains outstanding on the relevant date of determination or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is an incurrence of Indebtedness, Consolidated Net Income (Loss) and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof as if such Indebtedness had been incurred on the first day of such period and such proceeds had been applied as of such date (except that in making such computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any revolving Credit Facility outstanding on the date of such determination will be deemed to be (i) the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such four fiscal quarters or such shorter period for which such Credit Facility was outstanding or (ii) if such revolving Credit Facility was created after the end of such four fiscal quarters, the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the period from the date of creation of such revolving Credit Facility to the date of such determination; provided that, in each case, such average daily balance shall take into account any repayment of Indebtedness under such revolving Credit Facility as provided in clause (B)); or

 

(B)              has repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since the beginning of the period, including with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness, that is no longer outstanding on such date of determination or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio involves a discharge of Indebtedness (in each case other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving Credit Facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and the related commitment terminated), Consolidated Net Income (Loss) and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such discharge of such Indebtedness as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period;

 

(2)         if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has made any Asset Sale or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is such an Asset Sale, the Consolidated Net Income for such period will be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Net Income (Loss) (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such Asset Sale for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated Net Income (Loss) (if negative) directly attributable thereto for such period and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Company and the continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with or with the proceeds from such Asset Sale for such period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such period directly attributable to the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Company and the continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale);

 

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(3)         if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) has made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) or an acquisition (or will have received a contribution) of assets, including any acquisition or contribution of assets occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made under this Indenture, which constitutes all or substantially all of a company, division, operating unit, segment, business, group of related assets or line of business, Consolidated Net Income (Loss) and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition or contribution had occurred on the first day of such period; and

 

(4)         if, since the beginning of such period, any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) made any Asset Sale or any Investment or acquisition of assets that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (2) or (3) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period, Consolidated Net Income (Loss) and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Asset Sale or Investment or acquisition of assets had occurred on the first day of such period.

 

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations will be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company; provided that such officer may in his or her discretion include any reasonably identifiable and factually supportable pro forma changes to Consolidated Net Income (Loss), including any pro forma expenses and cost reductions, that have occurred or in the judgment of such officer are reasonably expected to occur within 12 months of the date of the applicable transaction (regardless of whether such expense or cost reduction or any other operating improvements could then be reflected properly in pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the Commission); and provided further that

 

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(5)         in making such computation, the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to interest on any Indebtedness computed on a pro forma basis and (A) bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed as if the average rate in effect for the period had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such Interest Rate Agreement is less than 12 months, then such Interest Rate Agreement shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof) and (B) bearing an interest rate (x) at the option of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or (y) that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a Eurocurrency interbank offered rate or other rate, shall be calculated based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may designate, and

 

(6)         in making such computation, the Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person attributable to interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving Credit Facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period.

 

Consolidated Income Tax Expense” of any Person means, for any period, the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes (including state franchise or other taxes accounted for as income taxes in accordance with GAAP) of such Person and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” of the Company means, without duplication, for any period, the sum of

 

(a)           the interest expense, less interest income, of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a Consolidated basis, whether paid or accrued, including, to the extent not included in such interest expense and without duplication, with respect to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiary for such period,

 

(1)        amortization of debt discount (excluding amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs) (provided that any amortization of bond premium will be credited to reduce Consolidated Interest Expense unless, pursuant to GAAP, such amortization of bond premium has otherwise reduced Consolidated Interest Expense),

 

(2)        the net cash costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements (including amortization of fees and discounts); provided, however, that if Interest Rate Agreements result in net cash benefits rather than costs, such benefits shall be credited to reduce Consolidated Interest Expense unless, pursuant to GAAP, such net benefits are otherwise reflected in Consolidated Net Income,

 

(3)        the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation,

 

(4)        all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing, and

 

(5)        accrued interest, plus

 

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(b)           (1)        the interest component of the Capital Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued, and

 

(2)        all interest expense that has been capitalized, plus

 

(c)           the interest expense under any Guaranteed Debt of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness secured by a Lien on assets of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent not included under any other clause hereof, but only to the extent such Guarantee becomes payable by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries or such Lien becomes subject to foreclosure, plus

 

(d)           dividend payments of the Company with respect to Disqualified Stock and of any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to Preferred Stock (except, in either case, dividends payable solely in shares of Qualified Capital Stock of such Person or payable to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary),

 

minus, to the extent included above, any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments.

 

Consolidated Net Income (Loss)” of the Company means, for any period, the Consolidated net income (or loss) of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a Consolidated basis as determined in accordance with GAAP, adjusted, to the extent included in calculating such net income (or loss), by excluding, without duplication,

 

(1)         all extraordinary gains or losses (together with related provisions for taxes) (less all fees and expenses relating thereto),

 

(2)         the portion of net income (or loss) of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis allocable to Minority Interests in unconsolidated Persons or Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the extent that, in the case of net income, cash dividends or distributions have not actually been received, or, in the case of net loss, cash has been contributed to fund such loss, by the Company or one of the Company’s Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

(3)         any gain or loss, net of taxes, realized upon the termination of any employee pension benefit plan,

 

(4)         gains or losses, net of taxes (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), in respect of dispositions of assets other than in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business (excluding, without limitation, from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income (Loss) dispositions pursuant to Sale and Leaseback Transactions, but not excluding from such calculation transactions such as farm-outs, sales of leasehold inventory, sales of undivided interests in drilling prospects, and sales or licenses of seismic data or other geological or geophysical data or interpretations thereof),

 

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(5)         the net income of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders,

 

(6)         any write-downs or impairments of assets (including goodwill) on or related to Hydrocarbon properties or other non-current assets, under applicable GAAP or Commission guidelines,

 

(7)         any cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles,

 

(8)         any unrealized non-cash gains or losses on charges in respect of Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements or Commodity Agreements, including those resulting from the application of Statement of ASC 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,”

 

(9)         any non-cash compensation charge arising from the grant of or issuance of stock, stock options or other equity based awards, and

 

(10)       all deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges written off, and premiums or penalties paid, in connection with any early extinguishment of Indebtedness.

 

Consolidated Net Worth” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the sum of:

 

(1)         the Consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date; plus

 

(2)         the respective amounts reported on such Person’s balance sheet as of such date with respect to any series of Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such Person upon issuance of such Preferred Stock.

 

Consolidated Non-cash Charges” of the Company means, for any period, the aggregate depreciation, depletion, amortization, impairment and exploration and abandonment expense and other non-cash charges of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP (excluding any non-cash charge (other than a charge for future obligations with respect to the abandonment or retirement of assets) that requires an accrual or reserve for cash charges for any future period).

 

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Consolidated Total Net Debt” of the Company means, as of any date, (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the types described in clauses (1), (2), (3), (5) and (6) of the definition of “Indebtedness” (in each case, other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) that is actually owing by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date and appearing on a balance sheet of the Company determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of such date (provided that the amount of any Capital Lease Obligations or any such Indebtedness issued at a discount to its face value shall be determined in accordance with GAAP as of such date); minus (ii) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents included in the cash and Cash Equivalents accounts listed on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date. and which is not (x) subject to any Lien or (y) noted as “restricted” on such consolidated balance sheet (other than, in the case of clause (x) or (y), to the extent securing, or “restricted” for use solely to pay, Indebtedness referred to in clause (i) above).

 

Consolidated Total Net Debt to Consolidated EBITDAX Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) the Consolidated Total Net Debt of the Company as of the last day of the most recent Test Period ended on or prior to such date of determination to (ii) the Consolidated EBITDAX of the Company for such Test Period.

 

consolidation” means, with respect to any Person, the consolidation of the accounts of such Person and each of its Subsidiaries if and to the extent the accounts of such Person and each of its Subsidiaries would be consolidated with those of such Person, in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that “consolidation” will not include consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person with the accounts of such Person. The term “Consolidated” or “consolidated” shall have a similar meaning.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, CTSO Mail Operations, 600 South 4th Street, MAC N9300-070, Minneapolis, MN 55415, Attention: Corporate Trust Services – Laredo Petroleum, Inc. Administrator, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

 

Credit Facility” means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more debt facilities (including the Senior Credit Agreement) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables or other financial assets to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables or other financial assets), letters of credit, commercial paper facilities, debt issuances or other debt obligations, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restructured, supplemented, replaced or refinanced, in whole or in part and from time to time, including any amendment increasing the amount of Indebtedness incurred or available to be borrowed thereunder, extending the maturity of any Indebtedness incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby or deleting, adding or substituting one or more parties thereto (whether or not such added or substituted parties are banks or other institutional lenders).

 

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Currency Agreement” means, in respect of a Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option contract or other similar agreement as to which such Person is a party or a beneficiary.

 

Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.05 as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest (other than as a shareholder or employee of the Company) in or with respect to such transaction or series of related transactions.

 

Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, either by its terms or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or otherwise, is or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be, required to be redeemed prior to the date that is the earlier of (a) the date 91 days after the date on which no Notes are outstanding and (b) the final Stated Maturity of the principal of the Notes or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to such date (other than, in any case, upon a change of control of or sale of assets by the Company in circumstances where the Holders would have similar rights), or is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to such date at the option of the holder thereof; provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which is mandatorily redeemable is so redeemable or so convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided further that any Capital Stock issued pursuant to any plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates for the benefit of one or more employees will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or any of its Affiliates in order to satisfy applicable contractual, statutory or regulatory obligations.

 

Dollar-Denominated Production Payment” means a production payment required to be recorded as a borrowing in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

 

Equity Offering” means an underwritten public offering or nonpublic, unregistered or private placement of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or any contribution to capital of the Company in respect of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company.

 

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Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.

 

Exchanged Properties” means Additional Assets received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a substantially concurrent purchase and sale, trade or exchange as a portion of the total consideration for other properties or assets.

 

“Existing Senior Notes” means the Company’s (x) 9.500% Senior Notes due 2025 initially issued in the aggregate principal amount of $600,000,000 and (y) 10.125% Senior Notes due 2028 initially issued in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000, in each case, to the extent outstanding on the Issue Date.

 

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the sale value that would be obtained in an arm’s-length free market transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy. Fair Market Value of an asset or property in excess of $30.0 million shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith, which determination will be conclusive for all purposes under this Indenture, in which event it shall be evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, and any lesser Fair Market Value shall be determined by the principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company acting in good faith, which determination will be conclusive for all purposes under this Indenture.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that (x) is not organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, or (y) was organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia that has no material assets other than Capital Stock of one or more foreign entities of the type described in clause (x) above.

 

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” or “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time. All ratio computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture will be computed in conformity with GAAP.

 

Global Note” means a Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary.

 

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.05, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

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Guarantee” means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

Guaranteed Debt” of any Person means, without duplication, all Indebtedness of any other Person guaranteed directly or indirectly in any manner by such Person, or in effect guaranteed directly or indirectly by such Person through an agreement, made primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of such Indebtedness or to assure the holder of such Indebtedness against loss,

 

(1)         to pay or purchase such Indebtedness or to advance or supply funds for the payment or purchase of such Indebtedness,

 

(2)         to purchase, sell or lease (as lessee or lessor) property, or to purchase or sell services,

 

(3)         to supply funds to, or in any other manner invest in, the debtor (including any agreement to pay for property or services without requiring that such property be received or such services be rendered),

 

(4)         to maintain working capital or equity capital of the debtor, or otherwise to maintain the net worth, solvency or other financial condition of the debtor or to cause such debtor to achieve certain levels of financial performance, or

 

(5)         otherwise to assure a creditor against loss;

 

provided that the term “guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business or any obligation to the extent it is payable only in Qualified Capital Stock of the guarantor.

 

Guarantor’s Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Guarantor, either the board of directors (or other governing body) of such Guarantor (or, if such Guarantor is organized as a limited partnership, the general partner of such Guarantor) or any duly authorized committee of such board (or other governing body).

 

Guarantor’s Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Guarantor, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor to have been duly adopted by such Guarantor’s Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Guarantor’s Board Resolution, such action may be taken by any officer or employee of such Guarantor authorized to take such action by such Guarantor’s Board of Directors as evidenced by a Guarantor’s Board Resolution.

 

Guarantor’s Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to any Guarantor, a certificate signed by any two of the following: a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, a Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor, or any other officer or officers of such Guarantor designated in a writing by or pursuant to authority of such Guarantor’s Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee from time to time.

 

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Guarantor Request” or “Guarantor Order” means, with respect to any Guarantor, a written request or order signed in the name of such Guarantor by any two Officers of such Guarantor.

 

Guarantors” means (i) the Initial Guarantors and (ii) any other Subsidiary of the Company that is a guarantor of the Notes, including any Person that is required after the Issue Date to execute a supplemental indenture providing for a full and unconditional guarantee on a senior unsecured basis of the Company’s obligations under the Notes pursuant to Section 4.12, until a successor replaces such party pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, shall mean such successor; provided, however, that any Person constituting a Guarantor as described above shall cease to constitute a Guarantor when its Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

Hedging Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Commodity Agreement.

 

Holder” means the Person in whose name a Note is, at the time of determination, registered on the Notes Register.

 

Hydrocarbons” means oil, natural gas, casing head gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and all products, by-products and all other substances (whether or not hydrocarbon in nature) produced in connection therewith or refined, separated, settled or derived therefrom or the processing thereof, and all other minerals and substances related to the foregoing, including liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, kerosene, sulphur, lignite, coal, all gas resulting from the in-situ combustion of coal or lignite, uranium, thorium, iron, geothermal steam, water, carbon dioxide, helium, and any and all other minerals, ores, or substances of value, and the products and proceeds therefrom.

 

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication,

 

(1)         (a) all indebtedness of such Person (i) for borrowed money or (ii) for the deferred purchase price of property or services, excluding any Trade Accounts Payable and other accrued current liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, and (b) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in connection with any letters of credit issued under letter of credit facilities, acceptance facilities or other similar facilities (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clauses (1)(a), (2), (3) or (5) of this definition) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the tenth Business Day following payment on the letter of credit),

 

(2)         all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or other similar instruments,

 

(3)         all indebtedness of such Person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even if the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), but excluding Trade Accounts Payable and other accrued current liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business,

 

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(4)         all obligations under or in respect of Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements of such Person (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the net termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at such time),

 

(5)         all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person,

 

(6)         the Attributable Indebtedness related to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction,

 

(7)         all Indebtedness referred to in clauses (1) through (6) above of other Persons, to the extent the payment of such Indebtedness is secured by any Lien, upon or with respect to property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness,

 

(8)         all Guaranteed Debt of such Person,

 

(9)         all Disqualified Stock issued by such Person valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed redemption price or repurchase price, and

 

(10)       Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary or any Guarantor, valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed redemption price or repurchase price;

 

if and to the extent (solely in the case of the obligations specified in clauses (1)(a)(ii), (3) and (5) immediately above) such obligations would appear as liabilities upon the Consolidated balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that the following shall in any event not constitute “Indebtedness”:

 

(a)               any indebtedness which has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased pursuant to the deposit of cash or Cash Equivalents (in an amount sufficient to satisfy all such indebtedness obligations at maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all payments of interest and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, and subject to no other Liens, and the other applicable terms of the instrument governing such indebtedness;

 

(b)               accrued current liabilities and Trade Accounts Payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)               any obligation of a Person in respect of a farm-in agreement or similar arrangement whereby such Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to maximum payment obligations, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an oil or gas property;

 

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(d)               in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, any obligations arising from agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, guarantees (other than guarantees of Indebtedness), adjustment of purchase price, holdbacks, contingent payment obligations (including earnouts) based on a final financial statement or performance of acquired or disposed of assets or similar obligations or from guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing any obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to such an agreement, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with such acquisition or disposition;

 

(e)               oil or natural gas balancing obligations or liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f)                any obligation in respect of any Commodity Agreement;

 

(g)               any unrealized losses or charges in respect of Currency Agreements, Commodity Agreements or Interest Rate Agreements (including those resulting from the application of ASC 815);

 

(h)               any obligations in respect of (i) bid, performance, completion, surety, appeal and similar bonds, (ii) obligations in respect of bankers acceptances, (iii) insurance obligations or bonds and other similar bonds and obligations and (iv) any guaranties or letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing bonds or obligations; provided, however, that such bonds or obligations mentioned in subclause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this clause (h), are incurred in the ordinary course of the business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries and do not relate to obligations for borrowed money;

 

(i)                 any obligations in respect of completion bonds, performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds, bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit, insurance obligations or bonds and other similar bonds and obligations incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and any guarantees and obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to or letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing bonds or obligations;

 

(j)                 any obligations under Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements; provided that such agreements are entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Company, whether or not accounted for as a hedge in accordance with GAAP) and, in the case of Currency Agreements, such Currency Agreements are related to business transactions of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and, in the case of Interest Rate Agreements, such Interest Rate Agreements are not entered into for speculative purposes;

 

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(k)               any obligation arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument (including daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;

 

(l)                 all contracts and other obligations, agreements, instruments or arrangements described in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of the definition of “Oil and Gas Liens” and clause (j) of the definition of “Permitted Lien”; and

 

(m)             Production Payments and Reserve Sales.

 

For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Stock, such Fair Market Value to be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified Stock.

 

Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise) or is merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or which is secured by a Lien on an asset acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the acquiring Person) shall be deemed incurred at the time the Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of the merger or asset acquisition, as the case may be.

 

The “amount” or “principal amount” of Indebtedness at any time of determination as used herein shall, except as set forth below, be determined in accordance with GAAP:

 

(1)         the “amount” or “principal amount” of any Capital Lease Obligation shall be the amount determined in accordance with the definition thereof;

 

(2)         the “amount” or “principal amount” of any Preferred Stock shall be the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed redemption price or repurchase price;

 

(3)         the “amount” or “principal amount” of all other unconditional obligations shall be the amount of the liability thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; and

 

(4)         the “amount” or “principal amount” of all other contingent obligations shall be the maximum liability at such date of such Person.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

 

Initial Guarantors” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

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Initial Notes” means the $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes issued upon original issue on the Issue Date. The Initial Notes comprise all Notes issued under this Indenture other than any Additional Notes.

 

Interest Rate Agreements” means one or more of the following agreements which shall be entered into by one or more financial institutions: interest rate protection agreements (including interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements) and/or other types of interest rate hedging agreements from time to time.

 

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, directly or indirectly, any advance, loan (including guarantees), or other extension of credit or capital contribution to any other Person (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to such Person or any payment for property or services for the account or use of such Person), or any purchase, acquisition or ownership by such Person of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities issued or owned by any other Person and all other items that would be classified as investments on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. “Investment” shall exclude, as to any Person, direct or indirect advances or payments to customers or suppliers in the ordinary course of business that are, in conformity with GAAP, recorded as accounts receivable, prepaid expenses or deposits on such Person’s balance sheet, endorsements for collection or deposit arising in the ordinary course of business, any debt or extension of credit represented by a bank deposit other than a time deposit, any interest in an oil or gas leasehold to the extent constituting a security under applicable law and extensions of trade credit on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with normal trade practices. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company (other than the sale of all of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Subsidiary), the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.08(a). The amount of the investment shall be its Fair Market Value at the time the investment is made and shall not be adjusted for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.

 

Investment Grade Rating” means at least BBB-, in the case of S&P (or at least its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P), at least Baa3, in the case of Moody’s (or at least its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s), or, if either such entity ceases to make its rating on the Notes publicly available for reasons outside the Company’s control, at least the equivalent in respect of the rating categories of any Rating Agency substituted for S&P or Moody’s in accordance with the definition of “Rating Agencies.”

 

Issue Date” means July 16, 2021, the original issue date of the Initial Notes under this Indenture.

 

Lien” means any mortgage or deed of trust, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), privilege, security interest, assignment, deposit, arrangement, hypothecation, claim, preference, priority or other encumbrance for security purposes upon or with respect to any property of any kind (including any conditional sale, capital lease or other title retention agreement, any leases in the nature thereof, and any agreement to give any security interest), real or personal, movable or immovable, now owned or hereafter acquired. A Person will be deemed to own subject to a Lien any property which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease Obligation or other title retention agreement. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, references herein to Liens permitted to exist upon any particular item of Property shall also be deemed (whether or not stated specifically) to permit Liens to exist upon any improvements, additions, accessions and contractual rights relating primarily thereto and all proceeds thereof (including dividends, distributions and increases in respect thereof).

 

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Limited Condition Transaction” means (i) any Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise and which may include, for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction that may constitute a Change of Control) whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing or (ii) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment.

 

Liquid Securities” means securities that are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market and as to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is not subject to any restrictions on sale or transfer (including any volume restrictions under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other restrictions imposed by the Securities Act) or as to which a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the resale thereof is in effect for as long as the securities are held; provided that securities meeting the foregoing requirements shall be treated as Liquid Securities from the date of receipt thereof until and only until the earlier of (a) the date on which such securities are sold or exchanged for cash or Cash Equivalents and (b) 180 days following the date of receipt of such securities. If such securities are not sold or exchanged for cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days of receipt thereof, for purposes of determining whether the transaction pursuant to which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary received the securities was in compliance with Section 4.11, such securities shall be deemed not to have been Liquid Securities at any time.

 

Maturity” means, when used with respect to the Notes, the date on which the principal of the Notes becomes due and payable as therein provided or as provided in this Indenture, whether at Stated Maturity, the Asset Sale Purchase Date, the Change of Control Purchase Date or the redemption date and whether by declaration of acceleration, Prepayment Offer in respect of Excess Proceeds, Change of Control Offer in respect of a Change of Control Triggering Event, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

Measurement Date” means January 24, 2020, the original issue date of the Existing Senior Notes.

 

Minority Interest” means the percentage interest represented by any class of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that are not owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or any successor to the rating agency business thereof).

 

Net Available Cash” from an Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction means cash proceeds received therefrom (including any (i) cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and (ii) net proceeds from the sale or disposition of any Liquid Securities, in each case, only as and when received and excluding (x) any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (y) except to the extent subsequently converted to cash or Cash Equivalents, Liquid Securities, consideration constituting Exchanged Properties or consideration other than as identified in the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii)), in each case net of:

 

(1)         all legal, title and recording expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all federal, state, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP as a consequence of such Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction;

 

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(2)         all payments made on any Indebtedness, Currency Agreement, Commodity Agreement or Interest Rate Agreement which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction; provided that such payments are made in a manner that results in the permanent reduction in the balance of such Indebtedness and, if applicable, a permanent reduction in any outstanding commitment for future incurrences of Indebtedness thereunder;

 

(3)         all distributions and other payments required to be made to Minority Interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction;

 

(4)         the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction; and

 

(5)         all relocation expenses as a result thereof and all related severance and associated costs, expenses and charges of personnel related to assets and related operations disposed of;

 

provided that, if any consideration for an Asset Sale or Sale and Leaseback Transaction (which would otherwise constitute Net Available Cash) is required to be held in escrow pending determination of whether a purchase price adjustment will be made, or as a reserve in accordance with GAAP, such consideration (or any portion thereof) shall become Net Available Cash only at such time as it is released to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries from escrow or is released from such reserve.

 

Net Cash Proceeds” means with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or options, warrants or rights to purchase Capital Stock, or debt securities or Capital Stock that have been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock as provided under Section 4.08, the aggregate proceeds of such issuance or sale in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when received in the form of, or stock or other assets when disposed of for, cash or Cash Equivalents (except to the extent that such obligations are financed or sold with recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), net of (a) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees and brokerage, consultation, underwriting and other fees and expenses actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale or (b) taxes paid or payable or required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP as a result thereof.

 

Net Working Capital” means (i) all current assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, less (ii) all current liabilities of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness, in each case as set forth in Consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that all of the following shall be excluded in the calculation of Net Working Capital: (a) current assets or liabilities relating to the mark-to-market value of Interest Rate Agreements and hedging arrangements constituting Permitted Debt or commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business; (b) any current assets or liabilities relating to non-cash charges arising from any grant of Capital Stock, options to acquire Capital Stock or other equity based awards; and (c) any current assets or liabilities relating to non-cash charges or accruals for future abandonment or asset retirement liabilities.

 

Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary and is designated by the Company as a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary, as evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

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Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

 

Notes” has the meaning stated in the third recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture:

 

(a)               the term “Notes” shall include all Additional Notes issued hereunder, and

 

(b)               (i) all Additional Notes issued hereunder and (ii) all Initial Notes shall be treated as a single class for purposes of this Indenture as specified in Section 2.16.

 

Offering Memorandum” means the final Offering Memorandum, dated July 13, 2021, relating to the Initial Notes.

 

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the general partner thereof) or any other officer or officers of such Person (or such general partner) designated in a writing by or pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors (if such Person is the Company) or the Guarantor’s Board of Directors with respect to such Guarantor (if such Person is a Guarantor) and delivered to the Trustee from time to time.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by at least two Officers of the Company, one of whom shall be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 12.04.

 

Oil and Gas Business” means the business of exploiting, exploring for, developing, acquiring, operating, servicing, producing, processing, gathering, marketing, storing, selling, hedging, treating, swapping, refining and transporting Hydrocarbons, Hydrocarbon properties or Hydrocarbon assets and other related energy businesses and activities arising from, relating to or necessary, ancillary, complementary or incidental to the foregoing.

 

Oil and Gas Liens” means (i) Liens on any specific property or any interest therein, construction thereon or improvement thereto to secure all or any part of the costs incurred for surveying, exploration, drilling, extraction, development, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of, in, under or on such property and the plugging and abandonment of wells located thereon (it being understood that, in the case of oil and gas producing properties, or any interest therein, costs incurred for development shall include costs incurred for all facilities relating to such properties or to projects, ventures or other arrangements of which such properties form a part or which relate to such properties or interests); (ii) Liens on an oil or gas producing property to secure obligations incurred or guarantees of obligations incurred in connection with or necessarily incidental to commitments for the purchase or sale of, or the transportation or distribution of, the products derived from such property; (iii) Liens arising under partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, incentive compensation programs for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, master limited partnership agreements, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering or processing of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts, area of mutual interest agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; provided in all instances that such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement, program, order or contract; (iv) Liens arising in connection with Production Payments and Reserve Sales; (v) Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law; and (vi) Liens on, or related to, properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to secure all or a part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of business of exploration, drilling, development, production, processing, gas gathering, marketing, refining or storage, abandonment or operation thereof.

 

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Oil and Gas Properties” means all properties, including equity or other ownership interests therein, owned by a Person which contain or are believed to contain oil and gas reserves.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel (who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or any Affiliate thereof) who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee that meets the requirements of Section 12.04.

 

Pari Passu Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor that is pari passu in right of payment to the Notes or a Guarantee, as the case may be.

 

Pari Passu Offer” means an offer by the Company or a Guarantor to purchase all or a portion of Pari Passu Indebtedness to the extent required by the indenture or other agreement or instrument pursuant to which such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued.

 

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

 

Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness was Indebtedness:

 

(1)         of an acquired Person prior to the date on which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of having been acquired and not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition; or

 

(2)         of a Person that was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that was not incurred in contemplation of such merger or consolidation;

 

provided that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis (on the assumption that the transaction occurred on the first day of the four-quarter period for which financial statements are available ending immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction with the appropriate adjustments with respect to the transaction being included in such pro forma calculation),

 

(a)               the Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under Section 4.07(a), or

 

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(b)               the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company would be no smaller than the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

 

Permitted Business Investments” means Investments and expenditures made in the ordinary course of, or of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business as a means of engaging therein through agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements that permit one to share or transfer risks or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or otherwise or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including (i) ownership interests in Hydrocarbon properties and interests therein, liquid natural gas facilities, drilling operations, processing facilities, refineries, gathering systems, pipelines, storage facilities, related systems or facilities, ancillary real property interests and interests therein; (ii) entry into and Investments and expenditures in the form of or pursuant to operating agreements, processing agreements, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements (whether general or limited) and other similar agreements (including for limited liability companies), working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, production sharing agreements, production sales and marketing agreements, subscription agreements, stock purchase agreements, stockholder agreements, oil or gas leases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, division orders, participation agreements, master limited partnership agreements, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering, processing, marketing or storage of Hydrocarbons, communitizations, declarations, orders and agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, or other similar or customary agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements, Asset Swaps, and exchanges of properties of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries for other properties that, together with any cash and Cash Equivalents in connection therewith, are of at least equivalent value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company with third parties, excluding, however, Investments in corporations or Unrestricted Subsidiaries that are Permitted Investments; (iii) capital expenditures, including acquisitions of properties that are related or incidental to, or used or useful in connection with, the Oil and Gas Business or other business activities that are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture, and interests therein; and (iv) Investments of operating funds on behalf of co-owners of properties used in the Oil and Gas Business of the Company or the Subsidiaries of the Company pursuant to joint operating agreements.

 

Permitted Investment” means:

 

(1)         Investments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in (i) the Company, (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) any Person which, as a result of such Investment, (a) becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)         Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary described under clauses (4) and (5) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”;

 

(3)         repurchases of or other Investments in any of the Notes or Guarantees;

 

(4)         cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(5)         Investments in property, plants and equipment used in the ordinary course of business and Permitted Business Investments;

 

(6)         Investments acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale permitted under Section 4.11 to the extent such Investments are non-cash proceeds as permitted under such Section;

 

(7)         Investments in existence on the Issue Date, and any extension, modification or renewal of any such Investments, but only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other transfers of cash or other assets in respect of such Investments;

 

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(8)         Investments acquired in exchange for the issuance of, or out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the substantially concurrent (a) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary) to the equity capital of the Company in respect of, or (b) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Qualified Capital Stock of the Company;

 

(9)         Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10)     relocation allowances for, and loans or advances to, officers, directors or employees of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business for bona fide business purposes of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including travel, entertainment and relocation expenses) in the aggregate amount outstanding at any one time of not more than $2.0 million;

 

(11)     receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

 

(12)     payroll, commission, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13)     any Investments received in good faith in settlement of litigation, arbitration or other disputes (including pursuant to any workout, restructuring, recapitalization or bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings) with Persons who are not Affiliates, or compromise or resolution of, or upon satisfaction of judgments with respect to receivables or other obligations that were obtained in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer or as a result of a foreclosure or title transfer by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to a secured Investment in default;

 

(14)     any Person to the extent such Investments consist of Commodity Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements or Currency Agreements otherwise permitted under Section 4.07;

 

(15)     Investments in a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of any entity merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 5.01, to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

(16)     Investments in any units of any oil and gas royalty trust;

 

(17)     Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.07;

 

(18)     Guarantees of performance or other obligations (other than Indebtedness) arising in the ordinary course in the Oil and Gas Business, including obligations under oil and natural gas exploration, development, joint operating, and related agreements and licenses, concessions or operating leases related to the Oil and Gas Business;

 

(19)     advances and prepayments for asset purchases in the ordinary course of business in the Oil and Gas Business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(20)     any other Investment the amount of which, when combined with the aggregate amount of all other outstanding Investments made pursuant to this clause (20), does not exceed the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 2.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined at the time the Investment is made; provided that, if any Investment is made in a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person later becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, such Investment shall be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) of this definition and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (20) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

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(21)     guarantees received with respect to any Permitted Investment listed above.

 

In connection with any assets or property contributed or transferred to any Person as an Investment, such property and assets shall be equal to the Fair Market Value at the time of Investment, without regard to subsequent changes in value or writeups, writedowns or writeoffs.

 

With respect to any Investment, the Company may, in its sole discretion, allocate all or any portion of any Investment to one or more of the above clauses so that the entire Investment is a Permitted Investment.

 

Permitted Lien” means:

 

(a)               any Lien existing as of the Issue Date to the extent and in the manner such Liens are securing Indebtedness or obligations existing on the Issue Date;

 

(b)               any Lien securing Indebtedness under a Credit Facility permitted to be incurred under Section 4.07(b)(1); provided that the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the aggregate amount that would be allowed under Section 4.07(b)(1) determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

(c)               any Lien securing the Notes, the Guarantees and other obligations arising under this Indenture;

 

(d)               Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness which is incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness which has been secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture and which has been incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; provided, however, that such Liens (1) are no less favorable to the Holders and are not more favorable to the lienholders with respect to such Liens than the Liens in respect of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and (2) do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not securing the Indebtedness so Refinanced;

 

(e)               any Lien arising by reason of:

 

(1)               any judgment, decree or order of any court, so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment, decree or order shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired;

 

(2)               taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as will be required in conformity with GAAP will have been made therefor;

 

(3)               security made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security or similar legislation;

 

(4)               good faith deposits in connection with tenders, leases and contracts (other than contracts for the payment of Indebtedness);

 

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(5)               survey exceptions, zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, reservations, title defects, rights of others for rights of way, utilities, sewers, electric lines, telephone or telegraph lines, and other similar purposes, provisions, covenants, conditions, waivers, restrictions on the use of property or minor irregularities of title (and with respect to leasehold interests, mortgages, obligations, Liens and other encumbrances incurred, created, assumed or permitted to exist and arising by, through or under a landlord or owner of the leased property, with or without consent of the lessee), none of which materially impairs the use of any parcel of property material to the operation of the business of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries or the value of such property for the purpose of such business;

 

(6)               deposits to secure public or statutory obligations, or in lieu of surety or appeal bonds;

 

(7)               operation of law or contract in favor of mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, landlords, materialmen, laborers, employees, suppliers and similar persons, incurred in the ordinary course of business, to the extent such Liens relate only to the tangible property of the lessee which is located on such property, for sums which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by negotiations or by appropriate proceedings which suspend the collection thereof; if such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;

 

(8)               Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(9)               normal depository or cash-management arrangements with banks;

 

(f)                any Lien securing Acquired Debt created prior to (and not created in connection with, or in contemplation of) the incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Lien only secures the assets acquired in connection with the transaction pursuant to which the Acquired Debt became an obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(g)               any Lien to secure performance bids, leases (including statutory and common law landlord’s liens), statutory obligations, letters of credit and other obligations of a like nature and incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries and not securing or supporting Indebtedness, and any Lien to secure statutory or appeal bonds;

 

(h)               any Lien securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (7) of the definition of “Permitted Debt,” so long as none of such Indebtedness constitutes debt for borrowed money;

 

(i)                 any Lien securing Capital Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations incurred or assumed in accordance with this Indenture solely in connection with the acquisition, construction, improvement or development of real or personal, moveable or immovable property; provided that such Liens only extend to such property so acquired, constructed, improved or developed (together with improvements, additions, accessions and contractual rights relating primarily thereto and all proceeds thereof (including dividends, distributions and increases in respect thereof)), such Indebtedness secured by such Lien shall either (x) be in an amount not in excess of the original purchase price or the original cost of such property so acquired, constructed, improved or developed or (y) be with recourse solely to such assets, in the case of clause (x) or (y), together with improvements, additions, accessions and contractual rights relating primarily thereto and all proceeds thereof (including dividends, distributions and increases in respect thereof), the incurrence of such Indebtedness is permitted by Section 4.07 and such Lien is incurred not more than 360 days after the later of the acquisition or completion of construction, improvement or development of the property subject to such Lien;

 

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(j)                 leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(k)               (1) Liens on property, assets or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such merger or consolidation; provided further that any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and assets fixed or appurtenant thereto; and (2) Liens on property, assets or shares of Capital Stock existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition and do not extend to any property other than the property so acquired;

 

(l)                 Oil and Gas Liens, in each case which are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money;

 

(m)             Liens on the Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent securing Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(n)               Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(o)               Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by Section 4.07;

 

(p)               Liens securing any insurance premium financing under customary terms and conditions; provided that no such Lien may extend to or cover any assets or property other than the insurance being acquired with such financing, the proceeds thereof and any unearned or refunded insurance premiums related thereto;

 

(q)               Liens in favor of collecting or payor banks having a right of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on deposit with or in possession of any such bank;

 

(r)                Liens arising under this Indenture in favor of the Trustee for its own benefit and similar Liens in favor of other trustees, agents and representatives arising under instruments governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, including the indentures governing the Existing Senior Notes; provided, however, that such Liens are solely for the benefit of the trustees, agents or representatives in their capacities as such and not for the benefit of the holders of such Indebtedness;

 

(s)                Liens arising from the deposit of funds or securities in trust for the purpose of decreasing or defeasing Indebtedness so long as such deposit of funds or securities and such decreasing or defeasing of Indebtedness are permitted under Section 4.08;

 

(t)                 any extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Lien described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (s) so long as no additional collateral is granted as security thereby; and

 

(u)               in addition to the items referred to in clauses (a) through (t) above, any Lien of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness the amount of which, when combined with the outstanding amount of all other Indebtedness secured by Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (u), does not exceed the greater of (x) $20.0 million and (y)  2.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness.

 

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In each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets that may be subject to such Lien, a Permitted Lien on a specified asset or group or type of assets may include Liens on all improvements, additions, accessions and contractual rights relating primarily thereto and all proceeds thereof (including dividends, distributions and increases in respect thereof).

 

Notwithstanding anything in clauses (a) through (u) of this definition, the term “Permitted Liens” does not include any Liens resulting from the creation, incurrence, issuance, assumption or guarantee of any Production Payments other than (i) Production Payments that are created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 90 days after, the acquisition of the properties or assets that are subject thereto and (ii) Volumetric Production Payments that constitute Asset Sales.

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issued in a Refinancing of other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

 

(1)         the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness being Refinanced (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2)         such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date no earlier than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being Refinanced; and

 

(3)         if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a Guarantee, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantee, as the case may be, on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced or shall be Capital Stock of the obligor on the Indebtedness being Refinanced.

 

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

 

Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Note; and any Note authenticated and delivered in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed or stolen Note.

 

Preferred Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over the Capital Stock of any other class in such Person.

 

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.08(f)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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Production Payments” means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and Volumetric Production Payments.

 

Production Payments and Reserve Sales” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to any Person of a bonus, rental payment, royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment (whether volumetric or dollar-denominated), partnership or other interest in Oil and Gas Properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties where the holder of such interest has recourse solely to such production or proceeds of production, subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to operate and maintain, or cause the subject interests to be operated and maintained, in a reasonably prudent manner or other customary standard or subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to indemnify for environmental, title or other matters customary in the Oil and Gas Business, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists or other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Property” means, with respect to any Person, any interest of such Person in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including Capital Stock and other securities issued by any other Person (but excluding Capital Stock or other securities issued by such first mentioned Person).

 

Purchase Money Obligation” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on assets related to the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that are acquired, constructed, improved or developed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at any time after the Issue Date; provided that

 

(1)         the security agreement or conditional sales or other title retention contract pursuant to which the Lien on such assets is created (collectively, a “Purchase Money Security Agreement”) shall be entered into no later than 360 days after the acquisition or completion of the construction, improvements or development of such assets and shall at all times be confined solely to the assets so acquired, constructed, improved or developed (together with improvements, additions, accessions and contractual rights relating primarily thereto and all proceeds thereof (including dividends, distributions and increases in respect thereof)),

 

(2)         at no time shall the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Indebtedness secured thereby be increased, except in connection with the purchase of improvements, additions, accessions and contractual rights relating primarily thereto and except in respect of fees and other obligations in respect of such Indebtedness, and

 

(3)         either (A) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby (determined on a per asset basis in the case of any additions and accessions) shall not at the time such Purchase Money Security Agreement is entered into (except as specified in clause (2)) exceed 100% of the purchase price to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, of the assets subject thereto or (B) the Indebtedness secured thereby shall be with recourse solely to the assets so purchased or acquired (together with, in the case of clause (A) or (B), any improvements, additions, accessions and contractual rights relating primarily thereto and all proceeds thereof (including dividends, distributions and increases in respect thereof)).

 

Qualified Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all Capital Stock of such Person other than Disqualified Stock.

 

Rating Agencies” means (a) S&P and Moody’s or (b) if S&P or Moody’s or both of them are not making ratings of the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized U.S. rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company, which will be substituted for S&P or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.

 

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Rating Decline” means a decrease in the rating of the notes by any Rating Agency by one or more gradations (including gradations within rating categories as well as between rating categories) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies). In determining whether the rating of the notes has decreased by one or more gradations, gradations within rating categories, namely + or - for S&P, 1, 2, and 3 for Moody's, and + or - for Fitch will be taken into account. for example, in the case of S&P, a rating decline either from BB+ to BB or BB- to B+ will constitute a decrease of one gradation.

 

Refinance” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, effect a change by amendment or modification, defease or retire, or to issue an Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for (or the net proceeds of which are used to Refinance), such Indebtedness in whole or in part. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Regulation S Global Note” means a permanent global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

Regulation S-X” means Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee), including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer or trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers who at such time shall be such officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

Restricted Period” means the 40-day distribution compliance period, as defined in Rule 902(f) and Rule 903(b)(3) of Regulation S.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that has not been designated by the Board of Directors of the Company by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Designation (not subject to a subsequent Revocation) in compliance with Section 4.15.

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

S&P” means Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services (or any successor to the rating agency business thereof).

 

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Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any principal property, acquired or placed into service more than 180 days prior to such arrangement, whereby such property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to such Person.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.

 

Senior Credit Agreement” means the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2017, by and among the Company, as Borrower, the financial institutions listed therein, as Banks, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A., BMO Harris Financing, Inc., and Capital One, National Association, as Co-Syndication Agents, Societe Generale and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Co-Documentation Agents, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp., Capital One, National Association, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as Joint Lead Arrangers, as such agreement, in whole or in part, in one or more instances, may be amended, renewed, extended, substituted, refinanced, restructured, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including, without limitation, any successive renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings, restructurings, replacements (whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders), supplementations or other modifications of the foregoing) together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any guarantee agreements and security documents).

 

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Indebtedness or any installment of interest thereon, the dates specified in such Indebtedness as the fixed date on which the principal of such Indebtedness or such installment of interest, as the case may be, is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

Subordinated Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a Guarantee, as the case may be.

 

Subsidiary” with respect to any Person means any (i) corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership) of which the outstanding Capital Stock having a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors, managers or trustees of such entity under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or any other Person of which a majority of the Voting Stock under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person or (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

 

Test Period” in effect at any time means the Company’s most recently ended four consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available (as determined in good faith by the Company).

 

Trade Accounts Payable” means (a) accounts payable or other obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary created or assumed by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of goods or services and (b) obligations arising under contracts for the exploration, development, drilling, completion and plugging and abandonment of wells or for the construction, repair or maintenance of related infrastructure or facilities.

 

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Transaction” means any transaction; provided that, if such transaction is part of a series of related transactions, “Transaction” refers to such related transactions as a whole.

 

Treasury Rate” means, as of any redemption date, the weekly average yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) equal to the period from the redemption date to July 31, 2024; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to July 31, 2024 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities that have a constant maturity closest to and greater than the period from the redemption date to July 31, 2024 and the United States Treasury securities that have a constant maturity closest to and less than the period from the redemption date to July 31, 2024 for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to July 31, 2024 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Company will (1) calculate the Treasury Rate on the third Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date and (2) prior to such redemption date, deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

 

Trustee” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

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Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

 

Unrestricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

Unrestricted Global Note” means a permanent Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company designated (or deemed designated) as such pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.15.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary Indebtedness” of any Unrestricted Subsidiary means Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary

 

(1)         as to which none of the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary is directly or indirectly liable (by virtue of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary being the primary obligor on, guarantor of, or otherwise liable in any respect to, such Indebtedness), except to the extent of Capital Stock of such Unrestricted Subsidiary pledged as contemplated by clause (m) of the definition of “Permitted Lien” and for Guaranteed Debt of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Affiliate of the Company, in which case (unless the incurrence of such Guaranteed Debt resulted in a Restricted Payment at the time of incurrence) the Company shall be deemed to have made a Restricted Payment equal to the principal amount of any such Indebtedness to the extent guaranteed at the time such Affiliate is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, and

 

(2)         which, upon the occurrence of a default with respect thereto, does not result in, or permit any holder of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare, a default on such Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity;

 

provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, any Unrestricted Subsidiary may guarantee the Notes.

 

U.S. Government Obligations” means (i) securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the full and timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; and (ii) depositary receipts issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in clause (i) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

U.S. Person” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act.

 

Volumetric Production Payment” means a production payment that is recorded as a sale in accordance with GAAP, whether or not the sale price must be recorded as deferred revenue, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

 

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Voting Stock” of a Person means Capital Stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect the members of the Board of Directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (1) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock into (2) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal or (with respect to Preferred Stock) redemption or similar payment, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.

 

Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary all the Capital Stock of which is owned by the Company or another Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares).

 

Section 1.02        Other Definitions.

TERM DEFINED
IN
SECTION
“Asset Sale Purchase Date” 4.11
“Authentication Order” 2.03
“Change of Control Offer” 4.17
“Change of Control Purchase Date” 4.17
“Change of Control Purchase Notice” 4.17
“Change of Control Purchase Price” 4.17
“Company Website” 4.03
“Covenant Defeasance” 8.03
“Covenant Termination Event” 4.19
“Defeasance Redemption Date” 8.04

“Designation” 4.15
“Designation Amount” 4.15
“DTC” 2.05
“Event of Default” 6.01
“Excess Proceeds” 4.11
“Funds in Trust” 8.04
“incur” 4.07
“Legal Defeasance” 8.02
“Notes Register” 2.05
“Paying Agent” 2.05
“Permitted Consideration” 4.11
“Permitted Debt” 4.07
“Permitted Payment” 4.08
“Prepayment Offer” 4.11
“Prepayment Offer Notice” 4.11
“Prepayment Offer Price” 4.11
“Purchase Money Security Agreement” 1.01
“QIBs” 2.01
“Registrar” 2.05
“Restricted Payments” 4.08
“Revocation” 4.15
“Satisfaction and Discharge” 11.01
“Surviving Entity” 5.01
“Surviving Guarantor Entity” 5.01
“Terminated Covenants” 4.19

 

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Section 1.03        Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(i)      a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(ii)      an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(iii)      words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(iv)      references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time;

 

(v)      when the words “includes” or “including” are used herein, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

(vi)      all references to Sections or Articles refer to Sections or Articles of this Indenture;

 

(vii)      “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(viii)      all references to “this Indenture” refer to this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof; and

 

(ix)      “or” is not exclusive.

 

Section 1.04        Limited Condition Transactions.

 

When calculating the availability under any basket, ratio or test under this Indenture or determining compliance with any provision of this Indenture in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Sales), in each case, at the option of the Company (the Company’s election to exercise such option, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination for availability under any such basket, ratio or test and whether any such Limited Condition Transaction or action or transaction is permitted (or any requirement in respect thereof or condition therefor is complied with or satisfied (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default)) under this Indenture shall be deemed to be the date (the “LCT Test Date”) the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (or, if applicable, the date on which delivery of an irrevocable notice, declaration of a Restricted Payment or similar event preceding such Limited Condition Transaction occurs) and, if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Sales) and any related pro forma adjustments, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been permitted to take such actions or consummate such transactions on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions), such ratio, test or basket (and any related requirements and conditions) shall be deemed to have been complied with (or satisfied) for all purposes (in the case of Indebtedness, for example, whether such Indebtedness is committed, issued or incurred at the LCT Test Date or at any time thereafter); provided, that (a) if financial statements for one or more subsequent fiscal quarters shall have become available, the Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to re-determine all such ratios, tests or baskets on the basis of such financial statements, in which case, such date of redetermination shall thereafter be deemed to be the applicable LCT Test Date for purposes of such ratios, tests or baskets, (b) except as contemplated in the foregoing clause (a), compliance with such ratios, tests or baskets (and any related requirements and conditions) shall not be determined or tested at any time after the applicable LCT Test Date for such Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto (including acquisitions, Investments, the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, the incurrence of Liens, repayments, Restricted Payments and Asset Sales) and (c) Consolidated Interest Expense will be calculated using an assumed interest rate based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment documentation with respect to such Indebtedness or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Company in good faith.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company has made an LCT Election: (1) if any of the ratios, tests or baskets for which compliance or of which satisfaction was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date have been exceeded or otherwise failed to have been complied with (or satisfied) as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, test or basket, baskets, tests or ratios will be deemed not to have been exceeded or failed to have been complied with (or satisfied) as a result of such fluctuations; (2) if any related requirements and conditions (including as to the absence of any continuing Default or Event of Default (other than any Default or Event of Default specified in clause (1), (2), (8) or (9) under Section 6.01)) for which compliance or satisfaction was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date would at any time after the LCT Test Date not have been complied with or satisfied (including due to the occurrence or continuation of a Default or Event of Default other than any Default or Event of Default specified in clause (1), (2), (8) or (9) under Section 6.01)), such requirements and conditions will be deemed to have been complied with or satisfied (and such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed not to have occurred or be continuing other than any Default or Event of Default specified in clause (1), (2), (8) or (9) under Section 6.01)); and (3) in calculating the availability under any ratio, test or basket in connection with any action or transaction unrelated to such Limited Condition Transaction following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement or date for redemption, purchase or repayment specified in an irrevocable notice for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated, expires or passes, as applicable, without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio, test or basket shall be determined or tested giving pro forma effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and any actions or transactions related thereto.

 

Article Two
Issue and Description of Notes

 

Section 2.01        Designation and Amount; Ranking Payments; Denomination.

 

The Notes shall be designated as the “7.75% Senior Notes due 2029.” The Initial Notes are being offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers (“QIBs”) in reliance on Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Notes”). The Initial Notes may also be offered and sold in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S Notes”). The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is not limited. The aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes is limited to $400,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Section 2.08, Section 2.09, Section 2.12, Section 3.06, Section 4.11(h), Section 4.17(c) and Section 9.04 hereof). The Initial Notes are being issued in a private transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Company may, and shall be entitled to, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the Holders of the Notes, in accordance with Section 2.16 below increase the principal amount of Notes and issue such increased principal amount (or any portion thereof) of Notes as “Additional Notes” under this Indenture.

 

Payments of the principal of and interest on the Notes shall be made in U.S. Dollars, and the Notes shall be denominated in Dollars and in amounts of at least $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter. The place of payment where the principal of and any other payments due on the Notes are payable shall initially be at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in New York, New York in accordance with Section 4.02 of this Indenture.

 

Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically organized Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar or co-registrar.

 

The Company shall pay interest (a) on any Definitive Notes by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it appears in the Notes Register (or upon written application by such Person to the Paying Agent not later than five Business Days before the relevant Interest Payment Date, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to such Person’s account at a bank in New York, New York, if such Person is entitled to interest on an aggregate principal amount in excess of $1,000,000, which application shall remain in effect until the Holder notifies the Paying Agent to the contrary) or (b) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

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The Notes shall be guaranteed by each of the Initial Guarantors and, in accordance with Section 4.12 hereof, any additional Guarantors in accordance with Section 4.12 and Article Ten of this Indenture.

 

No Guarantee nor any notation thereof shall be, or shall be required to be, endorsed on, or attached to, or otherwise physically made part of any Note.

 

Section 2.02        Form of Notes.

 

(a)               The Notes shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, which is incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture.

 

(b)               Rule 144A Notes initially will be represented by one or more permanent global notes in registered form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Notes”). Regulation S Notes initially will be represented by one or more permanent global notes in registered form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Notes”). The Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes are collectively referred to herein as the “Global Notes.”

 

(c)               Any of the Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such notations, legends or endorsements as the officers executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, or to conform to usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

 

(d)               The terms and provisions contained in the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

(e)               Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee.

 

(f)                Definitive Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).

 

(g)               The registration, registration of transfers and exchanges of Notes shall be effected in accordance with Section 2.08 herein.

 

(h)               Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

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Section 2.03        Execution and Authentication.

 

(a)               One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

(b)               The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company (an “Authentication Order”) delivered to the Trustee from time to time, authenticate and Deliver Notes for original issue without limit as to the aggregate principal amount thereof, subject to compliance with Section 4.07, of which $400.0 million will be issued on the Issue Date.

 

(c)               The Initial Notes shall be issued upon original issue as Global Notes.

 

(d)               If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

 

(e)               A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. A Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

(f)                The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

(g)               The Trustee shall also authenticate and deliver Notes at the times and in the manner specified in Sections 2.08, 2.09, 2.12, 3.06, 4.11(h), 4.17(c) and 9.04 hereof.

 

Section 2.04        Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes.

 

The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 4.02; provided, however, that (i) payments in respect of the Notes represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depositary with respect thereto; and (ii) payments in respect of the Notes represented by any Definitive Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made (subject (in the case of payments of principal or premium, if any) to surrender of such Note at such office or agency): (a) if the Holder thereof has specified by written notice to the Trustee a U.S. dollar account maintained by such Holder with a bank located in the United States for such purpose no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant payment date (or such later date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion), by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account so specified or (b) otherwise, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the Holder of such Note at its address set forth in the Notes Register.

 

Section 2.05        Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

(a)               The Company shall maintain in the continental United States an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange (the “Notes Register”). The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

(b)               The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

 

(c)               The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

 

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Section 2.06        Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

By no later than 12:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note is due and payable, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such principal, premium or interest when due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

Section 2.07        Holder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders.

 

Section 2.08        Transfer and Exchanges of Notes.

 

(a)               Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if:

 

(i)                 the Depositary (A) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or (B) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;

 

(ii)              the Company, at its option but subject to the Depositary’s requirements, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Definitive Notes; or

 

(iii)            there has occurred and is continuing an Event of Default and the Depositary notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange such Global Note for Definitive Notes.

 

Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.09, 2.12, 3.06, 4.11(h), 4.17(c) and 9.04 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.08 or Sections 2.09, 2.12, 3.06, 4.11(h), 4.17(c) and 9.04, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.08(a); provided, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.08(b), (c) or (f). Whenever any provision herein (including Sections 3.06, 4.11 or 4.17) refers to issuance by the Company and authentication and delivery by the Trustee of a new Note in exchange for the portion of a surrendered Note that has not been redeemed or repurchased, as the case may be, in lieu of the surrender of any Global Note and the issuance, authentication and delivery of a new Global Note in exchange therefor, the Trustee or the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee may endorse such Global Note to reflect a reduction in the principal amount represented thereby in the amount of Notes so represented that have been so redeemed or repurchased.

 

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(b)               Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Participants and Indirect Participants shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee as the Custodian with respect to the Global Notes, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depositary as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Participants or the Indirect Participants, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08 and Section 12.12, the Holder of a Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Participants and Indirect Participants and Persons that may hold interests through such Persons, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

(i)                 Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend and any Applicable Procedures; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an initial purchaser). No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.08(b)(i).

 

(ii)              All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.08(b)(i) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

 

(A)             both:

 

(1)               a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

 

(2)               instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

 

(B)              both:

 

(1)               a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

 

(2)               instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.

 

Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.08(g) hereof.

 

(iii)            Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.08(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

 

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(A)             if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 1 thereof; or

 

(B)              if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 2 thereof.

 

(iv)             Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any Holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.08(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A)             if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item 1(a) thereof; or

 

(B)              if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 4 thereof;

 

and if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to either Section 2.08(b)(iv)(A) or (B) hereof at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred.

 

(v)               Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note Prohibited. Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

 

(c)               Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

 

(i)                 Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

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(A)             if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item 2(a) thereof;

 

(B)              if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 1 thereof;

 

(C)              if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 2 thereof;

 

(D)             if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 3(a) thereof;

 

(E)              if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 3(b) thereof; or

 

(F)              if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 3(c) thereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.08(g) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.08(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the Holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this

 

Section 2.08(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

 

(ii)              Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A)             if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item 1(b) thereof; or

 

(B)              if the Holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 4 thereof;

 

and if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

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Upon satisfaction of any of the conditions of any of the clauses of this Section 2.08(c)(ii), the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend in the appropriate principal amount to the Person designated by the holder of such beneficial interest in instructions delivered to the Registrar by the Depositary and the applicable Participant or Indirect Participant on behalf of such holder, and the Trustee shall reduce or cause to be reduced in a corresponding amount pursuant to Section 2.08(i), the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Note.

 

(iii)            Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Subject to Section 2.08(a), if any Holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.08(b)(ii), the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.08(i), and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.08(c)(iii) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the Holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.08(c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

(d)               Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

 

(i)                 Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

(A)             if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item 2(b) thereof;

 

(B)              if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 1 thereof;

 

(C)              if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction (as defined in Rule 902(h) of Regulation S) in accordance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 2 thereof;

 

(D)             if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 3(a) thereof;

 

(E)              if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 3(b) thereof; or

 

(F)              if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 3(c) thereof, the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, and will increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, and in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note.

 

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(ii)              Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A)             if the Holder of such Restrictive Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item 1(c) thereof; or

 

(B)              if the Holder of such Restrictive Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 4 thereof;

 

and if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.08(d)(ii), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

 

(iii)            Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

 

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraph (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

(e)               Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.08(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.08(e).

 

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(i)                 Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A)             if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 1 thereof;

 

(B)              if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 2 thereof; and

 

(C)              if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item 3 thereof, if applicable.

 

(ii)              Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A)             if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item 1(d) thereof; or

 

(B)              if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 4 thereof;

 

and if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(iii)            Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

 

(f)                Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued hereunder unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions hereof.

 

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(i)                 Private Placement Legend.

 

(A)             Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.”; and

 

(B)              Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs 2.08(b)(iv), 2.08(c)(ii), 2.08(c)(iii), 2.08(d)(ii), 2.08(d)(iii), 2.08(e)(ii), 2.08(e)(iii) or 2.08(f) of this Section 2.08 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

(ii)              Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.08 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.08(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

 

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UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

 

(iii)            Regulation S Legend. Each Note offered in reliance on Regulation S will bear a legend in substantially the following form unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the holder thereof:

 

“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

(g)               Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.12. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

(h)               General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

(i)                 To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon the Company’s order or at the Registrar’s request.

 

(ii)              No service charge shall be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon any exchange pursuant to Sections 2.08, 2.09, 2.12, 3.06, 4.11(h), 4.17(c) and 9.04 not involving any transfer).

 

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(iii)            The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

(iv)           All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(v)            The Company shall not be required (A) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

 

(vi)           The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02.

 

(vii)          All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.08 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile with the original to follow by first class mail or delivery service.

 

Section 2.09           Replacement Notes.

 

(a)               If (i) any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or wrongful taking of any Note and such other reasonable requirements as may be imposed by the Company as permitted by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code have been satisfied, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a “protected purchaser” within the meaning of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond shall be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge for their expenses in replacing a Note.

 

(b)               Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

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(c)               The provisions of this Section 2.09 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Notes.

 

Section 2.10           Outstanding Notes.

 

(a)               The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section 2.10 as not outstanding. The aggregate principal amount of any outstanding Global Note that is outstanding at any time shall be such aggregate principal amount of Notes that is endorsed thereon as being represented thereby at such time. Except as set forth in Section 2.11, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

 

(b)               If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a “protected purchaser” within the meaning of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

(c)               If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

(d)               If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing) holds, on a redemption date or other Maturity, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

 

Section 2.11           Treasury Notes.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that any of its Responsible Officers actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.12           Temporary Notes

 

(a)               Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

(b)               Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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Section 2.13           Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its procedures for the disposition of canceled securities in effect as of the date of such disposition (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). Upon written request, certification of the disposition of all canceled Notes shall be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that they have paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for any reason other than in connection with a transfer or exchange.

 

Section 2.14           Defaulted Interest.If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on the record date for the interest payment or a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid. The Company may make payment of any defaulted interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this sentence, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee. The Trustee will have no duty whatsoever to determine whether any defaulted interest is payable or the amount thereof.

 

Section 2.15           CUSIP Numbers. The Company, in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers.

 

Section 2.16           Issuance of Additional Notes.

 

(a)               The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Article Four, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture. Any Additional Notes shall be part of the same series as the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, rank equally with the Initial Notes and have identical terms and conditions to the Initial Notes in all respects other than (a) the date of issuance, (b) the issue price, and (c) at the option of the Company, (i) as to the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such Additional Notes, and (ii) the first payment of interest following the issue date of such Additional Notes.

 

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(b)               With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in a Board Resolution and an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of each of which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

(i)          the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(ii)         the issue price, the issue date (and the corresponding date from which interest shall accrue thereon and the first interest payment date therefor) and the CUSIP or ISIN number of such Additional Notes;

 

(iii)        whether such Additional Notes shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2.08 relating to Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes.

 

(c)               The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued upon original issue under this Indenture shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of this Indenture, including directions, waivers, amendments, consents, redemptions and offers to purchase. Holders of the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes therefor will vote and consent together on all matters to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent as one class, and none of the Holders of the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent.

 

(d)               Notwithstanding anything else herein, with respect to any Additional Notes issued subsequent to the Issue Date, when the context requires, all provisions of this Indenture shall be construed and interpreted to permit the issuance of such Additional Notes and to allow such Additional Notes to become fungible and interchangeable with the Initial Notes originally issued under this Indenture. Indebtedness represented by Additional Notes shall be subject to the covenants contained in this Indenture.

 

Section 2.17           Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Company, any Guarantor and the Trustee and any agent of the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 2.14) any interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and neither the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company , any Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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Section 2.18           Non-Business Day Payments.

 

If any interest payment date, the Stated Maturity, any redemption date, any Asset Sale Purchase Date or any Change of Control Purchase Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the required payment or delivery will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date that the payment or delivery was due, and no additional interest will accrue on that required payment or delivery for the period from and after the interest payment date, Stated Maturity, redemption date, Asset Sale Purchase Date or Change of Control Purchase Date, as the case may be, to that next succeeding Business Day.

 

Section 2.19           Computation of Interest. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Article Three
Redemption and Prepayment

 

Section 3.01           Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) before the date of giving of notice of redemption pursuant to Section 3.03, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price and (v) whether the Company requests the Trustee to give notice of such redemption; provided that, for a redemption being effected pursuant to Section 3.07(c), the Company will notify the Trustee of the Applicable Premium with respect to any redemption promptly after the calculation, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation.

 

Section 3.02           Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.

 

(a)               If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, or otherwise in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Global Notes, on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable, subject to the procedures of DTC or any other Depositary). In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than three Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) prior to the giving of notice of redemption pursuant to Section 3.03 by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes.

 

(b)               The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. No Notes in amounts of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $2,000. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in minimum amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Redemptions pursuant to Section 3.07(b) shall be made on a pro rata basis or on as nearly a pro rata basis as practicable (subject to the provisions of DTC or other depositary).

 

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Section 3.03           Notice of Redemption.

 

(a)               At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address (or, in the case of Global Notes, with respect to notices given by the Trustee on behalf of the Company, sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) and send a copy to the Trustee at the same time, except that (i) optional redemption notices may be mailed (or, in the case of Global Notes, with respect to notices given by the Trustee on behalf of the Company, sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) more than 60 days prior to a redemption date in connection with a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes or a Satisfaction and Discharge and (ii) the redemption date may be delayed until any conditions precedent thereto are satisfied or waived as specified in Section 3.03(c) below.

 

The notice shall identify the Notes (including CUSIP and/or ISIN number(s)) to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(i)                 the redemption date;

 

(ii)              the redemption price; provided that, for a redemption being effected pursuant to Section 3.07(c), the notice need not set forth the Applicable Premium but only the manner of calculation thereof;

 

(iii)            if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

(iv)             the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(v)               that Notes called for redemption shall be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price and become due on the date fixed for redemption;

 

(vi)             that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest, if any, on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date and the only remaining right of Holders of such Notes is to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed;

 

(vii)          the paragraph of the Notes and/or section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

 

(viii)        that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

 

(ix)             any conditions precedent to the redemption.

 

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(b)               At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, as provided in Section 3.01, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 3.03(a). The notice, if mailed (or, in the case of Global Notes, with respect to notices given by the Trustee on behalf of the Company, sent) in the manner provided herein, shall be presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption.

 

(c)               Notice of any redemption of the Notes may, at the Company’s discretion, be given prior to the completion of a transaction (including an Equity Offering, an incurrence of Indebtedness, a Change of Control or other transaction); and any notice of redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent specified in the notice of redemption, including but not limited to, completion of an Equity Offering or other corporate transaction or event. If such redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the notice of redemption shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the date of redemption may be delayed on one or more occasions until such time as all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived (including more than 60 days after the date on which such notice was sent), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded (and the redemption of the Notes rescinded and cancelled) in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the date of redemption, or by the date of redemption as so delayed. The Company will provide written notice of any delay of such date of redemption or the rescission of such notice of redemption (and rescission and cancellation of the redemption of the Notes) to the Trustee no later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the date of redemption or the date of redemption as so delayed. Upon receipt of such notice of the delay of such date of redemption or the rescission of such notice of redemption (and rescission and cancellation of the redemption of the Notes), such date of redemption shall be automatically delayed or such notice of redemption shall be automatically rescinded, as applicable, and the redemption of the Notes shall be automatically delayed or rescinded and cancelled, as applicable, as provided in such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Trustee will promptly mail or send a copy of any such notice to the Holders of the Notes that were to have been redeemed in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was initially given.

 

Section 3.04           Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed (or, in the case of Global Notes, with respect to notices given by the Trustee on behalf of the Company, sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, unless the redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent and the date of redemption is delayed, or the notice of redemption is rescinded (and the redemption of the Notes rescinded and cancelled), as described in Section 3.03(c).

 

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Section 3.05           Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

(a)               Not later than 12:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary thereof is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.06) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

 

(b)               If the Company complies with the provisions of Section 3.05(a), on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption, unless the redemption is not effective due to the failure of conditions precedent described in the notice of redemption to be fulfilled. If a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Holder in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 3.05(a), interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01.

 

Section 3.06           Notes Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered. No Notes in denominations of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. For all purposes of this Article Three, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Notes shall relate, in the case of any Notes redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Notes which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 3.07           Optional Redemption.

 

(a)               On or after July 31, 2024, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes, on not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July 31 of the years indicated below:

 

Year  Redemption Price 
2024   103.8750%
2025   101.9375%
2026 and thereafter    100.0000%

 

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(b)               In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to July 31, 2024, the Company may use funds in an amount not exceeding the amount of the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to an aggregate of 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture) at a redemption price equal to 107.75% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). At least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture) shall remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption. In order to effect this redemption, the Company shall complete such redemption no later than 180 days after the closing of the related Equity Offering.

 

(c)               The Notes may also be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to July 31, 2024 at the option of the Company at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

(d)               The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers, at the redemption price and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.17(h).

 

(e)               Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 (other than as expressly provided otherwise in this Section 3.07) shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06.

 

Section 3.08           Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

Section 3.09           Application of Trust Money.

 

All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.05 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 3.10           No Limit on Other Purchases.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or the Notes shall prohibit or limit the right of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company from time to time to repurchase the Notes at any price in open market purchases or negotiated transactions or by tender offer or otherwise without any notice to or consent by Holders. Any Notes purchased by the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, be held or resold or may, at the Company’s option, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. Any Notes delivered to the Trustee for cancellation may not be reissued or resold and will be promptly cancelled.

 

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Article Four
Covenants

 

Section 4.01           Payment of Notes.

 

(a)               The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, holds as of 12:30 p.m. New York City time on the due date money deposited by the Company or a Guarantor in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes then due.

 

(b)               The Company shall pay or cause to be paid interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

(c)               The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining Satisfaction and Discharge with respect to the Notes or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

(d)               Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall, at the expense of the Company, cause to be published once, in The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

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Section 4.02           Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

(a)               The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee, Registrar or co-Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

(b)               The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

(c)               The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.05.

 

(d)               With respect to any Global Notes, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the office or agency where such Global Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Notes may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary shall be deemed to have been effected at such office or agency in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 4.03           Reports.

 

(a)               Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to Holders, or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders, or file with the Commission for public availability all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such reports, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company’s independent auditors, which financial information shall be filed within (or prior to effectiveness of an exchange offer registration statement within 15 days after) the time period for such reports specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations; provided, however, that, if the last day of any such time period is not a Business Day, such information will be due on the next succeeding Business Day. All such information will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to such information.

 

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(b)               If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries that, when taken together with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, are “minor” within the meaning of Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X, substituting 5% for 3% where applicable), then the quarterly and annual financial information required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, or in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

(c)               This Section 4.03 will not impose any duty on the Company under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related Commission rules that would not otherwise be applicable.

 

(d)               For so long as any of the Notes remain outstanding and constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144 and the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will furnish to the Holders of the Notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

(e)               The Company will be deemed to have furnished to the Holders and to prospective investors the information referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 or the information referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 4.03 if the Company has posted such reports or information on the Company Website with access to current and prospective investors. For purposes of this Indenture, the term “Company Website” means the collection of web pages that may be accessed on the World Wide Web using the URL address http://www.laredopetro.com or such other address as the Company may from time to time designate in writing to the Trustee.

 

(f)                For the avoidance of doubt, (i) any such reports or other information delivered pursuant to this Section 4.03 will not be required to contain the separate financial information for Guarantors as contemplated by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X or any financial statements of unconsolidated subsidiaries or 50% or less owned persons as contemplated by Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X or any schedules required by Regulation S-X, or in each case any successor provisions and (ii) such information shall not be required to comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K with respect to any non-GAAP financial measures contained therein.

 

(g)               Delivery of such financial statements, reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation whatsoever to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with this covenant, to determine whether or not any financial statements, reports, information or documents have been filed with the Commission via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor system), made available electronically or posted on any website or to participate in conference calls.

 

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Section 4.04           Compliance Certificate.

 

(a)               The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their respective obligations under this Indenture and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her actual knowledge, the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the material terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture, in each case, so as not to result in any Default or Event of Default (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or propose to take with respect thereto).

 

(b)               The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, on or before the 30th day after it becomes aware of the occurrence and continuance of any Default or Event of Default, unless such Default or Event of Default has been cured before the end of the 30-day period, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.05           Taxes.

 

The Company shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment or charge the amount, applicability or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as will be required in conformity with GAAP will have been made therefor.

 

Section 4.06           Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

The Company and each of the Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

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Section 4.07           Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock.

 

(a)               The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, issue, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise in any manner become directly or indirectly liable for the payment of or otherwise incur, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur”), any Indebtedness (including any Acquired Debt and the issuance of Disqualified Stock or the issuance of Preferred Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary), unless such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company or any Guarantor and, in each case, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the receipt and application of the proceeds therefrom, the Company’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the most recent four full fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available immediately preceding the incurrence of such Indebtedness taken as one period would be equal to or greater than 2.0 to 1.0.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and, to the extent specifically set forth below, the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur each and all of the following (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

 

(1)               Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor (whether as borrowers or guarantors) under one or more Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (x) $725.0 million and (y) the sum of $250.0 million and 30% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness and (z) the Borrowing Base as of such date;

 

(2)               Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor pursuant to the Existing Senior Notes or the Notes (excluding any Additional Notes) and any Guarantee of the Existing Senior Notes or the Notes (excluding any Guarantee of Additional Notes);

 

(3)               Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor outstanding on the Issue Date, and not otherwise referred to in this definition of “Permitted Debt”;

 

(4)               intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that:

 

(a)       if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and such Indebtedness is owed to a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Guarantor, such Indebtedness shall be either (x) expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Guarantees, in the case of a Guarantor, or (y) Capital Stock; and

 

(b)       any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than pursuant to a Credit Facility) and any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (4);

 

(5)               guarantees by the Company or any Guarantor of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

 

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(6)               Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary represented by Capital Lease Obligations (whether or not incurred pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) or Purchase Money Obligations or other Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition, construction, improvement or development of real or personal, movable or immovable, property, in each case incurred for the purpose of financing or Refinancing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of acquisition, construction, improvement or development of property used in the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (together with improvements, additions, accessions and contractual rights relating primarily thereto), in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time pursuant to this clause (6) not to exceed the greater of (x) $30.0 million and (y) 3.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

(7)               Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with (a) one or more standby letters of credit issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and (b) other self-insurance obligations, letters of credit, surety, bid, performance, appeal or similar bonds, bankers’ acceptances, completion guarantees or similar instruments and any guarantees or letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing instruments; provided that, in each case contemplated by this clause (7), upon the drawing of such letters of credit or other instrument, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing; provided further that with respect to clauses (a) and (b), such Indebtedness is not in connection with the borrowing of money;

 

(8)               Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor; provided that sufficient net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited to effect a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to all of the Notes pursuant to Article Eight or a Satisfaction and Discharge with respect to all of the Notes pursuant to Article Eleven;

 

(9)               Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor issued to Refinance any Indebtedness, including any Disqualified Stock, incurred pursuant to Section 4.07(a) or clause (2), (3), (11) or this clause (9) of this paragraph (b) of this Section 4.07;

 

(10)           Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in customary amounts consistent with the operations and business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(11)           Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

 

(12)           Cash Management Obligations of the Company or any Guarantor in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7.5 million outstanding at any one time;

 

(13)           Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(14)           Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in addition to that described in clauses (1) through (13) above, so long as the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (14) outstanding at any one time in the aggregate shall not exceed the greater of (x) $40.0 million and (y) 4.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness.

 

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(c)               For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of “Permitted Debt” or is permitted to be incurred pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4.07, the Company in its sole discretion may classify or reclassify (or later classify or reclassify) in whole or in part such item of Indebtedness in any manner (including by dividing and classifying such item of Indebtedness in more than one type of Indebtedness permitted under this Section 4.07) that complies with this Section 4.07; provided that Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Agreement, if any, which is in existence on the Issue Date shall be considered incurred under clause (1) of paragraph (b) of this Section 4.07, subject to any subsequent classification or reclassification or division permitted pursuant to this paragraph (c).

 

(d)               Indebtedness permitted by this Section 4.07 need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Section 4.07 permitting such Indebtedness.

 

(e)               Accrual of interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount or accretion of principal as to a security issued at a discount and the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the accretion or payment of dividends on any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the obligation to pay a premium in respect of Indebtedness arising in connection with the issuance of a notice of redemption or making of a mandatory offer to purchase such Indebtedness, and unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of ASC 815), each will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.07; provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof as accrued shall be included as required in the calculation of the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company.

 

(f)                For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date that such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur pursuant to this Section 4.07 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

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(g)               For purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness under this Section 4.07, (i) guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness otherwise included in the determination of such amount shall not also be included and (ii) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility and are being treated as incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included. If Indebtedness is secured by a letter of credit that serves only to secure such Indebtedness, then the total amount deemed incurred shall be equal to the greater of (x) the principal of such Indebtedness and (y) the amount that may be drawn under such letter of credit.

 

(h)               For purposes of this Indenture, no Indebtedness will be deemed to be subordinate or junior in right of payment to other Indebtedness solely by virtue of not having the benefit of a Lien on assets, or guarantee of a Person, that benefits the other Indebtedness or having the benefit of such a Lien or guarantee ranking subordinate or junior to a Lien or guarantee benefiting the other Indebtedness.

 

Section 4.08           Restricted Payments.

 

(a)               The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)                 pay any dividend on, or make any distribution to holders of, any shares of the Company’s Capital Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable solely to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or in shares of the Company’s Qualified Capital Stock or in options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of such Qualified Capital Stock);

 

(ii)              purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, directly or indirectly, the Company’s Capital Stock or options, warrants or other rights to acquire such Capital Stock other than through the exchange therefor solely of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company and other than any acquisition or retirement for value from, or payment to, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(iii)            make any principal payment on, or repurchase, redeem, defease, retire or otherwise acquire for value, prior to any scheduled principal payment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than (x) Subordinated Indebtedness permitted under clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) or (y) Subordinated Indebtedness acquired for value in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of acquisition for value;

 

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(iv)             pay any dividend or distribution on any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary to any Person (other than (a) to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Guarantor or (b) dividends or distributions made by a Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis to all stockholders of such Restricted Subsidiary); or

 

(v)               make any Investment in any Person (other than any Permitted Investments);

 

(any of the foregoing actions described in (and not expressly excluded from) clauses (i) through (v) above, other than any such action that is a Permitted Investment or a Permitted Payment (as defined below), collectively, “Restricted Payments”) (the amount of any such Restricted Payment, if other than cash, shall be the Fair Market Value of the assets proposed to be transferred), unless

 

(1)           immediately after giving effect to such proposed Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(2)           immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) under Section 4.07(a); and

 

(3)           after giving effect to the proposed Restricted Payment, the aggregate amount of all such Restricted Payments (including any Designation Amounts (as defined in Section 4.15(a)(2)) not effected as Permitted Investments or Permitted Payments) declared or made after the Measurement Date does not exceed the sum of:

 

(A)             50% of the aggregate Consolidated Net Income of the Company accrued on a cumulative basis during the period beginning on the first day of the Company’s fiscal quarter beginning on or immediately prior to the Measurement Date and ending on the last day of the Company’s last fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of the Restricted Payment (or, if such aggregate cumulative Consolidated Net Income shall be a loss, minus 100% of such loss);

 

(B)              the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of property (including any property received in any asset or other acquisition) other than cash, received after the Measurement Date by the Company either (1) as capital contributions in the form of common equity or other Qualified Capital Stock to the Company or (2) from the issuance or sale (other than to any Restricted Subsidiary) of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or any options, warrants or rights to purchase such Qualified Capital Stock of the Company (except, in each case, to the extent such proceeds are used to purchase, redeem or otherwise retire Capital Stock or Subordinated Indebtedness as set forth below in clause (2) or (3) of paragraph (b) of this Section 4.08) (and excluding the Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of Qualified Capital Stock financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid);

 

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(C)              the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received after the Measurement Date by the Company (other than from any Restricted Subsidiary) upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase Qualified Capital Stock of the Company (and excluding the Net Cash Proceeds from the exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase Qualified Capital Stock financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid);

 

(D)             the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received after the Measurement Date by the Company from the conversion or exchange, if any, of debt securities or Disqualified Stock or other Indebtedness of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries into or for Qualified Capital Stock of the Company plus, to the extent such debt securities or Disqualified Stock were issued after the Measurement Date, the aggregate of Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received from their original issuance (and excluding the Net Cash Proceeds from the conversion or exchange of debt securities or Disqualified Stock financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid);

 

(E)              (a)       in the case of a net reduction in any Investment constituting a Restricted Payment (including any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary) made after the Measurement Date resulting from dividends, distributions, redemptions or repurchases, proceeds of sales or other dispositions thereof, interest payments, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of cash or properties (including transfers as a result of merger or liquidation), in each case to the Company or to any Restricted Subsidiary from any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), an amount (in each such case to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income) equal to the amount received with respect to such Investment, less the cost of the disposition of such Investment and net of taxes, and

 

(b)       in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (as long as the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was deemed a Restricted Payment), the Fair Market Value of the Company’s interest in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

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(F)              any amount which previously qualified as a Restricted Payment on account of any guarantee entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such guarantee has not been called upon and the obligation arising under such guarantee no longer exists.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding the foregoing, the foregoing provisions shall not prohibit the following actions (each of clauses (1) through (15), together with the transactions expressly excluded from clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of paragraph (a) of this Section 4.08, being referred to as a “Permitted Payment”):

 

(1)               the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at such date of declaration such payment was permitted by the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4.08, in which event such payment shall have been deemed to have been paid on such date of declaration and shall not have been deemed a “Permitted Payment” for purposes of the calculation required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.08;

 

(2)               the purchase, repurchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company in exchange for (including any such exchange pursuant to the exercise of a conversion right or privilege in connection with which cash is paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares or scrip), or in an amount not in excess of the Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent (i) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary) to the equity capital of the Company in respect of or (ii) issuance and sale for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, other shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company; provided that the Net Cash Proceeds from such contribution or such issuance of such shares of Qualified Capital Stock shall be excluded from clause (3)(B) of paragraph (a) of this Section 4.08;

 

(3)               the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge, or other acquisition or retirement for value or payment of principal of any Subordinated Indebtedness in exchange for, or in an amount not in excess of the Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent (i) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary) to the equity capital of the Company in respect of, or (ii) issuance and sale for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, any Qualified Capital Stock of the Company; provided that the Net Cash Proceeds from such contribution or such issuance of such shares of Qualified Capital Stock shall be excluded from clause (3)(B) of paragraph (a) of this Section 4.08;

 

(4)               so long as no Default or Event of Default is continuing or would arise therefrom, the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge, refinancing, acquisition or retirement for value or payment of principal of any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Stock) through the substantially concurrent issuance of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(5)               the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or other acquisition or retirement for value of Disqualified Stock of the Company in exchange for, or out of the Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale of, Disqualified Stock of the Company that, in each case, is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.07;

 

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(6)               so long as no Default or Event of Default is continuing or would arise therefrom, the repurchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition for value of any Capital Stock of the Company held by any current or former officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or permitted transferees of such current or former officers, directors or employees) pursuant to the terms of agreements (including employment agreements) or plans approved by the Company’s Board of Directors; provided that the aggregate amount of such repurchases, redemptions, retirements and acquisitions pursuant to this clause (6) will not, in the aggregate, exceed $4.0 million per fiscal year (with unused amounts to be carried over to succeeding fiscal years); provided such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed (a) the cash proceeds received after the Issue Date by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the sale of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) to any such officers, directors or employees (provided such amounts are not included in clause (3)(B) of the definition of “Restricted Payments”) plus (b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received after the Issue Date by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries less (c) the amount of Permitted Payments previously effected by using amounts specified in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b);

 

(7)               loans and advances made to officers, directors or employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, as permitted by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (to the extent applicable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary) and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2.0 million outstanding at any one time, the proceeds of which are used solely (A) to purchase Qualified Capital Stock of the Company in connection with a restricted stock or employee stock purchase plan, or to exercise stock options received pursuant to an employee or director stock option plan or other incentive plan, in a principal amount not to exceed the exercise price of such stock options or (B) to refinance loans or advances, together with accrued interest thereon, made pursuant to item (A) of this clause (7);

 

(8)               the purchase by the Company of fractional shares arising out of stock dividends, splits or combinations or business combinations or conversion of convertible or exchangeable securities of debt or equity issued by the Company or otherwise;

 

(9)               so long as no Default or Event of Default is continuing or would arise therefrom, dividends on Disqualified Stock issued after the Issue Date in accordance with Section 4.07 if such dividends are included in the calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense;

 

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(10)           the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to the notes or a Guarantee at a purchase price not greater than (i) 101% of the principal amount of such subordinated or junior Indebtedness and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of a Change of Control or (ii) 100% of the principal amount of such subordinated or junior Indebtedness and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of an Asset Sale, in each case plus accrued interest, in connection with any change of control offer or prepayment offer required by the terms of such Indebtedness, but only if:

 

(A)       in the case of a Change of Control, the Company has first complied with and fully satisfied its obligations under Section 4.17; or

 

(B)       in the case of an Asset Sale, the Company has complied with and fully satisfied its obligations in accordance with Section 4.11;

 

(11)           the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of stock options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (including any such rights to acquire Capital Stock held by any current or former officers, directors or employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (or permitted transferees thereof)) if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise, conversion or exchange price thereof and any purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Capital Stock made in satisfaction of withholding tax obligations in connection with any exercise, conversion or exchange of stock options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to acquire Capital Stock;

 

(12)           any payments to dissenting equityholders not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate after the Issue Date (x) pursuant to applicable law or (y) in connection with the settlement or other satisfaction of claims made pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture;

 

(13)           any redemption of share purchase rights at a redemption price not to exceed $0.01 per right;

 

(14)           so long as no Default or Event of Default is continuing or would arise therefrom, any payment or other transaction otherwise constituting a Restricted Payment that when combined with all other outstanding payments or other transactions pursuant to this clause (14) since the Issue Date are in an aggregate outstanding amount not exceeding the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of such payment or other transaction; and

 

(15)           any payment or other transaction otherwise constituting a Restricted Payment so long as, (i) after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Total Net Debt to Consolidated EBITDAX Ratio does not exceed 1.50 to 1.00 as of the date of such payment or transaction and (ii) such payment or transaction, when combined with all other outstanding payments or other transactions pursuant to this clause (15), are in an aggregate outstanding amount not exceeding 15.0% of the Consolidated EBITDAX of the Company for the most recent Test Period ending on or prior to such date.

 

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(c)               In determining whether any Restricted Payment (or payment or other transaction that, except for being a Permitted Investment or a Permitted Payment, would constitute a Restricted Payment) is permitted by this Section 4.08, the Company may allocate or re-allocate all or any portion of such Restricted Payment or other such transaction among clauses (1) through (15) of paragraph (b) of this Section 4.08 or among such clauses and paragraph (a) of this Section 4.08, including clauses (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of paragraph (a) of this Section 4.08; provided that at the time of such allocation or re-allocation all such Restricted Payments and such other transactions or allocated portions thereof, all outstanding prior Restricted Payments and such other transactions, would be permitted under the various provisions of this Section 4.08. The amount of all Restricted Payments and other such transactions (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of the transfer, incurrence or issuance of such non-cash Restricted Payment or other such transaction.

 

(d)               A contribution or sale will be deemed to be “substantially concurrent” if the related purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge, retirement or other acquisition for value or payment of principal occurs within 120 days before or after such contribution or sale.

 

Section 4.09        Transactions with Affiliates.

 

(a)           The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into any Transaction (including the sale, purchase, exchange or lease of assets, property or services) with or for the benefit of any Affiliate of the Company (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $2.0 million, unless such Transaction is entered into in good faith and

 

(1)               such Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that would be available in a comparable Transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a party that is not an Affiliate of the Company,

 

(2)               with respect to any Transaction involving aggregate value in excess of $10.0 million, the Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee certifying that such Transaction complies with clause (1) above, and

 

(3)               with respect to any Transaction involving aggregate value in excess of $40.0 million, such Transaction is approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

(b)          However, Section 4.09(a) shall not apply to:

 

(1)               employee benefit arrangements with any officer or director of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and payments, issuances of securities or other transactions pursuant thereto, including under any employment or severance agreement, stock option or stock incentive plans, long term incentive plans, other compensation arrangements and customary insurance or indemnification arrangements with officers or directors of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case either entered into in the ordinary course of business or approved by the Disinterested Directors of the Board of Directors of the Company,

 

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(2)               transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Company or the senior management of the Company, such transactions are on terms not materially less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could reasonably be expected to be obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company,

 

(3)               the payment of reasonable and customary compensation and fees to officers or directors of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary who are not employees of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company,

 

(4)               loans or advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary made in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2.0 million outstanding at any one time,

 

(5)               any Restricted Payments or Permitted Payments made in compliance with Section 4.08 or any Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments permitted pursuant to clauses (1)(iii) and (15) of the definition thereof (to the extent involving, prior to the making of such Permitted Investment, any Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company)),

 

(6)               any Transaction undertaken pursuant to (a) any contracts or agreements in existence on the Issue Date (as in effect on the Issue Date) (b) any amendment or replacement of any such agreements or (c) any agreements entered into hereafter that are similar to any such agreements, so long as, in the case of clause (b) or (c), the terms of any such amendment or replacement agreement or future agreement are, on the whole, no less advantageous to the Company or no less favorable to the Holders in any material respect than the agreement so amended or replaced or the similar agreement referred to in the preceding clause (a) or (b), respectively,

 

(7)               in the case of (1) contracts for (A) drilling or other oil-field services or supplies, (B) the sale, storage, gathering or transport of Hydrocarbons or (C) the lease or rental of office or storage space or (2) other operation-type contracts, any such contracts that are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and third parties or, if none of the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar contract with a third party, on terms no less favorable than those available from third parties on an arm’s-length basis, as determined (i) in the case of contracts involving aggregate value of $50.0 million or less, by the Board of Directors of the Company or the senior management of the Company or (ii) in the case of contracts involving aggregate value in excess of $50.0 million, by the Disinterested Directors of the Board of Directors of the Company,

 

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(8)               any Transaction with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a Subsidiary, an equity interest in, or controls, such Person,

 

(9)               any sale or other issuance of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company to, or receipt of a capital contribution from, an Affiliate (or a Person that becomes an Affiliate) of the Company,

 

(10)           any Transaction between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on the one hand and any Person deemed to be an Affiliate solely because one or more directors of such Person is also a director of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, on the other hand; provided that such director or directors abstain from voting as a director of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, in connection with the approval of the Transaction,

 

(11)           indemnities of officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted by law, statutory provision or employment agreement or other arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary,

 

(12)           (a) guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of performance of obligations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, and (b) pledges by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Capital Stock in Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of lenders or other creditors of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, and

 

(13)           any transaction in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an independent advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or that such transaction meets the requirements of clause (1) of paragraph (a) of this Section 4.09.

 

Section 4.10        Liens.

 

(a)               The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or incur, in order to secure any Indebtedness, any Lien of any kind, other than Permitted Liens, upon any property or assets (including any intercompany notes) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owned on the Issue Date or acquired after the Issue Date, or assign or convey, in order to secure any Indebtedness, any right to receive any income or profits therefrom, other than Permitted Liens, unless the Notes (or a Guarantee in the case of Liens of a Guarantor) are directly secured equally and ratably with (or, in the case of Subordinated Indebtedness, prior or senior thereto, with the same relative priority as the Notes shall have with respect to such Subordinated Indebtedness) the Indebtedness for so long as such Indebtedness is secured by such Lien.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Lien securing the Notes or a Guarantee granted pursuant to Section 4.10(a) shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon: (i) the release of all other Liens that resulted in the grant of such Lien to secure the Notes or Guarantees pursuant to Section 4.10(a), (ii) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company of the property or assets secured by such Lien, (iii) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company of all of the Capital Stock held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in, or all or substantially all the assets of, any Restricted Subsidiary creating such Lien, or (iv) if such Lien secures a Guarantee, the release of such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture.

 

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Section 4.11        Asset Sales.

 

(a)               The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any Asset Sale unless (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets and property subject to such Asset Sale (such Fair Market Value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to effect such Asset Sale) and (ii) (A) at least 75% of the consideration paid to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash, Cash Equivalents, Liquid Securities, Exchanged Properties (including pursuant to Asset Swaps) or the assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) as a result of which the Company and the remaining Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such liabilities (or in lieu of such absence of liability, the acquiring Person or its parent company agrees to indemnify and hold the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary harmless from and against any loss, liability or cost in respect of such assumed liabilities accompanied by the posting of a letter of credit (issued by a commercial bank that has an Investment Grade Rating) in favor of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for the full amount of such liabilities and for so long as such liabilities remain outstanding unless such indemnifying party (or its long term debt securities) shall have an Investment Grade Rating (with no indication of a negative outlook or credit watch with negative implications, in any case, that contemplates such indemnifying party (or its long term debt securities) failing to have an Investment Grade Rating) at the time the indemnity is entered into) (“Permitted Consideration”) or (B) the Fair Market Value of all forms of such consideration other than Permitted Consideration since the Issue Date does not exceed in the aggregate 5% of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company determined at the time such Asset Sale is made.

 

(b)               During the 365 days after the receipt by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale, such Net Available Cash may be applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects (or is required by the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), to:

 

(1)               repay (or cash-collateralize) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under any Credit Facility (excluding (i) any Subordinated Indebtedness and (ii) any Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company);

 

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(2)               reinvest in Additional Assets (including by means of an Investment in Additional Assets by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary with Net Available Cash received by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) or make capital expenditures in the Oil and Gas Business;

 

(3)               purchase Notes;

 

(4)               purchase or repay on a permanent basis other Indebtedness (excluding (i) any Subordinated Indebtedness and (ii) any Notes or other Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company); provided that the Company shall equally and ratably redeem or purchase Notes as described under Section 3.07, through open market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for a Prepayment Offer) to all Holders to purchase the Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid; or

 

(5)               make any combination of payment, repayment, investment or reinvestment permitted by the foregoing clauses (1) through (4).

 

The requirement of clause (b)(2) above shall be deemed to be satisfied if an agreement (including a lease, whether a capital lease or an operating lease) committing to make the acquisitions or investment referred to therein is entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary within the time period specified in this Section 4.11(b) and such Net Available Cash is subsequently applied in accordance with such agreement within six months following such agreement.

 

Pending the final application of any such Net Available Cash, the Company may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under any Credit Facility or otherwise expend or invest such Net Available Cash in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture

 

(c)           Any Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale not applied in accordance with Section 4.11(b) above within 365 days from the date of such Asset Sale shall constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds (the “Prepayment Offer”) at a purchase price (the “Prepayment Offer Price”) equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Asset Sale Purchase Date (as defined in Section 4.11(d)) (subject to the rights of Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) in accordance with the procedures (including prorating in the event of over subscription) set forth in this Indenture, but, if the terms of any Pari Passu Indebtedness require that a Pari Passu Offer be made contemporaneously with the Prepayment Offer, then the Excess Proceeds shall be prorated between the Prepayment Offer and such Pari Passu Offer in accordance with the aggregate outstanding principal amounts of the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness (based on principal amounts of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness (or, in the case of Pari Passu Indebtedness issued with significant original issue discount, based on the accreted value thereof) tendered), and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased pursuant to the Prepayment Offer shall be reduced accordingly. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds available for purchase of Notes, then such amount of Excess Proceeds will be allocated pro rata according to the principal amount of the Notes tendered and the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased in accordance with this Indenture on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Global Notes, on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable, subject to the procedures of DTC or any other Depositary) and in minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. To the extent that any portion of the amount of Excess Proceeds remains after compliance with this Section 4.11(c) and provided that all Holders have been given the opportunity to tender their Notes for purchase as described in Section 4.11(d) in accordance with this Indenture, the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries may use such remaining amount for purposes permitted by this Indenture and the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligation with respect to any Excess Proceeds by making a Prepayment Offer prior to the expiration of the relevant 365 day period or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $25.0 million or less.

 

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(d)          Within 30 days after the 365th day following the date of an Asset Sale, the Company shall, if it is obligated to make a Prepayment Offer pursuant to Section 4.11(c), send a written Prepayment Offer notice, by first-class mail (or, in the case of Global Notes, if such notice is given by the Trustee on behalf of the Company, sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary), to the Holders (the “Prepayment Offer Notice”), with a copy to the Trustee, accompanied by such information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Company believes will enable such Holders to make an informed decision with respect to the Prepayment Offer. The Prepayment Offer Notice will state, among other things:

 

(1)               that the Company is offering to purchase Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)               that any Note (or any portion thereof) accepted for payment (and duly paid on the Asset Sale Purchase Date) pursuant to the Prepayment Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Asset Sale Purchase Date;

 

(3)               that any Notes (or portions thereof) not properly tendered will continue to accrue interest;

 

(4)               the purchase price and purchase date, which shall be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law, no less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date the Prepayment Offer Notice is mailed (or, in the case of Global Notes, sent) (the “Asset Sale Purchase Date”);

 

(5)               the amount of Excess Proceeds available to purchase Notes;

 

(6)               a description of the procedure which Holders of Notes must follow in order to tender their Notes and the procedures that Holders of Notes must follow in order to withdraw an election to tender their Notes for payment; and

 

(7)               all other instructions and materials necessary to enable Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Prepayment Offer.

 

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If any of the Notes subject to a Prepayment Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to repurchases.

 

(e)           The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the purchase of Notes as described above. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions relating to the Prepayment Offer, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.11 by virtue thereof.

 

(f)           Holders electing to have Notes purchased hereunder will be required to surrender such Notes at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Asset Sale Purchase Date. Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election to have their Notes purchased pursuant to this Section 4.11 if the Company receives, not later than one Business Day prior to the Asset Sale Purchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter specifying, as applicable:

 

(1)               the name of the Holder,

 

(2)               the certificate number of the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted,

 

(3)               the principal amount of the Note (which shall be $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) delivered for purchase by the Holder as to which his election is to be withdrawn,

 

(4)               a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such principal amount of such Note purchased, and

 

(5)               the principal amount, if any, of such Note (which shall be $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) that remains subject to the original Prepayment Offer Notice and that has been or will be delivered for purchase by the Company.

 

(g)          The Company shall (i) not later than the Asset Sale Purchase Date accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Prepayment Offer, (ii) not later than 12:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the Asset Sale Purchase Date deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent an amount of money in same day funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Prepayment Offer Price, as the case may be, of all the Notes or portions thereof which are to be purchased on that date and (iii) not later than 12:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the Asset Sale Purchase Date, as the case may be, deliver to the Paying Agent an Officers’ Certificate stating the Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment by the Company. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Prepayment Offer, as the case may be, on or as soon as practicable after the Asset Sale Purchase Date.

 

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(h)               Upon receipt by the Company of the proper tender of any Note (or portion thereof) accepted for purchase pursuant to Section 4.11(c), the Holder of the Note (or portion thereof) accepted for purchase pursuant to Section 4.11(c) in respect of which such proper tender was made and which has so been accepted for purchase shall (unless the tender of such Note (or portion thereof) accepted for purchase pursuant to Section 4.11(c) is properly withdrawn at least one Business Day prior to the Asset Sale Purchase Date) thereafter be entitled to receive solely the Prepayment Offer Price with respect to such Note (or portion thereof) accepted for purchase pursuant to Section 4.11(c). Notes to be purchased shall, on the Asset Sale Purchase Date, become due and payable at the Prepayment Offer Price and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Prepayment Offer Price) such Notes shall cease to bear interest. Such Prepayment Offer Price shall be paid to such Holder promptly following the later of the Asset Sale Purchase Date and the time of delivery of such Note to the relevant Paying Agent at the office of such Paying Agent by the Holder thereof in the manner required. Upon surrender of any such Note for purchase in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such Note shall be paid by the Company at the Prepayment Offer Price; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Asset Sale Purchase Date shall be payable to the Person in whose name the Notes are registered as such as of the close of business on the relevant record dates according to the terms and the provisions of Section 2.04. If any Note tendered for purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof by deposit of funds with the Trustee or a Paying Agent in accordance with paragraph (g) of this Section 4.11, the principal thereof (and premium, if any, thereon) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Asset Sale Purchase Date at the rate borne by such Note. Any Note that is to be purchased only in part shall be surrendered to a Paying Agent at the office of such Paying Agent (with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar or the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Note, without service charge, one or more new Notes of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in an aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, the portion of the principal amount of the Note so surrendered that is not purchased. For all purposes of this Section 4.11, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the purchase of Notes shall relate, in the case of any Notes purchased or to be purchased only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Notes which has been or is to be purchased. The Paying Agent (at the Company’s expense) shall promptly mail or deliver to the Holder thereof any Note or portion thereof not to be so purchased.

 

Section 4.12        Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)               The Company will provide to the Trustee, on or prior to the 30th day after the date that any Restricted Subsidiary (which is not a Guarantor) becomes a guarantor or obligor in respect of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10.0 million, a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto, executed by such Restricted Subsidiary, providing for a full and unconditional guarantee on a senior unsecured basis by such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture to the same extent as that set forth in this Indenture, subject to such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Guarantor when its Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

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(b)               Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section 4.12, (i) no Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to execute any such supplemental indenture unless such Foreign Subsidiary has guaranteed (or is otherwise an obligor of) other Indebtedness (including Indebtedness under a Credit Facility) of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10.0 million, and (ii) no Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to execute any such supplemental indenture if the Consolidated Net Worth of such Restricted Subsidiary, together with the Consolidated Net Worth of all other Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries, as of such date, does not exceed in the aggregate $10.0 million. To the extent the collective Consolidated Net Worth of the Company’s Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the date of the creation of, acquisition of or Investment in a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary, exceeds $10.0 million, the Company shall cause, within 30 days after such date, one or more of such Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries to similarly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto providing for a full and unconditional guarantee on a senior unsecured basis by such Restricted Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture to the same extent as that set forth as to the Guarantors in Article Ten, such that the collective Consolidated Net Worth of all remaining Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries does not exceed $10.0 million.

 

Section 4.13        Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)           The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause to come into existence or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(1)               pay dividends or make any other distribution on its Capital Stock to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to pay dividends or make distributions on Capital Stock),

 

(2)               pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the subordination of Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness owed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to pay such Indebtedness),

 

(3)               make loans or advances to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances), or

 

(4)               transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(b)           However, Section 4.13(a) will not prohibit any encumbrance or restriction created, existing or becoming effective under or by reason of:

 

(1)               any agreement (including the Senior Credit Agreement, the indentures governing the Existing Senior Notes and this Indenture) in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(2)               any agreement or instrument with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date, in existence at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such encumbrances and restrictions are not applicable to, or to the properties or assets of, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such Subsidiary which is becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3)               any agreement or instrument governing any Acquired Debt or other agreement of any entity merged into or consolidated with, or the assets of which are acquired by, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as such encumbrance or restriction (A) was not entered into in contemplation of the acquisition, merger or consolidation transaction, and (B) is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets or subsidiaries of the Person, so acquired, so long as the agreement containing such restriction does not violate any other provision of this Indenture;

 

(4)               any applicable law or any requirement of any regulatory body;

 

(5)               customary restrictions and conditions contained in the security documents evidencing any Liens securing obligations or Indebtedness or agreements relating to Capital Lease Obligations (provided that such Liens are otherwise permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.10 and such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 4.13) that limit the right of the debtor or lessee to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

 

(6)               provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest (including leases governing leasehold interests or farm-in agreements or farm-out agreements relating to leasehold interests in Oil and Gas Properties) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or restrictions in licenses (including licenses of intellectual property) relating to the property covered thereby, or other encumbrances or restrictions in agreements or instruments relating to specific assets or property that restrict generally the transfers of such assets or property; provided that such encumbrances or restrictions do not materially impact the ability of the Company to permit payments on the Notes when due as required by the terms of this Indenture;

 

(7)               agreements with respect to asset sales, including the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, permitted to be made under the provisions of Section 4.11 that limit the transfer of such assets or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary (or distribution on such Capital Stock) pending the closing of such sale;

 

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(8)               shareholders’, partnership, joint venture and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that such encumbrances or restrictions do not apply to any Restricted Subsidiaries other than the applicable company, partnership, joint venture or other entity;

 

(9)               cash, Cash Equivalents or other deposits, or net worth requirements or similar requirements, imposed by suppliers, landlords or customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10)           any Credit Facility or agreement governing Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.07; provided that such encumbrances or restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, as determined by the Company in good faith, than those contained in the Senior Credit Agreement, in the indentures governing the Existing Senior Notes or in this Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(11)           restrictions of the nature described in clause (4) of Section 4.13(a) by reason of customary non-assignment provisions in Hydrocarbon purchase or sale or exchange contracts, agreements, licenses and leases entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(12)           Commodity Agreements, Currency Agreements or Interest Rate Agreements permitted from time to time under this Indenture;

 

(13)           any Preferred Stock issued by a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the issuance of such Preferred Stock is permitted pursuant to Section 4.07 and the terms of such Preferred Stock do not expressly restrict the ability of such Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such Preferred Stock prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock);

 

(14)           Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

 

(15)           encumbrances and restrictions contained in contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of, or from the ability of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to realize the value of, property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

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(16)           any agreement, amendment, modification, restatement, extension, renewal, supplement, refunding, replacement or Refinancing that amends, modifies, restates, extends, renews, refunds, replaces or Refinances the agreements containing the encumbrances or restrictions in the foregoing clauses (1) through (15), or in this clause (16); provided that the terms and conditions of any such encumbrances or restrictions are no more restrictive in any material respect taken as a whole, as determined by the Company in good faith, than those under or pursuant to the agreement so amended, modified, restated, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or Refinanced.

 

Section 4.14        Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

 

The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction; provided that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a Sale and Leaseback Transaction if:

 

(1)               the Company or such Subsidiary could have incurred Indebtedness at the time of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction on a pro forma basis (on the assumption such transaction occurred on the first day of the four-quarter period for which financial statements are available ending immediately prior to such transaction with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such transaction being included in such pro forma calculation) in an amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness relating to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction pursuant to the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in paragraph (a) of Section 4.07;

 

(2)               the gross cash proceeds of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction are at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the property that is the subject of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction; and

 

(3)               the transfer of assets in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction is permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in the same manner and to the same extent as Net Available Cash and Excess Proceeds from an Asset Sale in compliance with, Section 4.11.

 

Section 4.15        Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)         The Board of Directors of the Company may designate after the Issue Date any of the Company’s Subsidiaries as an Unrestricted Subsidiary under this Indenture (a “Designation”) only if:

 

(1)               no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such Designation;

 

(2)               (x) the Company would be permitted to make an Investment at the time of Designation (assuming the effectiveness of such Designation) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4.08 or as a Permitted Payment or Permitted Investment in an amount (the “Designation Amount”) equal to the greater of (1) the net book value of the Company’s interest in such Subsidiary calculated in accordance with GAAP and (2) the Fair Market Value of the Company’s interest in such Subsidiary as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors, or (y) the Designation Amount is less than $1,000;

 

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(3)               such Unrestricted Subsidiary does not own any Capital Stock in any Restricted Subsidiary which is not simultaneously being designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)               such Unrestricted Subsidiary is not liable, directly or indirectly, with respect to any Indebtedness other than Unrestricted Subsidiary Indebtedness; provided that an Unrestricted Subsidiary may provide a Guarantee for the Notes; and

 

(5)               such Unrestricted Subsidiary is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding at such time with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company or, in the event such condition is not satisfied, the value of such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding to such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed a Restricted Payment.

 

(b)          In the event of any such Designation, the Company shall be deemed, for all purposes of this Indenture, to have made an Investment equal to the Designation Amount that, as designated by the Company, constitutes a Restricted Payment pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4.08 or a Permitted Payment or Permitted Investment.

 

(c)          The Company shall not and shall not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to at any time:

 

(1)               provide credit support for, guarantee or subject any of its property or assets (other than the Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary) to the satisfaction of, any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness) or enter into or become a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with any Unrestricted Subsidiary, the terms of which, together with the terms of all other agreements, contracts, arrangements and understandings with such Unrestricted Subsidiary, taken as a whole, in the good-faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, are less favorable to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would be available in a comparable transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a party that is not an Affiliate of the Company; provided that this Section 4.15 shall not be deemed to prevent Permitted Investments, Restricted Payments or Permitted Payments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries that are otherwise allowed under this Indenture, or

 

(2)               be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than by pledge of the Capital Stock thereof).

 

(d)         For purposes of this Section 4.15, the Designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the Designation of all of the Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary as Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Unless so designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Company will be classified as a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(e)         The Company may revoke any Designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (a “Revocation”) if:

 

(1)               no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of and after giving effect to such Revocation;

 

(2)               all Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary outstanding immediately following such Revocation would, if incurred at such time, have been permitted to be incurred for all purposes of this Indenture; and

 

(3)               unless such redesignated Subsidiary shall not have any Indebtedness outstanding (other than Indebtedness that would be Permitted Debt), immediately after giving effect to such proposed Revocation, and after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness of such redesignated Subsidiary as if such Indebtedness was incurred on the date of the Revocation, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) pursuant to Section 4.07.

 

(f)          All Designations and Revocations shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee certifying compliance with the provisions of this Section 4.15.

 

Section 4.16        Payments for Consent.

 

Neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is paid to all Holders that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

 

Section 4.17        Offer to Repurchase upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

 

(a)          If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Company has given notice of redemption of all the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07, each Holder will have the right to require that the Company purchase all or any part (in minimum amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below in this Section 4.17 (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer to purchase all of the Notes, at a purchase price (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”) in cash in an amount equal to 101% of the principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Purchase Date”), subject to the rights of Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

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(b)         Within 30 days after any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall notify the Trustee and give written notice of the Change of Control Triggering Event to each Holder, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at the address appearing for such Holder in the Securities Register (or, in the case of Global Notes, if such notice is given by the Trustee on behalf of the Company, sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary). The notice (the “Change of Control Purchase Notice”) shall state, among other things:

 

(i)                 that a Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred or will occur, the date of such event and the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change of Control Triggering Event;

 

(ii)              that any Notes (or any portion thereof) accepted for payment and duly paid on the Change of Control Purchase Date pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Purchase Date;

 

(iii)            that any Notes (or any portion thereof) not properly tendered will continue to accrue interest;

 

(iv)             the Change of Control Purchase Price and the Change of Control Purchase Date, which shall be fixed by the Company on a Business Day no earlier than 10 days nor later than 60 days from the date the Change of Control Purchase Notice is mailed (or, in the case of Global Notes, sent), or such later date as is necessary to comply with requirements under the Exchange Act; provided that the Change of Control Purchase Date may not occur prior to the Change of Control Triggering Event;

 

(v)               a description of the procedures that Holders of Notes are required to follow in order to tender their Notes and the procedures that Holders of Notes are required to follow in order to withdraw an election to tender their Notes for payment; and

 

(vi)             all other instructions and materials necessary to enable Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.

 

If any of the Notes subject to a Change of Control Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to repurchases.

 

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(c)          Upon receipt by the Company of the proper tender of Notes, the Holder of the Note in respect of which such proper tender was made shall (unless the tender of such Note is properly withdrawn at least one Business Day prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date) thereafter be entitled to receive solely the Change of Control Purchase Price with respect to such Notes. Notes to be purchased shall, on the Change of Control Purchase Date, become due and payable at the Change of Control Purchase Price, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price) such Notes shall cease to bear interest. Such Change of Control Purchase Price shall be paid to such Holder promptly following the later of the Change of Control Purchase Date and the time of delivery of such Note to the relevant Paying Agent at the office of such Paying Agent by the Holder thereof in the manner required. Upon surrender of any such Note for purchase in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such Note shall be paid by the Company at the Change of Control Purchase Price; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes, registered as such as of the close of business on the relevant record dates according to the terms and the provisions of Section 2.04. If any Note tendered for purchase in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.17 shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof, the principal thereof (and premium, if any, thereon) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Change of Control Purchase Date at the rate borne by such Note. Holders electing to have Notes purchased will be required to surrender such Notes to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the Change of Control Purchase Notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date. Any Note that is to be purchased only in part shall be surrendered to a Paying Agent at the office of such Paying Agent (with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so require, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar or the Trustee, as the case may be, duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Note, without service charge, one or more new Notes of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in an aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, the portion of the principal amount of the Note so surrendered that is not purchased. For all purposes of this Section 4.17, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the purchase of Notes shall relate, in the case of any Notes purchased or to be purchased only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Notes which has been or is to be purchased. The Paying Agent (at the Company’s expense) shall promptly mail or deliver to the Holder thereof any Note or portion thereof not to be so purchased.

 

(d)          The Company shall (i) not later than the Change of Control Purchase Date, accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) not later than 12:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the Change of Control Purchase Date, deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent an amount of money in same day funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Change of Control Purchase Price of all the Notes or portions thereof that are to be purchased on that date and (iii) not later than 12:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the Change of Control Purchase Date, deliver to the Paying Agent an Officers’ Certificate stating the Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment by the Company. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Purchase Date.

 

(e)          A tender made in response to a Change of Control Purchase Notice may be withdrawn if the Company receives, not later than one Business Day prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter, specifying, as applicable:

 

(1)               the name of the Holder;

 

(2)               the certificate number of the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted;

 

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(3)               the principal amount of the Note (which shall be $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) delivered for purchase by the Holder as to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted;

 

(4)               a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such principal amount of such Note purchased; and

 

(5)               the principal amount, if any, of such Note (which shall be $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) that remains subject to the original Change of Control Purchase Notice and that has been or will be delivered for purchase by the Company.

 

(f)           The Company shall comply with the applicable tender offer rules, including the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other applicable securities laws or regulations thereunder in connection with a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions relating to the Change of Control Offer in this Section 4.17, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.17 by virtue thereof.

 

(g)         Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.17, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer under the following circumstances: (1) upon a Change of Control Triggering Event, if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer; or (2) if notice of redemption for 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to this Indenture as described in Section 3.07, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

 

(h)         In the event that upon consummation of a Change of Control Offer less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes) that were originally issued are hold by Holders other than the Company or Affiliates thereof, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of redemption, subject to the right of the Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on an interest payment date.

 

Section 4.18        Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article Five, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise if it shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.

 

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Section 4.19        Covenant Termination.

 

(a)          If at any time (1) the Notes are rated at least Baa3 by Moody’s and at least BBB- by S&P (or, if either such entity ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the control of the Company, at least the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency); and (2) at such time no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Termination Event”), then the following covenants (the “Terminated Covenants”) will be terminated and, thereupon, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to (and shall not be required to comply with) the Terminated Covenants:

 

(i)            Section 4.07;

 

(ii)           Section 4.08;

 

(iii)          Section 4.09;

 

(iv)          Section 4.11;

 

(v)           Section 4.12.

 

(vi)          Section 4.13;

 

(vii)         clauses (1) and (3) of Section 4.14;

 

(viii)        Section 4.15; and

 

(ix)           clause (4) of Section 5.01(a);

 

(b)         The Company shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee indicating the occurrence of a Covenant Termination Event. The Trustee shall have no duty to (i) monitor the ratings of the Notes, (ii) determine whether a Covenant Termination Event has occurred, or (iii) notify Holders of any of the foregoing. The Trustee may provide a copy of the Officers’ Certificate to any Holder upon request.

 

Article Five
Successors

 

Section 5.01        Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.

 

(a)          The Company will not, in any Transaction, (x) consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or (y) sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, or (in the case of clause (y)) permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any Transaction, if such Transaction, in the aggregate, would result in a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis to any other Person (other than the Company or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries) unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:

 

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(1)               either (a) the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition all or substantially all of such properties and assets (the “Surviving Entity”) will be a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (b) the Company will be the Surviving Entity;

 

(2)               if the Company is merging into, consolidating with or disposing of assets and is not the Surviving Entity, (a) the Surviving Entity shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture (or other agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture and (b) if the Surviving Entity is not a corporation, then a Subsidiary of the Surviving Entity that is a corporation shall execute a supplemental indenture pursuant to which it shall become a co-obligor of the Surviving Entity’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture;

 

(3)               except in the case (a) a Restricted Subsidiary merges into, consolidates with or disposes of assets to the Company or (b) the Company merges into, consolidates with or disposes of assets to a Guarantor, immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness not previously an obligation of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which becomes the obligation of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing;

 

(4)               except in the case (a) a Restricted Subsidiary merges into, consolidates with or disposes of assets to the Company or (b) the Company merges into, consolidates with or disposes of assets to a Guarantor, immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis (on the assumption that the transaction occurred on the first day of the four-quarter period for which financial statements are available ending immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction with the appropriate adjustments with respect to the transaction being included in such pro forma calculation), either (i) the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is merging into, consolidating with or disposing of assets and is not the Surviving Entity) could on the first day following such four-quarter period incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) under Section 4.07 or (ii) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is merging into, consolidating with or disposing of assets and is not the Surviving Entity) would be at least as great as the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage for the Company immediately prior to such transactions;

 

(5)               if the Company is merging into, consolidating with or disposing of assets and is not the Surviving Entity, at the time of the transaction, each Guarantor, if any, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, will have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to the Surviving Entity’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

 

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(6)               at the time of the transaction, if any of the property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary would thereupon become subject to any Lien, Section 4.10 is complied with; and

 

(7)               at the time of the transaction, the Company or (if the Company is merging into, consolidating with or disposing of assets and is not the Surviving Entity) the Surviving Entity will have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such consolidation, merger, transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other transaction and the supplemental indenture in respect thereof comply with this Indenture.

 

(b)               Except for any Guarantor whose Guarantee is to be released in accordance with this Indenture in connection with a transaction complying with Section 10.04, each Guarantor will not, and the Company will not permit a Guarantor to, in a Transaction, (x) consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person (other than the Company or any other Guarantor) or (y) sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person (other than the Company or any other Guarantor), unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:

 

(1)               one of the following is true: (a) a Guarantor or the Company will be the continuing Person in the case of a consolidation or merger involving the Guarantor; or (b) the Person (if other than a Guarantor or the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which such Guarantor is merged or the Person (if other than a Guarantor or the Company) which acquires by sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Guarantor (the “Surviving Guarantor Entity”) will be a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, partnership, trust or other entity duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and such Person expressly assumes, by a supplemental indenture, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee of the Notes and this Indenture, and such Guarantee of such Surviving Guarantor Entity and this Indenture will remain in full force and effect; or (c) the Transaction, at the time thereof, is an Asset Sale and is effected in compliance with Section 4.11, to the extent applicable thereto;

 

(2)               immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3)               at the time of the transaction the Company will have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such consolidation, merger, transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, lease or other transaction and the supplemental indenture in respect thereof comply with this Indenture;

 

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provided that this Section 5.01(b) shall not apply to any Guarantor whose Guarantee of the Notes is unconditionally released and discharged in accordance with this Indenture.

 

(c)               In the event of any Transaction described in and complying with the conditions listed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 5.01 in which the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, is not the continuing Person, the successor Person formed or remaining or to which such transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture and the Notes with the same effect as if such successor had been named as the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, herein and shall be substituted for the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be (so that from and after the date of such Transaction, the provisions of this Indenture and the Notes referring to the “Company” or “such Guarantor,” as the case may be, shall refer instead to the successor and not to the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be) and (except in the case of a lease) the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be discharged and released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes or its Guarantee, as the case may be. The Trustee shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor and such discharge and release of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

(d)               Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 5.01, the Company or any Guarantor may merge with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Company or such Guarantor in another jurisdiction to realize tax or other benefits or converting the Company or such Guarantor to an entity that is, or is taxable for federal income tax purposes as, a corporation, or a combination of the foregoing.

 

Article Six
Defaults and Remedies

 

Section 6.01        Events of Default.

 

An Event of Default will occur under this Indenture (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body) if:

 

(1)               there shall be a default in the payment of any interest on any Note when it becomes due and payable, and such default shall continue for a period of 30 days;

 

(2)               there shall be a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Note at its Maturity (upon acceleration, optional or mandatory redemption, if any, required repurchase or otherwise);

 

(3)               (a) there shall be a default in the performance or breach of the provisions of Section 5.01(a), only as such relate to the Company, (b) the Company shall have failed to make or consummate a Prepayment Offer in accordance with Section 4.11 after the obligation of the Company to make a Prepayment Offer with respect to an Asset Sale has arisen, or (c) the Company shall have failed to make or consummate a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.17 after the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, and, in the case of clause (b), after written notice has been given, by certified mail, (1) to the Company by the Trustee or (2) to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes and, in the case of clauses (b) and (c), such default or breach shall continue for a period of 30 days;

 

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(4)               there shall be a default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company or any Guarantor under this Indenture or any Guarantee (other than a default in the performance, or breach, of a covenant or agreement which is specifically dealt with in clause (1), (2) or (3) above) and such default or breach shall continue for a period of 60 days (or 120 days in relation to the obligations under Section 4.03) after written notice has been given, by certified mail, (1) to the Company by the Trustee or (2) to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes;

 

(5)               (a) any default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Indebtedness shall have occurred under any of the agreements, indentures or instruments under which the Company, any Guarantor or any other Significant Subsidiary then has outstanding Indebtedness in excess of $40.0 million when the same shall become due and payable in full and such default shall have continued after the giving of any applicable notice and the expiration of any applicable grace period and shall not have been cured or waived and, if not already matured at its final maturity in accordance with its terms, the holder of such Indebtedness shall have the right to accelerate such Indebtedness or (b) an event of default as defined in any of the agreements, indentures or instruments described in clause (a) of this clause (5) shall have occurred and the Indebtedness thereunder, if not already matured at its final maturity in accordance with its terms, shall have been accelerated;

 

(6)               any Guarantee shall for any reason cease to be, or shall for any reason be asserted in writing by any Guarantor or the Company not to be, in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent contemplated by this Indenture and any such Guarantee;

 

(7)               one or more judgments, orders or decrees of any court or regulatory or administrative agency for the payment of money in excess of $40.0 million (excluding amounts covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent insurance carriers), either individually or in the aggregate, shall be rendered against the Company, any Guarantor or any other Significant Subsidiary or any of their respective properties and shall not be discharged and either (a) any creditor shall have commenced an enforcement proceeding in accordance with applicable law upon such judgment, order or decree or (b) there shall have been a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of an appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect;

 

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(8)               the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company or any Significant Subsidiary bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustments or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary under any Bankruptcy Law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(9)               the institution by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any Bankruptcy Law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due.

 

Section 6.02        Acceleration.

 

(a)               If an Event of Default (other than as specified in Section 6.01(8) or (9) above with respect to the Company) shall occur and be continuing with respect to this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may declare all unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on all Notes to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders) and upon any such declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(8) or (9) above with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, then all the Notes shall ipso facto become due and payable immediately in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date the Notes become due and payable, without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of Notes. Thereupon, the Trustee may, at its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce the rights of the Holders of Notes by appropriate judicial proceedings.

 

(b)               After a declaration of acceleration, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

(1)               the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under this Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, (B) all overdue interest on all Notes then outstanding, (C) the principal of, and premium, if any, on any Notes then outstanding which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate borne by the Notes, and (D) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate borne by the Notes;

 

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(2)               the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

 

(3)               all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in this Indenture.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

(c)               If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(5) above shall have occurred and be continuing, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration shall be automatically rescinded if (i) the Indebtedness that is the subject of such Event of Default shall have been repaid or (ii) if the default relating to such Indebtedness is waived or cured and if such Indebtedness shall have been accelerated, the Holders thereof have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness.

 

Section 6.03        Other Remedies.

 

(a)               If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

 

(b)              The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

Section 6.04        Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all outstanding Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default under this Indenture or and its consequences, except a Default or Event of Default (1) in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note (which may only be waived with the consent of each Holder of Notes affected) or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision which under Section 9.02 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected by such modification or amendment. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Section 6.05        Control by Majority.

 

Subject to Section 2.10, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction unduly prejudices the rights of such Holders) or that may subject the Trustee to personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.

 

Section 6.06        Limitation on Suits.

 

(a)               A Holder of the Notes has a right to institute any proceeding with respect to this Indenture or the Notes or any Guarantees, only if:

 

(1)               the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(2)               the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3)               such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense that might be incurred by it in connection with the request or direction;

 

(4)               the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

 

(5)               during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have not waived such Event of Default or otherwise given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the written request.

 

(b)               A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction unduly prejudices the rights of such Holders).

 

Section 6.07        Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 6.08        Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or Section 6.01(2) above occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of overdue principal of, premium, if any, interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

 

Section 6.09        Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other securities or property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.10        Priorities.

 

(a)               If the Trustee collects any money or other property pursuant to this Article Six, it shall pay out the money and other property in the following order:

 

First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

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Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, interest ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

 

Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

(b)               The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

 

Section 6.11        Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than ten percent in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

Article Seven
Trustee

 

Section 7.01        Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

(a)               Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

(i)               the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); and

 

(ii)              in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the form of certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

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(b)               In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and is actually known to the Trustee (as provided in Section 7.03(j)), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use in similar circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.

 

(c)               No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(i)               this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of the first paragraph of this Section;

 

(ii)              the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(iii)            the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of any series, determined as provided in Section 6.05, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Notes of such series; and

 

(iv)             no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d)               Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

(e)               No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(f)                Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds and need not be held in an interest-bearing account, in each case except to the extent required by law or by any other provision of this Indenture. The Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it hereunder unless the Trustee otherwise agrees in writing with the Company.

 

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Section 7.02        Notice of Defaults. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing hereunder with respect to Notes of any series, and if it is known to the Trustee (as provided in Section 7.03(j)), the Trustee shall send to the Holders of Notes of such series notice of such Event of Default within 90 days after the Trustee gains knowledge of such Event of Default unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice. Except in the case of an Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium or interest on Notes of any series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes of such series.

 

Section 7.03        Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01:

 

(a)               the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(b)               any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any request or direction of a Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Guarantor Request or Guarantor Order of such Guarantor, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution and any resolution of a Guarantor's Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Guarantor's Board Resolution;

 

(c)               whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) shall be entitled to receive and may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon, and shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance upon, an Officers' Certificate or, if such matter relates to a Guarantor, a Guarantor's Officers' Certificate of such Guarantor or an Opinion of Counsel;

 

(d)               the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(e)               the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(f)                the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

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(g)               the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder and shall not be responsible for the supervision of officers and employees of such agents or attorneys;

 

(h)               the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers' Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers' Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers' Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

 

(i)                 the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken which it believes in good faith to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

(j)                 except with respect to an Event of Default under Sections 6.01(1) and 6.01(2), the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture;

 

(k)               the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its rights to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

 

(l)                 in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, punitive, indirect or consequential loss or damages of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to lost profits, irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action arising in connection with this Indenture;

 

(m)             any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to the documents upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon all future holders of Notes and upon Notes executed and delivered in exchange therefore or in place thereof; and

 

(n)               under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Notes.

 

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Section 7.04        Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Notes or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 7.05        May Hold Notes. The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Registrar or any other agent of the Company or any Guarantor, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Registrar or such other agent.

 

Section 7.06        Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company or any Guarantor.

 

Section 7.07        Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

(a)               The Company shall pay to the Trustee (in its capacity as Trustee, and, to the extent it has been appointed as such, as Paying Agent and Registrar) from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder in accordance with a written schedule provided by the Trustee to the Company. The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable and customary disbursements, advances and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services, except those resulting from its own grossly negligent action, grossly negligent failure to act or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment. Such expenses shall include the reasonable and customary compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel. The obligation of the Company to pay foregoing compensation and reimbursement shall survive the payment in full or defeasance of the Notes or the removal or resignation of the Trustee.

 

(b)               The Company and the Guarantors shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and protect the Trustee (in any capacity under this Indenture and other document or transaction entered into in connection with this Indenture) and its officers, directors, agents and employees, and hold the Trustee harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, damages or expenses (including taxes (other than taxes based upon, or measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) and reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs) incurred or suffered by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by either of the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may elect to have separate counsel defend the claim, but the Company shall be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. None of the Company nor the Guarantors need reimburse the Trustee for any expense or indemnity against liability or loss of the Trustee to the extent such expense, liability or loss is found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Trustee.

 

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(c)               As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes of any series upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Notes of such series. Such lien shall survive satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

(d)               Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(8) or Section 6.01(9), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

(e)               The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

Section 7.08        [Intentionally Omitted].

 

Section 7.09        Corporate Trustee Required: Eligibility. There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Notes of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Notes of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has its Corporate Trust Office in the continental United States of America. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Notes of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.09, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Seven.

 

Section 7.10       Resignation and Removal: Appointment of Successor. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 7.11.

 

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The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 7.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes.

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time by the Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 7.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of a notice of removal pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes.

 

If at any time:

 

the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Notes, or (B) subject to Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 7.11. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of such series. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 7.11, become the successor Trustee and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 7.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders of Notes. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 7.11        Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, any Guarantor and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 7.12        Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes.

 

Article Eight
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

Section 8.01        Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eight.

 

Section 8.02        Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged with respect to their obligations under the Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes and Guarantees, respectively, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all of their other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of the Holders of such outstanding Notes to receive solely from Funds in Trust (as defined in Section 8.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section) payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) subject to the preceding clause (a), the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article Two and Section 4.02, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture and (d) this Article Eight. Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03.

 

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Section 8.03        Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, (i) the Company shall be released from its obligations, and each Guarantor shall be released from its obligations, in each case, under the covenants contained in Article Four and Section 5.01 (except for the obligations of the Company or a Guarantor under paragraph (a) of Section 5.01 solely insofar as they relate to the Company), except as described further in clause (ii) of this sentence, and (ii) the limitations described in clause (4) of paragraph (a) of Section 5.01 with respect to the outstanding Notes shall no longer apply, on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of the Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, Sections 6.01(3) through (7) shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

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Section 8.04        Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 to the outstanding Notes:

 

(a)               the Company shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders (x) cash in United States dollars or (y) cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof (in each case, “Funds in Trust”), in such amounts as, in the aggregate, will be sufficient (in the case of clause (y), in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking firm), to pay and discharge the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity (or the applicable redemption date (such date being referred to as the “Defeasance Redemption Date”), if at or prior to electing either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an irrevocable notice to redeem all of the outstanding Notes on the Defeasance Redemption Date);

 

(b)               in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel in the United States stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of independent counsel in the United States shall confirm that, the Holders and beneficial owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(c)               in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel in the United States to the effect that the Holders and beneficial owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(d)               no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness or other borrowing of funds, or the grant of Liens securing such Indebtedness or other borrowing, all or a portion of which are to be applied to such deposit);

 

(e)               such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default under, any material agreement or instrument to which the Company, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary is bound (other than this Indenture);

 

(f)                the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders or any Guarantee over the other creditors of the Company or any Guarantor with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or any Guarantor; and

 

(g)               the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an opinion of independent counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to either the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

 

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Section 8.05        Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a)               Subject to Section 8.06, all money and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(b)               The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

(c)               Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, investment bank, or appraisal firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a)), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Section 8.06        Repayment to the Company.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall, at the expense of the Company, cause to be published once, in The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.

 

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Section 8.07        Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations to make the related payments under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company make any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

Article Nine
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

 

Section 9.01        Without Consent of Holders.

 

(a)               Notwithstanding Section 9.02, the Company, any Guarantor, any other obligor under the Notes outstanding and the Trustee may modify, amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:

 

(1)               to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, a Guarantor or any other obligor under the Notes, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company, such Guarantor or such obligor in this Indenture and the Notes and in any Guarantee in accordance with Section 5.01;

 

(2)               to add to the covenants of the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor under the Notes for the benefit of the Holders, to add Events of Default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor or any other obligor under the Notes, as applicable, in this Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantee;

 

(3)               to cure any ambiguity, omission or mistake, or to correct or supplement any provision in this Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantee which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision in this Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantee;

 

(4)               to make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, the Notes or any Guarantee; provided that such provisions shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders in any material respect;

 

(5)               to add a Guarantor or additional obligor under this Indenture or permit any Person to guarantee the Notes or obligations under this Indenture;

 

(6)               to release a Guarantor as provided in this Indenture;

 

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(7)               to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment of a successor Trustee under this Indenture;

 

(8)               to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders as additional security for the payment and performance of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, in any property or assets, including any of which are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a security interest is required to be granted to or for the benefit of the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture or otherwise;

 

(9)               to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes under this Indenture in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture;

 

(10)           to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depositary;

 

(11)           to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

(12)           to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees to any provision of the section entitled “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum; or

 

(13)           to provide for the reorganization of the Company as any other form of entity in accordance with Section 5.01(d).

 

(b)               Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 12.03 and Section 9.05, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

(c)               Any supplemental indenture, authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.01, may be executed by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

 

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Section 9.02        With Consent of Holders.

 

(a)               Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company, each Guarantor, if any, any other obligor under the Notes and the Trustee may modify, amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and, subject to Section 6.04 and Section 6.07, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes). However, without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby, a modification, amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not:

 

(1)               change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, or change to an earlier date any redemption date of, or waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any such Note or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the coin or currency in which the principal of any such Note or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date);

 

(2)               amend, change or modify, (a) after the obligation of the Company to make a Prepayment Offer with respect to an Asset Sale has arisen, in accordance with Section 4.12, the obligation of the Company, to make such Prepayment Offer or (b) the obligation of the Company, after the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, to make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.17;

 

(3)               reduce the percentage in principal amount of such outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment of this Indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver or compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture;

 

(4)               modify any of the provisions of this Indenture requiring the consent of Holders or relating to the waiver by Holders of past defaults or relating to the waiver by Holders of certain covenants, except to increase the percentage of such outstanding Notes required for such actions or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each such Note affected thereby;

 

(5)               voluntarily release, other than in accordance with this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Guarantor; or

 

(6)               amend or modify any of the provisions of this Indenture in any manner which subordinates the Notes issued hereunder in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or which subordinates any Guarantee in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Guarantor issuing any such Guarantee.

 

(b)               Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.05 and Section 12.03, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

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(c)               It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

(d)               After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. However, the failure to give such notice, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.03        Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by such Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (6) of Section 9.02(a), in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Note who has consented to such amendment, supplement or waiver and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note.

 

Section 9.04        Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

(a)               The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

(b)               Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.05        Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc..

 

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor may sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until its Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

Section 9.06        Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such amended or supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

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Article Ten
Guarantees

 

Section 10.01    Guarantee.

 

(a)               Subject to this Article Ten, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally, guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful (subject in all cases to any applicable grace period provided herein), and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee under the Notes or this Indenture will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

(b)               The Guarantors hereby agree that, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Subject to Section 6.06, each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(c)               If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Guarantor or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, the Guarantee hereunder of any Guarantor, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

(d)               Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders or the Trustee in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Six for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Six, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. Each Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under its Guarantee shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor, in a pro rata amount based on the adjusted net assets of each Guarantor determined at the time of payment in accordance with GAAP, so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.

 

(e)               The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee pursuant to this Article Ten shall rank equally in right of payment with other existing and future senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, and senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor.

 

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Section 10.02    Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

 

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, and the Trustee each hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor, and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Article Ten, will result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law. Until such time as the Notes are paid in full, each Guarantor hereby waives all rights of subrogation or contribution, whether arising by contract or operation of law (including any such right arising under federal Bankruptcy Law) or otherwise by reason of any payment by it pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten.

 

Section 10.03    Guarantee Evidenced by Indenture; No Notation of Guarantee.

 

(a)               The Guarantee of any Guarantor shall be evidenced solely by its execution and delivery of this Indenture (or, in the case of any Guarantor that is not party to this Indenture on the Issue Date, a supplemental indenture hereto) and not by an endorsement on, or attachment to, any Note or any Guarantee or notation thereof.

 

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 shall be and remain in full force and effect, subject to Section 10.04, notwithstanding any failure to endorse on any Note a notation of such Guarantee.

 

(b)               The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of each of the Guarantors.

 

(c)               Subsequent to the Issue Date, in the event a Restricted Subsidiary is required by Section 4.12 to guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture, the Company shall cause such Restricted Subsidiary to execute a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form included in Exhibit D attached hereto in accordance with Section 4.12 and this Article Ten, to the extent applicable, which supplemental indenture shall be executed and delivered on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor.

 

Section 10.04    Releases of Guarantors.

 

(a)               The Guarantee of a Guarantor will be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all of its obligations under its Guarantee without any further action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder:

 

(1)               in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor or such Guarantor’s direct or indirect parent (including by way of merger or consolidation) to one or more Persons that are not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor or such Guarantor’s direct or indirect parent complies with Section 4.11;

 

(2)               in connection with any sale of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor or such Guarantor’s direct or indirect parent to one or more Persons that are not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale of all such Capital Stock of such Guarantor or such Guarantor’s direct or indirect parent complies with Section 4.11;

 

(3)               if the Company properly designates such Guarantor as a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary and such Restricted Subsidiary is not required at such time to issue a Guarantee of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.12;

 

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(4)               if the Company properly designates such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(5)               if such Guarantor is released from its guarantee issued pursuant to the terms of any Credit Facility of the Company or any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary, and such Guarantor is not an obligor under any Indebtedness of the Company or any domestic Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Notes) in excess of $10.0 million in aggregate principal amount;

 

(6)               upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor; provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; or

 

(7)               if Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes has been effected or Satisfaction and Discharge has been effected in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article Eight or Article Eleven, as applicable;

 

provided that any such release and discharge pursuant to clause (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7) above shall occur only to the extent that all obligations of such Guarantor under all of its guarantees of, and under all of its pledges of assets or other security interests which secure any, Indebtedness of the Company and the domestic Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Notes) having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $10.0 million shall also terminate at such time.

 

(b)               Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article Ten.

 

Article Eleven
Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Section 11.01    Satisfaction and Discharge.

 

This Indenture shall, upon the written request of the Company pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, be discharged and cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Notes (except for (a) the rights of the Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in clause (b) of this Section 11.01, and as more fully set forth in such clause (b), payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Section 2.04, Section 2.05, Section 2.06 and Section 4.02 and (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging such satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture (except as aforesaid) (“Satisfaction and Discharge”) when:

 

(a)               either

 

(1)               all such Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid or Notes whose payment has been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust as provided for in this Indenture) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or

 

(2)               all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (a) have become due and payable, (b) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or (c) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving or sending of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company;

 

(b)               the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount in (x) United States dollars or (y) United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof, sufficient (in the case of clause (y), in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent accounting firm or a nationally recognized investment banking firm) to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest at such Maturity, Stated Maturity or redemption date;

 

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(c)               no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default of Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness or other borrowing of funds, or the grant of Liens securing such Indebtedness or other borrowing, all or a portion of which are to be applied to such deposit) and such Satisfaction and Discharge will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument to which the Company, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary is bound (other than this Indenture);

 

(d)               the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under this Indenture by the Company and any Guarantor;

 

(e)               the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of independent counsel each stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to Satisfaction and Discharge have been complied with; and

 

(f)                the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee hereunder to apply any deposited money described in clause (b) above to the payment of the Notes at Maturity, Stated Maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

Section 11.02    Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a)               Subject to Section 11.03, all money and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 11.02, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 11.01 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(b)               Notwithstanding the above, the Trustee shall pay to the Company from time to time upon its request any cash or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Section 11.02 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect Satisfaction and Discharge under this Article Eleven.

 

(c)               The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Section 11.03    Repayment to the Company.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall, at the expense of the Company, cause to be published once, in The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.

 

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Article Twelve
Miscellaneous

 

Section 12.01    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 12.02    Notices.

 

(a)               Any notice or communication by either of the Company or any Guarantor, on the one hand, or the Trustee on the other hand, to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

If to the Company or any Guarantor:

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

15 West Sixth Street

Suite 900

Tulsa, OK 74119

Facsimile: (918) 513-4571

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

with copies to:

 

AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD, LLP

1111 Louisiana St. 44th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile: (713) 236-0822

Attention: Christopher E. Centrich

 

If to the Trustee:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

CTSO Mail Operations

600 South 4th Street, 7th Floor

MAC N9300-070

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Attention: Corporate Trust Services – Laredo Petroleum, Inc. Administrator

 

(b)               The Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

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(c)               All notices and communications (other than those sent to the Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (ii) five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (iii) when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; (iv) and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery. Notices given by publication will be deemed given on the first date on which publication is made. Any notice or communication to the Trustee shall be deemed delivered upon receipt by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee.

 

(d)               Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

(e)               If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

(f)                If the Company mails a notice or communication to the Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

(g)               In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

(h)               Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by the Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

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

 

Section 12.03    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

(a)               Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture (except in connection with the original issuance of Notes on the Issue Date), the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(i)                 an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.04) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

(ii)              an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.04) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel (who may rely on such Officers’ Certificate as to matters of fact), all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

 

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Section 12.04    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

(a)               Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

(i)                 a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(ii)              a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(iii)            a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

(iv)             a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of, or representation by, counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon certificates of public officials or upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

Section 12.05    Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of the Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 12.06    No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

 

No director, officer, employee, member, limited partner or stockholder of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries under the Notes, this Indenture or the Guarantees to which they are a party, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

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Section 12.07    Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

THIS INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY (AND EACH HOLDER OF A NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 12.08    Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01 or Section 10.04.

 

Section 12.09    Severability.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 12.10    Counterpart Originals; Electronic Signatures.

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Indenture. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Indenture, but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability and binding effect of this Indenture.

 

This Indenture and any certificate, agreement or other document to be signed in connection with this Indenture and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) an original manual signature; (ii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature; or (iii) in the case of this Indenture and any certificate, agreement or other document to be signed in connection with this Indenture and the transactions contemplated hereby, other than any Notes, any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (collectively, “Signature Law”). Each electronic signature (except in the case of any Notes) or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature (except in the case of any Notes), of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, original manual signatures shall be used for authentication by the Trustee of any Notes, and execution or indorsement of writings when required under the Uniform Commercial Code or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings.

 

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Section 12.11    Acts of Holders.

 

(a)               Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by the Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing, and may be given, made or taken in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, outstanding Notes; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company if made in the manner provided in this Section 12.11.

 

Without limiting the generality of this Section 12.11, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, (i) a Holder, including a Depositary or its nominee that is a Holder of a Global Note, may give, make or take, by an agent or agents duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be given, made or taken by the Holders, and a Depositary or its nominee that is a Holder of a Global Note may duly appoint in writing as its agent or agents members of, or participants in, such Depositary holding interests in such Global Note in the records of such Depositary; and (ii) with respect to any Global Note the Depositary for which is DTC, any consent or other action given, made or taken by an “agent member” of DTC by electronic means in accordance with the Automated Tender Offer Procedures system or other customary procedures of, and pursuant to authorization by, DTC shall be deemed to constitute the “Act” of the Holder of such Global Note, and such Act shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Company and the Trustee upon the delivery by DTC of an “agent’s message” or other notice of such consent or other action having been so given, made or taken in accordance with the customary procedures of DTC.

 

(b)               The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such witness, notary or officer the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c)               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.11 or elsewhere in this Indenture, the principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Holder, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Notes Register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar as provided in Section 2.05.

 

(d)               If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of the Notes any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at their option, by or pursuant to a resolution of its Board of Directors, fix in advance a record date for the determination of the Holders entitled to give, make or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of the Holders generally in connection therewith or the date of the most recent list of the Holders forwarded to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.06 and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the second sentence of Section 9.04, any instrument embodying and evidencing such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be executed before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date (whether or not such Persons were Holders before, or continue to be Holders after, such record date) shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the then outstanding Notes have given, made or taken such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the then outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such Act by the Holders of record on any record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after such record date.

 

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(e)               Subject to Section 9.03, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration or transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

 

(f)                Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give, make or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so itself with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

(g)               For purposes of this Indenture, any action by the Holders which may be taken in writing may be taken by electronic means or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Section 12.12    Benefit of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Registrar and their successors hereunder, and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture or the Notes.

 

Section 12.13    Table of Contents, Headings, Etc..

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 12.14    Language of Notices, Etc..

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

Section 12.15    Tax Withholding The transferor of any Note shall provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information. In connection with any proposed exchange of a Note that is not a Global Note for a Global Note, the Company or the Depositary shall be required to provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

 

Section 12.16    U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify and record information that identities each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

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Section 12.17    Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, (i) any act or provision of present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, (ii) labor disputes, strikes or work stoppages, (iii) accidents, (iv) acts of war or terrorism, (v) civil or military disturbances or unrest, (vi) nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, (vii) epidemics or pandemics, (viii) disease, (ix) quarantine, (x) national emergency, (xi) interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, (xii) communications system failure, (xiii) malware or ransomware, (xiv) the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire, telex or other communication or wire facility, or (xv) unavailability of any securities clearing system; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

Section 12.18    Calculations.

 

The Company will be responsible for making all calculations called for under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company will make all such calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on Holders. The Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of such calculations without independent verification.

 

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

 

SIGNATURES

 

  LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
 
 
By: /s/ Bryan Lemmerman
    Name: Bryan Lemmerman
  Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
   
  LAREDO MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
 
   
By: /s/ Bryan Lemmerman
    Name: Bryan Lemmerman
  Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
   
  GARDEN CITY MINERALS, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
 
   
By: /s/ Bryan Lemmerman
    Name: Bryan Lemmerman
  Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Indenture

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
   
   
By: /s/ Patrick Giordano
    Name:Patrick Giordano
  Title:Vice President

 

Signature Page to Indenture

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Face of Note]

 

[Global Note Legend]1

 

[Private Placement Legend]

 

[Regulation S Legend]2

 

 

1 Include only on Global Note.

2 Include Regulation S legend if applicable.

 

A-1

 

 

CUSIP: [●]

ISIN: [●]

 

No.                               $                                                     

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

 

7.75% Senior Notes due 2029

 

Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”, which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to _______________, or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [Amount of Note] UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($__________________) [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto]3 on July 31, 2029.

 

Interest Payment Dates: January 31 and July 31 of each year, commencing January 31, 2022.

 

Regular Record Dates: January 15 and July 15 of each year.

 

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

 

 

3 Include only on Global Note.

 

A-2

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.

 

  LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.
   
  By:                 
    Name:
    Title:

 

A-3

 

 

(Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication)

 

This is one of the 7.75% Senior Notes due 2029 described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as Trustee
   
  By:  
    Authorized Signatory

 

Dated: ____________________

 

A-4

 

 

[Reverse Side of Note]
LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

 

7.75% Senior Notes due 2029

 

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1.       Interest. The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 7.75% per annum from the date hereof until maturity. The Company shall pay interest semi-annually in arrears on January 31 and July 31 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on the Notes (or one or more Predecessor Notes) or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be January 31, 2022. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If an Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

 

2.       Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the January 15 or July 15 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.14 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose; provided, however, that (i) payments in respect of the Notes represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depositary with respect thereto; and (ii) payments in respect of the Notes represented by any Definitive Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made (subject (in the case of payments of principal or premium, if any) to surrender of such Note to such office or agency): (a) if the Holder thereof has specified a U.S. dollar account maintained by such Holder with a bank located in the United States for such purpose no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant payment date (or such later date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion) and such Holder owns $1 million or more of the notes, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account so specified or (b) otherwise, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the Holder of such Note at its address set forth in the Notes Register.

 

 

For Additional Notes, insert the appropriate interest payment date for those Additional Notes.

 

A-5

 

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of July 16, 2021 (the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Initial Guarantors and the Trustee, to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and Holders and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Indenture pursuant to which this Note is issued provides that an unlimited amount of Additional Notes may be issued thereunder, subject to compliance with the covenants therein.

 

5. Optional Redemption. (a) On or after July 31, 2024, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes, on not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice and in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July 31 of the years indicated below:

 

Year  Redemption Price 
2024   103.8750%
2025   101.9375%
2026 and thereafter   100.0000%

 

(b)       In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to July 31, 2024, the Company may use funds in an amount not exceeding the amount of the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to an aggregate of 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture) at a redemption price equal to 107.75% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the rights of holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date). At least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture) must remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and the Company must complete such redemption no later than 180 days after the date of the closing of the related Equity Offering.

 

A-6

 

 

(c)       The Notes may also be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to July 31, 2024 at the option of the Company at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

(d)       The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers, at the redemption price and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.17 of the Indenture.

 

(e)       Notice of any redemption of the Notes may, at the Company’s discretion, be given prior to the completion of a transaction (including an Equity Offering, an incurrence of Indebtedness, a Change of Control or other transaction); and any notice of redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent specified in the notice of redemption, including but not limited to, completion of an Equity Offering or other corporate transaction or event. If such redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the notice of redemption shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the date of redemption may be delayed on one or more occasions until such time as all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived (including more than 60 days after the date on which such notice was sent), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded (and the redemption of the Notes rescinded and cancelled) in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the date of redemption, or by the date of redemption as so delayed. The Company will provide written notice of any delay of such date of redemption or the rescission of such notice of redemption (and rescission and cancellation of the redemption of the Notes) to the Trustee no later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the date of redemption or the date of redemption as so delayed. Upon receipt of such notice of the delay of such date of redemption or the rescission of such notice of redemption (and rescission and cancellation of the redemption of the Notes), such date of redemption shall be automatically delayed or such notice of redemption shall be automatically rescinded, as applicable, and the redemption of the Notes shall be automatically delayed or rescinded and cancelled, as applicable, as provided in such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Trustee will promptly mail or send a copy of any such notice to the Holders of the Notes that were to have been redeemed in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was initially given.

 

6. Mandatory Redemption. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Company may, at any time and from time to time, purchase Notes in open market purchases or negotiated transactions by tender offer or otherwise.

 

7. Repurchase at Option of Holders.

 

(a)       Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless the Company has, or has caused to be, given or sent notice of redemption of all the Notes as described in Section 3.07 of the Indenture, each Holder may require the Company to purchase such Holder’s Notes in whole or in part in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, at a purchase price in cash in an amount equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the rights of Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), pursuant to a Change of Control Offer in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

(b)       Under certain circumstances described in the Indenture, the Company will be required to apply the proceeds of Asset Sales to the repurchase of the Notes of Holders electing repurchase thereof pursuant to a Prepayment Offer.

 

A-7

 

 

8. Selection and Notice of Redemption. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected in the manner specified in the Indenture. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that Note will state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of any Note surrendered for redemption will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the surrendered Note. Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption, unless the redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent and the date of redemption is delayed, or the notice of redemption is rescinded (and the redemption of Notes cancelled), as described in Section 3.03(c) of the Indenture. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption unless the Company defaults in making the redemption payment.

 

9. Guarantees. The payment by the Company of the principal of and premium and interest on the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

 

10. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

11. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

12. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented, and compliance with the provisions thereof waived, only as provided in the Indenture.

 

A-8

 

 

13. Defaults and Remedies. In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization specified in the Indenture with respect to the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on all Notes to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders) and upon any such declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable immediately. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all outstanding Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default under the Indenture and its consequences under the Indenture except a Default or Event of Default (1) in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note (which may only be waived with the consent of each Holder affected) or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected by such modification or amendment. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power conferred on it. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company is required upon certain Officers becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

14. Trustee Dealings with the Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

15. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes are subject to defeasance and discharge upon the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.

 

16. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, member, limited partner or stockholder of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries under the Notes, the Indenture or the Guarantees to which they are a party, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

17. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

18. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

A-9

 

 

19. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

20. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

21. Successors. In the event a successor assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture (except in case of a lease) pursuant to the terms thereof, the Company will be released from all such obligations.

 

The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture unless the Company has posted a copy of the Indenture on the Company Website with access to current and prospective investors. Requests may be made to:

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

15 West Sixth Street

Suite 900

Tulsa, OK 74119

Facsimile:   (918) 513-4571

Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

 

A-10

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:  
  (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint                    

 

to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date: _____________

 

  Your Signature:  
    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 

* Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

A-11

 

 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.11 or Section 4.17 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

[ ] Section 4.11   [ ] Section 4.17

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.11 or Section 4.17 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$ ________________

 

Date: _____________

 

  Your Signature:  
    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

  Tax Identification No.:  

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 

* Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

A-12

 

 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE1

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of Decrease
in Principal Amount
of this Global Note

 

Amount of Increase in
Principal Amount of
this Global Note

 

Principal Amount of this
Global Note Following
such Decrease (or
Increase)

             
             

 

 

1 Include only on Global Note.

 

A-13

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

15 West Sixth Street

Suite 900

Tulsa, OK 74119

Facsimile: (918) 513-4571

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Corporate Trust – DAPS REORG

600 Fourth Street South, 7th Floor

MAC N9300-070

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Facsimile: (866) 969-1290

Email: dapsreorg@wellsfargo.com

 

Re:     7.75% Senior Notes due 2029

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

___________________ (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to ___________________________ (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

 

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

 

¨                            1.         Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Definitive Note Pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

B-1 

 

 

¨                            2.         Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) for purposes of Rule 904 under the Securities Act, the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an initial purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

¨                            3.         Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in a Definitive Note or Global Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

 

(a)        ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

 

or

 

(b)        ¨ such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

 

or

 

(c)        ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

 

B-2 

 

 

¨                            4.         Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.

 

(a)        ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(b)        ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(c)        ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

   
  [Insert Name of Transferor]
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
Dated:______________    

 

B-3 

 

 

ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.       The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

 

[CHECK ONE OF (A) OR (B)]

 

¨ (A) a beneficial interest in the:
       
    (i)   144A Global Note (CUSIP __________); or
       
    (ii)  Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP __________); or
       
¨ (B) a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

2.       After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

¨ (A) a beneficial interest in the:
       
    (i)  144A Global Note (CUSIP __________); or
       
    (ii)    Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP __________); or
       
    (iii)   Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP___________); or
       
¨ (B) a Restricted Definitive Note; or
       
¨ (C) an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

 

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-4 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

15 West Sixth Street

Suite 900

Tulsa, OK 74119

Facsimile: (918) 513-4571

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Corporate Trust – DAPS REORG

600 Fourth Street South, 7th Floor

MAC N9300-070

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Facsimile: (866) 969-1290

Email: dapsreorg@wellsfargo.com

 

Re: 7.75% Senior Notes due 2029

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

__________________________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

 

1.          Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

 

(a)        ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1 

 

 

(b)        ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(c)        ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(d)        ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

2.          Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

 

(a)        ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

C-2 

 

 

(b)        ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ¨ 144A Global Note, ¨ Regulation S Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

   
  [Insert Name of Transferor]
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
Dated:______________    

 

C-3 

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Form of Supplemental Indenture to add a Guarantor]

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of                , among Laredo Petroleum, Inc. (the “Company”), the Company’s subsidiaries listed on Schedule A hereto (each, a “New Guarantor”), the Company’s subsidiaries listed on Schedule B hereto (collectively the “Existing Guarantors”) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee are parties to an indenture dated July 16, 2021 (the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.01 of the Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Existing Guarantors, when authorized by a Board Resolution of the Company, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may supplement or amend the Indenture to add a Guarantor or additional obligor under the Indenture or permit any Person to guarantee the Notes and/or obligations under the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, each New Guarantor wishes to guarantee the Notes pursuant to the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4.12 and Article Ten of the Indenture, the Company, the Existing Guarantors, the New Guarantors and the Trustee have agreed to enter into this Supplemental Indenture for the purposes stated herein; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make this Supplemental Indenture, when executed and delivered by the Company, the Existing Guarantors and each New Guarantor, the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, the Existing Guarantors and each New Guarantor, in accordance with its terms.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2. Guarantee. Each New Guarantor hereby guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis, to each Holder of a Note and to the Trustee, the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to the terms and conditions of Article Ten of the Indenture (each such guarantee, a “Guarantee”) and such New Guarantor agrees to be bound as a Guarantor under the Indenture as if and to the same extent as such New Guarantor had been a signatory thereto as an Initial Guarantor; provided that the New Guarantor can be released from its Guarantee to the same extent as any other Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

D-1 

 

 

Section 3. GOVERNING LAW. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 4. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture, but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability and binding effect of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 5. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 6. The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company, Existing Guarantors and the New Guarantors.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

D-2 

 

 

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

 

  LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  EACH GUARANTOR LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  EACH GUARANTOR LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as Trustee
     
  By:  
    Authorized Signatory

 

D-3 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

$400,000,000

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

7.7500% Senior Notes due 2029

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

July 13, 2021

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
As Representative of the several Initial Purchasers
named in Schedule A attached hereto

 

c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

500 West 33rd Street, 14th Floor

New York, New York 10001

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Introductory. Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several initial purchasers (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”) named in Schedule A attached to this purchase agreement (this “Agreement”), acting severally and not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in such Schedule A of $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7.750% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”). Wells Fargo Securities, LLC has agreed to act as the representative of the Initial Purchasers (the “Representative”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes. The Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (as defined below) will be unconditionally guaranteed by (i) Laredo Midstream Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Laredo Midstream”), and Garden City Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Garden City” and collectively with Laredo Midstream, the “Initial Guarantors”), and (ii) any subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the Closing Date (as defined below) that executes a supplemental indenture in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the “Guarantors”), pursuant to their guarantees (the “Guarantees”). The Company and the Initial Guarantors are collectively referred to herein as the “Laredo Parties.” The Notes and the Guarantees related thereto are herein collectively referred to as the “Securities.”

 

The Securities will have terms and provisions that are summarized in the Pricing Disclosure Package (as defined below) as of the Time of Sale (as defined below) and the Final Offering Memorandum (as defined below) dated as of the date hereof. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of the Closing Date (the “Indenture”), among the Company, as the issuer of the Notes, the Initial Guarantors, as the guarantors of the Notes, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). This Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture are each referred to herein individually as a “Debt Document” and collectively as the “Debt Documents.”

 

 

The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Securities on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and in the Pricing Disclosure Package and agree that the Initial Purchasers may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a portion of the Securities to purchasers (the “Subsequent Purchasers”) on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package (the first time when sales of the Securities are made is referred to as the “Time of Sale”). The Securities are to be offered and sold to or through the Initial Purchasers without being registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the “Securities Act,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder), in reliance upon exemptions provided by Section 4(a)(2) therefrom solely to (i) persons whom the Initial Purchasers reasonably believe to be “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) and (ii) in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”) (collectively, the “Exempt Resales”). Those persons specified in clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph are referred to in this Agreement as “Eligible Purchasers.”

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, investors who acquire Securities shall be deemed to have agreed that Securities may only be resold or otherwise transferred, after the date hereof, if such Securities are registered for sale under the Securities Act or if an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available (including the exemptions afforded by Rule 144A or Regulation S).

 

The Company has prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser copies of a preliminary offering memorandum, dated July 12, 2021 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”), and has prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser copies of a Pricing Term Sheet, dated July 13, 2021, substantially in the form of Annex A (the “Pricing Term Sheet”), describing the terms of the Securities, each for use by such Initial Purchaser in connection with its solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities. The Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Pricing Term Sheet are herein referred to as the “Pricing Disclosure Package.” Promptly after this Agreement is executed and delivered, the Company will prepare and deliver to each Initial Purchaser a final offering memorandum dated the date hereof (the “Final Offering Memorandum”).

 

All references herein to the terms “Pricing Disclosure Package” and “Final Offering Memorandum” shall be deemed to mean and include all information filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder) prior to the Time of Sale and incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package (including the Preliminary Offering Memorandum) or the Final Offering Memorandum (as the case may be), and all references herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Final Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to mean and include all information filed under the Exchange Act after the Time of Sale and incorporated by reference in the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

2

 

Each of the Laredo Parties hereby confirms its agreement with the Initial Purchasers as follows:

 

SECTION 1.           Representations and Warranties. Each of the Laredo Parties, jointly and severally, hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Initial Purchaser that, as of the date hereof:

 

(a)               No Registration Required. Subject to compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 hereof and with the applicable procedures set forth in Section 4 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers and to each Subsequent Purchaser in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum to register the Securities under the Securities Act or to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder).

 

(b)               No Integration of Offerings or General Solicitation. None of the Laredo Parties, their affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act) (each, an “Affiliate”), or any person acting on any of their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Laredo Parties make no representation or warranty) has, directly or indirectly, solicited any offer to buy or offered to sell, or will, directly or indirectly, solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell, in the United States or to any United States citizen or resident, any security which is or would be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the Securities to be registered under the Securities Act. None of the Laredo Parties, their Affiliates, or any person acting on any of their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Laredo Parties make no representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage, in connection with the offering of the Securities, in any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. With respect to those Securities sold in reliance upon Regulation S, (i) none of the Laredo Parties, their Affiliates or any person acting on their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Laredo Parties make no representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S and (ii) each of the Laredo Parties and their Affiliates and any person acting on their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Laredo Parties make no representation or warranty) have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions set forth in Regulation S.

 

(c)               Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A. The Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A and will not be, at the Closing Date, of the same class as securities listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated interdealer quotation system.

 

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(d)               The Pricing Disclosure Package and Offering Memorandum. The Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Time of Sale, did not, and the Final Offering Memorandum, as of its date or (as amended or supplemented in accordance with Section 3(a), as applicable) as of the Closing Date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Initial Purchaser through the Representative expressly for use in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto, as the case may be. The Pricing Disclosure Package contains, and the Final Offering Memorandum will contain, all the information specified in, and meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A. The Laredo Parties have not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Initial Purchasers’ distribution of the Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(e)               Company Additional Written Communications. None of the Laredo Parties nor any of their agents and representatives has prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or distributed and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or distribute any written communication that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities other than (i) the Pricing Disclosure Package, (ii) the Final Offering Memorandum and (iii) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case used in accordance with Section 3(a) herein. Each such communication by the Laredo Parties or their agents and representatives pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence (each, a “Company Additional Written Communication”), when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, did not as of the Time of Sale, and will not at the Closing Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements in or omissions from each such Company Additional Written Communication made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Initial Purchaser through the Representative expressly for use in any Company Additional Written Communication.

 

(f)                Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Final Offering Memorandum at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission (collectively, the “Incorporated Documents”) complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Each such Incorporated Document, when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, did not as of the Time of Sale, and, when taken together with the Final Offering Memorandum (as amended and/or supplemented in accordance with Section 3(a), as applicable), at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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(g)               Financial Statements. The historical financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum and the historical financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of any other entities or businesses (including Sabalo Energy, LLC (“Sabalo”)) included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and any such entities or businesses as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein. All disclosures contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. All other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. The pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidance with respect to pro forma financial information, and the assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable and are set forth in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(h)               Organization and Good Standing. The Laredo Parties have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Laredo Parties taken as a whole or on the performance by Laredo Parties of their respective obligations under the Debt Documents (as defined below) (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, association or other entity, other than the subsidiaries and other entities listed in Schedule B to this Agreement.

 

(i)                 Due Authorization. Each of the Laredo Parties has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Indenture and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been duly and validly taken.

 

(j)                 Purchase Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Laredo Parties.

 

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(k)               Authorization of the Notes. The Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale to the Initial Purchasers as part of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement and, when executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to the Initial Purchasers against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will have been validly issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(l)                Authorization of the Guarantees. The Guarantees have been duly and validly authorized by the Guarantors for issuance and sale to the Initial Purchasers as part of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement and, when the Notes are duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to the Initial Purchasers against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, the Guarantees will have been validly issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantors entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(m)              Authorization of the Indenture. As of the Closing Date, the Indenture will (i) be duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Laredo Parties and (ii) assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee, constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Laredo Parties, enforceable against each of the Laredo Parties in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(n)               Description of the Debt Documents. Each Debt Document that is described in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum conforms or will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(o)               No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company (other than the issuance of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum), short-term debt or long-term debt of the Laredo Parties (other than immaterial changes), or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Laredo Parties taken as a whole; (ii) none of the Laredo Parties has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Laredo Parties taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Laredo Parties taken as a whole; and (iii) none of the Laredo Parties has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Laredo Parties taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

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(p)               No Violation or Default. None the Laredo Parties is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Laredo Parties is a party or by which any of the Laredo Parties is bound or to which any of the property or assets of any of the Laredo Parties is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)               No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Laredo Parties of the each of the Debt Documents to which each such Laredo Entity is a party thereto and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Debt Documents, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of any of the Laredo Parties pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Laredo Parties is a party or by which any of the Laredo Parties is bound or to which any of the property or assets of any of the Laredo Parties is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of any of the Laredo Parties or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that has been consented to or waived in writing prior to the date hereof or would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(r)                No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority (each, a “Consent”) is required in connection with (i) the offering, issuance and sale by the Laredo Parties of the Securities, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance by the Laredo Parties of the Debt Documents, (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Debt Documents, or (iv) the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum, except for such Consents (A) required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers, (B) that have been, or prior to the Closing Date, will be, obtained, or (C) that, if not obtained, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(s)               Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which any of the Laredo Parties is a party or to which any property of any of the Laredo Parties is the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Laredo Parties, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; to the knowledge of the Laredo Parties, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in a registration statement on Form S-1 that are not so described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be described or incorporated by reference in a registration statement on Form S-1 that are not so described or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(t)                Solvency. On and immediately after the Closing Date, each of the Company and the Guarantors (after giving effect to the issuance of the Securities (and the Guarantees) and the other transactions related thereto as described in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum) will be Solvent. As used in this paragraph, the term “Solvent” means, with respect to a particular date and entity, that on such date (i) the present fair market value (or present fair saleable value) of the assets of such entity is not less than the total amount required to pay the liabilities of such entity on its total existing debts and liabilities (including contingent liabilities) as they become absolute and matured; (ii) such entity is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and commitments as they mature and become due in the normal course of business; (iii) assuming consummation of the issuance of the Securities (and the Guarantees) as contemplated by this Agreement Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, such entity is not incurring debts or liabilities beyond its ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; (iv) such entity is not engaged in any business or transaction, and does not propose to engage in any business or transaction, for which its property would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which such entity is engaged; and (v) such entity is not a defendant in any civil action that would result in a judgment that such entity is or would become unable to satisfy.

 

(u)               Independent Accountants. Grant Thornton LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Laredo Parties within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act. Tranbarger FHK, PLLC, who has certified certain financial statements of Sabalo, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to Sabalo within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

 

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(v)               Independent Reserve Engineers. Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (“Ryder Scott”), who has prepared the reserve reports and estimates of proved reserves disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, has represented to the Company that they are, and the Company believes them to be, independent reserve engineers with respect to the Laredo Parties within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and as required by the Securities Act for the periods set forth in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum. W.D. Von Gonten & Co. (“Von Gonten”), who has prepared the reserve reports and estimates of proved reserves disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, has represented to Sabalo that they are, and Sabalo believes them to be, independent reserve engineers with respect to Sabalo within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and as required by the Securities Act for the periods set forth in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(w)              Information Underlying Reserve Reports. (i) The oil and natural gas proved reserve estimates of the Company and its subsidiaries contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum are derived from reports that have been prepared by Ryder Scott and (ii) the oil and natural gas proved reserve estimates of Sabalo contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum are derived from reports that have been prepared by Van Gonten, and such estimates fairly reflect, in all material respects, the oil and natural gas proved reserves attributable to the Company and its subsidiaries and Sabalo, respectively, at the dates indicated therein and are prepared in accordance, in all material respects, with Commission guidelines applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. Nothing has come to the attention of any of the Laredo Parties which would cause the Company or Sabalo to revise downward by any material amount the oil and natural gas proved reserve estimates of the Company and its subsidiaries or Sabalo contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(x)               Title to Real and Personal Property. The Laredo Parties have good and marketable title in fee simple (in the case of real property) to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Laredo Parties, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Laredo Parties, (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) exist pursuant to that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2017, among the Company, as borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the other financial institutions signatory thereto (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”).

 

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(y)               Title to Oil and Gas Properties. Each of the Laredo Parties has good and defensible title to all of its oil and gas properties in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except (i) such as are described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, (ii) such as are permitted under the Credit Agreement, or (iii) such as do not materially affect the value of the properties and do not materially interfere with the use of the properties of the Laredo Parties taken as a whole; and all of the leases and subleases under which any of the Laredo Parties holds or uses properties described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum are in full force and effect, with such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of the Laredo Parties has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of any of the Laredo Parties under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of any of the Laredo Parties thereof to the continued possession or use of the leased or subleased premises, except for such claims that, if successfully asserted, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that the enforceability of such leases and subleases, as the case may be, may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(z)               Rights-of-Way. The Laredo Parties have such consents, easements, rights-of-way or licenses from any person (“rights-of-way”) as are necessary to enable the Laredo Parties to conduct their respective businesses in the manner described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, except for such rights-of-way the failure of which to obtain would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The rights-of-way owned by the Laredo Parties are subject only to such qualifications, reservations and encumbrances as may be set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(aa)             Title to Intellectual Property. The Laredo Parties own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted and as disclosed in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Memorandum, and the conduct of their respective businesses will not conflict in any material respect with any such rights of others. Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, the Laredo Parties have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with the asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing, which if the subject of an unfavorable decision or ruling, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(bb)           No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Laredo Parties, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of any of the Laredo Parties, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in a registration statement on Form S-1 that is not so described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(cc)            Investment Company Act. None of the Laredo Parties is, and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum and the application of the net proceeds thereof as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum, none of the Laredo Parties will be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

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(dd)           Taxes. The Laredo Parties have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, there is no material tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against any of the Laredo Parties or any of their respective properties or assets.

 

(ee)            Licenses and Permits. The Laredo Parties possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, none of the Laredo Parties has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization.

 

(ff)             No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of any of the Laredo Parties exists or, to the knowledge of the Laredo Parties, is contemplated or threatened, and none of the Laredo Parties are aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of their respective principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(gg)           Compliance with and Liability under Environmental Laws. (i) The Laredo Parties (a) are, and at all prior times were, in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and the common law relating to pollution or the protection of the environment, natural resources or human health or safety, including those relating to the generation, storage, treatment, use, handling, transportation, Release (as defined below) or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials (as defined below) (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (b) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, (c) have not received written notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, (d) are not conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law at any location, and (e) are not a party to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Law, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to any of the Laredo Parties, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such failure to comply, or failure to receive required permits, licenses, certificates or approvals, or cost or liability, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, (a) there are no proceedings that are pending, or that are known to be contemplated, against any of the Laredo Parties under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (b) the Laredo Parties are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws, including the Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) none of the Laredo Parties anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.

 

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(hh)           Hazardous Materials. There has been no storage, generation, transportation, use, handling, treatment, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials by, relating to or caused by any of the Laredo Parties (or, to the knowledge of the Laredo Parties, any other entity (including any predecessor) for whose acts or omissions any of the Laredo Parties is or could reasonably be expected to be liable) at, on, under or from any property or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by any of the Laredo Parties, or at, on, under or from any other property or facility, in violation of any Environmental Laws or in a manner or amount or to a location that could reasonably be expected to result in any liability under any Environmental Law, except for any violation or liability which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. “Hazardous Materials” means any material, chemical, substance, waste, pollutant, contaminant, compound, mixture, or constituent thereof, in any form or amount, including petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) and petroleum products, natural gas liquids, asbestos and asbestos containing materials, naturally occurring radioactive materials and brine, which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law. “Release” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing, or migrating in, into or through the environment, or in, into from or through any building or structure.

 

(ii)              Compliance with ERISA. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, except for noncompliance that has not resulted in or could not reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company or its subsidiaries; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption, that has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Laredo Parties; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, as applicable, has been satisfied (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and is reasonably expected to be satisfied in the future (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period); (iv) except as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, the fair market value of the assets of each Plan that is required to be funded by applicable law exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that either has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in material liability to the Laredo Parties; and (vi) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

 

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(jj)              Disclosure Controls. The Laredo Parties maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (to the extent required by and as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act, as applicable, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management of the Laredo Parties as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

 

(kk)            Accounting Controls. The Laredo Parties maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including policies and procedures that provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. There are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (x) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Laredo Parties’ collective ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Laredo Parties’ internal controls over financial reporting.

 

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(ll)              eXtensible Business Reporting Language. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(mm)          Insurance. The Laredo Parties have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are reasonably adequate to protect them and their businesses in a manner consistent with other businesses similarly situated; and none of the Laredo Parties has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

 

(nn)           No Unlawful Payments. None of the Laredo Parties nor, to the knowledge of the Laredo Parties, any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any agent, affiliate, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Laredo Parties has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offense under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

 

(oo)           Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Laredo Parties are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, 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 action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any of the Laredo Parties with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Laredo Parties, threatened.

 

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(pp)           No Conflicts with Sanctions Law. None of the Laredo Parties nor, to the knowledge of the Laredo Parties, any director, officer or employee of any of the Laredo Parties nor, to the knowledge of the Laredo Parties, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any of the Laredo Parties is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the Swiss Secretariat of Economic Affairs, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Monetary Authority of Singapore or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is any Laredo Party located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Crimea (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and none of the Laredo Parties will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as initial purchaser, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, and are not now knowingly engaged in and will not knowingly engage in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with or in any Sanctioned Country.

 

(qq)           No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except for such prohibitions as exist pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any indenture that is incorporated by reference into the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum or as are otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(rr)             No Broker’s Fees. None of the Laredo Parties is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of the Laredo Parties or the Initial Purchasers for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment to any person other than the Initial Purchasers and their respective affiliates in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

 

(ss)            No Stabilization. The Laredo Parties have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

 

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(tt)             Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

(uu)           Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Laredo Parties that has caused any of the Laredo Parties to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

(vv)           Sarbanes-Oxley Act. To the extent applicable to the Laredo Parties on the date hereof, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Laredo Parties or, to the knowledge of the Laredo Parties, any of the directors or officers of the Laredo Parties, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

 

(ww)          Cybersecurity. Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, (a) (i) to the knowledge of the Laredo Parties, there has been no material security breach or incident, or other compromise of or relating to any of the Laredo Parties’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and data-bases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained, processed or stored by the Company and its subsidiaries, and any such data processed or stored by third parties on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) and (ii) the Laredo Parties have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data; (b) the Laredo Parties are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except as, in the case of this clause (b), would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) the Laredo Parties have implemented appropriate controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards.

 

(xx)            Regulations T, U, X. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any agent thereof acting on their behalf has taken, and none of them will take, any action that might cause this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Securities to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Laredo Parties and delivered to the Initial Purchasers or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Laredo Parties to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters set forth therein.

 

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SECTION 2.           Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.

 

(a)              The Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Laredo Parties agree to sell and each of the Initial Purchasers, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Laredo Parties, the principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite that Initial Purchaser’s name in Schedule A hereto at a price equal to 98.500% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any, from July 16, 2021 to the Closing Date, payable on the Closing Date.

 

(b)              The Closing Date. Payment for the Securities shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Laredo Parties (or their representatives) to the Representative, at the offices of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, 1111 Louisiana, Suite 4400, Houston, Texas 77002 at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on July 16, 2021, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representative and the Laredo Parties may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment for the Securities is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

 

(c)              Delivery of the Securities. Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representative for the account of each Initial Purchaser against payment by the several Initial Purchasers through the Representative of the respective aggregate purchase price of the Securities being sold by the Laredo Parties to or upon order of the Company by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Initial Purchaser hereunder. The Laredo Parties shall deliver the Securities through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).

 

(d)              Representations of the Initial Purchasers. Each of the Initial Purchasers, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants that it intends to offer the Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Pricing Disclosure Package. Each of the Initial Purchasers, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Laredo Parties, that such Initial Purchaser: (i) is a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A; (ii) in connection with the Exempt Resales, will sell the Securities only to Eligible Purchasers; and (iii) will not engage in any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902 under the Securities Act, in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

SECTION 3.           Further Agreements of the Laredo Parties. Each of the Laredo Parties further covenants and agrees, jointly and severally, with each Initial Purchaser as follows:

 

(a)              Pricing Term Sheet. The Laredo Parties will prepare the Pricing Term Sheet containing a description of the Securities, substantially in the form of Annex A hereto, and approved by the Representative.

 

(b)              Delivery of Copies. The Laredo Parties will deliver to the Initial Purchasers, without charge, as many copies of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and each Company Additional Written Communication) as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request, and hereby consents to the Initial Purchasers’ use of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers.

 

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(c)              Preparation of Final Offering Memorandum; Representative’s Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements and Company Additional Written Communications. As promptly as practicable following the Time of Sale and in any event not later than the second business day following the date hereof, the Company will prepare and deliver to the Initial Purchasers the Final Offering Memorandum, which shall consist of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum as modified only by the information contained in the Pricing Term Sheet, and hereby consents to the use of such Final Offering Memorandum by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers. Except as provided in Section 3(c) below, the Company will not amend or supplement the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Pricing Term Sheet. The Company will not amend or supplement the Final Offering Memorandum prior to the Closing Date unless each Initial Purchaser shall previously have been furnished a copy of the proposed amendment or supplement at least two business days, or if impractical, a reasonable period of time prior to the proposed use or filing, and shall not have objected to such amendment or supplement. Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving or distributing any Company Additional Written Communication, the Company will furnish to each Initial Purchaser a copy of such written communication for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve or distribute any such written communication to which any Initial Purchaser reasonably objects.

 

(d)              Ongoing Compliance. (1) If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum is delivered to a Subsequent Purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum to comply with law, the Laredo Parties will immediately notify the Representative thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (b) above, furnish to the Initial Purchasers such amendments or supplements to any of the Pricing Disclosure Package (including any information to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a Subsequent Purchaser (including such information to be incorporated by reference therein), be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law and (2) prior to the completion of the placement of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Final Offering Memorandum as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Final Offering Memorandum is delivered to a Subsequent Purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Final Offering Memorandum to comply with law, the Laredo Parties will immediately notify the Representative thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (b) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Representative and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Final Offering Memorandum as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances at the Closing Date and at the time of sale of Notes to the Subsequent Purchasers, be misleading or so that the Final Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

 

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The Company hereby expressly acknowledges that the indemnification and contribution provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof are specifically applicable and relate to each offering memorandum, amendment or supplement referred to in this Section 3.

 

(e)              Blue Sky Compliance. The Laredo Parties will qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities; provided that the Laredo Parties shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject. The Company will advise the Representative promptly of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, each of the Laredo Parties shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

 

(f)               No Stabilization. The Laredo Parties will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

 

(g)              Reports. For a period of two years from the date of this Agreement, so long as the Securities are outstanding, the Laredo Parties will furnish to the Initial Purchasers, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Securities, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Laredo Parties will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Initial Purchasers to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

 

(h)              Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

 

(i)               DTC. The Laredo Parties agree to comply with all terms and conditions of all agreements set forth in the representation letter of the Company to DTC relating to the approval of the Securities by DTC for “book-entry” transfer.

 

(j)               Lock-Up. Until 30 days following the date of hereof, the Laredo Parties will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, directly or indirectly, issue, sell, offer to sell, grant any option for the sale of or otherwise dispose of any debt securities (other than the Notes and bank borrowings) in the same market as the Notes.

 

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(k)              No Integration. The Company agrees that it will not and will cause its Affiliates not to make any offer or sale of securities of the Company or its Affiliates of any class if, as a result of the doctrine of “integration” referred to in Rule 502 under the Securities Act, such offer or sale would render invalid (for the purpose of (i) the sale of the Securities by the Company to the Initial Purchasers, (ii) the resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers or (iii) the resale of the Securities by such Subsequent Purchasers to others) the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof or by Rule 144A or by Regulation S thereunder or otherwise.

 

(l)               No General Solicitation or Directed Selling Efforts. The Company agrees that it will not and will not permit any of its Affiliates or any other person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to which no covenant is given) to (i) solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Securities by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or (ii) engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the Securities within the meaning of Regulation S, and the Company will and will cause all such persons to comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S with respect to the Securities.

 

(m)             No Restricted Resales. The Company will not, for a period of one year commencing on the Closing Date, resell any of the Notes that have been reacquired by it, except for Notes purchased by the Company or any of its affiliates and resold in a transaction registered under the Securities Act.

 

(n)              Legended Notes. Each certificate for a Note will bear the legend contained in “Transfer Restrictions” in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum for the time period and upon the other terms stated in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.

 

The Representative, on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers, may, in its sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Laredo Parties of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.

 

SECTION 4.           Offer, Sale and Resale Procedures. Each of the Initial Purchasers, on the one hand, and the Laredo Parties, on the other hand, hereby agree to observe the following procedures in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities:

 

(a)              Offers and sales of the Securities will be made only by the Initial Purchasers or Affiliates thereof qualified to do so in the jurisdictions in which such offers or sales are made. Each such offer or sale shall only be made to Eligible Purchasers.

 

(b)             No general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act) will be used in the United States in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

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(c)           Upon original issuance by the Company, and until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Company shall ensure that the Notes (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof), shall bear the following legend:

 

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUERS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME OR BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (OTHER THAN PURSUANT TO RULE 144), SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.”

 

Following the sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers pursuant to the terms hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall not be liable or responsible to the Company for any losses, damages or liabilities suffered or incurred by the Company, including any losses, damages or liabilities under the Securities Act, arising from or relating to any resale or transfer of any Security.

 

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SECTION 5.        Payment of Expenses.

 

(a)           Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, each of the Laredo Parties jointly and severally agree to pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation and printing of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Term Sheet and the Final Offering Memorandum (including all amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities under the state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Initial Purchasers); (v) the costs of the production and distribution of this Agreement, the Indenture, any supplemental agreement among the Initial Purchasers and any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (vii) any fees required to be paid to rating agencies in connection with the rating of the Notes; (viii) the fees, costs and expenses of the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of a counsel to such parties); (ix) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing, if any, with FINRA, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Initial Purchasers in an amount not to exceed $15,000; and (x) all costs and expenses of the officers and employees of the Laredo Parties and any other expenses of the Laredo Parties relating to any investor or “road show” presentations in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities, including, without limitation, any travel expenses of the officers and employees of the Laredo Parties and any other expenses of the Laredo Parties.

 

(b)           If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8 or (ii) the Laredo Parties for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Initial Purchasers, the Laredo Parties agree to reimburse the Initial Purchasers for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.

 

SECTION 6.        Conditions of the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers. The obligations of the several Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date shall be subject to the timely performance by the Laredo Parties of their covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

 

(a)           Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Laredo Parties contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Laredo Parties and their respective officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

 

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(b)           No Downgrade. If there are any debt securities or preferred stock of, or guaranteed by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any such debt securities or preferred stock and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

 

(c)           No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 1(o) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Final Offering Memorandum (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representative makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(d)           Officer’s Certificates. The Initial Purchasers shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Laredo Parties who is satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers (A) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations of the Laredo Parties set forth in Sections 1(c) and 1(e) hereof are true and correct, (B) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Laredo Parties in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Laredo Parties have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, and (C) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) above.

 

(e)           Chief Financial Officer Certificates. The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the date of the Time of Sale and on the Closing Date, certificates dated the date of the Time of Sale and Closing Date, respectively, and signed by the chief financial officer of the company, certifying as to certain financial data contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, as applicable, and providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.

 

(f)            Auditor Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, each of Grant Thornton LLP and Tranbarger FHK, PLLC shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to initial purchasers with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(g)           Reserve Engineer Confirmation Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, each of Ryder Scott and Von Gonten shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in reserve engineers’ “confirmation letters” to initial purchasers with respect to the reserve reports, estimates of proved reserves and other reserve information contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

(h)           Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P., counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, to the effect set forth in Annex B-1 hereto.

 

(i)            Opinion of General Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, Mark D. Denny, General Counsel of the Company, shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers, a written opinion, dated the Closing Date, and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, to the effect set forth in Annex B-2 hereto.

 

(j)            Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers. The Initial Purchasers shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Paul Hastings LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, with respect to such matters as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

(k)           No Legal Impediment to Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the sale of the Securities.

 

(l)            Good Standing. The Initial Purchasers shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Laredo Parties in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

 

(m)          Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date the Laredo Parties shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers such further certificates and documents as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request.

 

(n)           DTC. The Securities shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

 

If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Sections 5 and 7 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

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SECTION 7.        Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)           Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers by the Laredo Parties. The Laredo Parties each agree jointly and severally to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, the affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Term Sheet, any Company Additional Written Communication, the Final Offering Memorandum or any other information used by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the offer or sale of the Notes (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company in writing by the Initial Purchasers expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Initial Purchasers consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

 

(b)           Indemnification of the Laredo Parties. Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Laredo Parties, their respective directors, officers and each person, if any, who controls the Laredo Parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to the Initial Purchasers furnished to the Company in writing by any Initial Purchaser expressly for use in any Pricing Disclosure Package or Final Offering Memorandum (including any Pricing Disclosure Package or Final Offering Memorandum that has subsequently been amended), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by the Initial Purchasers consists of the following information furnished on behalf of the Initial Purchasers and set forth under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Final Offering Memorandum: (i) the information set forth in the table in the first paragraph, and (ii) the statements set forth in the fifth paragraph, third sentence in the seventh paragraph and first and second sentences of the eighth paragraph.

 

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(c)           Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Initial Purchasers, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of the Initial Purchasers shall be designated in writing by the Representative; any such separate firm for the Laredo Parties, their respective directors, officers and any control persons of the Laredo Parties shall be designated in writing by the Laredo Parties. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

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(d)          Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Laredo Parties, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Laredo Parties, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Laredo Parties, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Laredo Parties from the sale of the Securities and the total discount received by the Initial Purchasers in connection therewith bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Laredo Parties, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Laredo Parties or by the Initial Purchasers and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(e)           Limitation on Liability. The Laredo Parties and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall any Initial Purchaser be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the discount received by such Initial Purchaser with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Initial Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Initial Purchasers’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule A.

 

(f)            Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

 

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SECTION 8.        Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice to the Laredo Parties, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Laredo Parties shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in securities settlement or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representative, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

 

SECTION 9.         Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Laredo Parties, their respective officers and the several Initial Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser, the Laredo Parties or any of their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 10.      Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Initial Purchasers shall be given to the Representative at Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 500 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, fax no. (212) 214-5918, Attention: High Yield Legal Department. Notices to the Laredo Parties shall be given to the Company at 15 W. Sixth Street, Suite 900, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119, Attention: Michael T. Beyer, Fax: (918) 513-4571.

 

Any party hereto may change the address or facsimile number for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

 

SECTION 11.      Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, and to the benefit of the indemnified parties referred to in Section 7 and their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

SECTION 12.      Authority of the Representative. Any action by the Initial Purchasers hereunder may be taken by the Representative on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, and any such action taken by the Representative shall be binding upon the Representative.

 

SECTION 13.      Effectiveness of the Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

 

SECTION 14.       Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

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SECTION 15.      Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

SECTION 16.      Default of One or More of the Several Initial Purchasers. If any one or more of the several Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on the Closing Date, and the aggregate number of Securities which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Initial Purchasers shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of Securities set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate number of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Initial Purchasers with the consent of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase on the Closing Date. If any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the aggregate number of Securities with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and the Laredo Parties for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5 and 7 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Initial Purchasers or the Laredo Parties shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Final Offering Memorandum or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

 

SECTION 17.      No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. Each of the Laredo Parties acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Laredo Parties, on the one hand, and the several Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the Laredo Parties are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Initial Purchaser is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Laredo Parties or their respective affiliates, equityholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Initial Purchaser has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Laredo Parties with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Initial Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Laredo Parties on other matters) or any other obligation to the Laredo Parties except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Initial Purchasers and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Laredo Parties, and the several Initial Purchasers have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any fiduciary or advisory relationship; and (v) the Initial Purchasers have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby, and the Laredo Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate.

 

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This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Laredo Parties and the several Initial Purchasers, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Laredo Parties hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that Laredo Parties may have against the several Initial Purchasers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.

 

SECTION 18.      PATRIOT Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Initial Purchasers are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Laredo Parties, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Initial Purchasers to properly identify their respective clients.

 

SECTION 19.      Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

 

(a)           In the event that any Initial Purchaser that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Initial Purchaser of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

(b)           In the event that any Initial Purchaser that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Initial Purchaser becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Initial Purchaser are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

For purposes of this Section 19:

 

BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

 

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(i)a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii)a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii)a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

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

 

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

SECTION 20.       General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission (e.g., a “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Laredo Parties the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,

 

  Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
   
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
    Name: Bryan Lemmerman
    Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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  Laredo Midstream Services, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
    Name: Bryan Lemmerman
    Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

  Garden City Minerals, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Bryan J. Lemmerman
    Name: Bryan Lemmerman
    Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to the Purchase Agreement

 

 

 

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC  
for itself and on behalf of the several
Initial Purchasers named in Schedule A hereto
 
   
By: /s/ Rob McLean  
  Name: Rob McLean  
  Title: Director  

 

Signature Page to the Purchase Agreement

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Initial Purchasers  Aggregate
Principal Amount
of Notes to be
Purchased
 
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC  $140,000,000 
BofA Securities, Inc.  $44,000,000 
Capital One Securities, Inc.  $28,000,000 
PNC Capital Markets LLC  $28,000,000 
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.  $28,000,000 
Truist Securities, Inc.  $28,000,000 
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.  $28,000,000 
WoodRock Securities, L.P.  $28,000,000 
Mizuho Securities USA LLC  $28,000,000 
Comerica Securities, Inc.  $10,000,000 
Zions Direct, Inc.  $10,000,000 
      
Total  $400,000,000 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

Subsidiaries and Other Entities of the Company

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiaries

 

Laredo Midstream Services, LLC

Garden City Minerals, LLC

 

 

 

 

ANNEX A

 

Pricing Term Sheet

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.

$400,000,000 7.750% Senior Notes due 2029

 

This Pricing Term Sheet is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum dated July 12, 2021 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”) of Laredo Petroleum, Inc. The information in this Pricing Term Sheet supplements the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum to the extent inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum. Terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings assigned in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.

 

The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction. The Notes may be offered only in transactions that are exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the Notes are being offered only to (1) persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act and (2) outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

 

Issuer: Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
Guarantors: Certain of the issuer’s current and future domestic restricted subsidiaries will, subject to certain customary exceptions, fully and unconditionally guarantee, jointly and severally, the notes so long as each such entity guarantees or becomes an obligor of our senior secured credit facility or other debt of the issuer or any restricted subsidiary of the issuer, in each case, in excess of $10 million.  Not all of the issuer’s future subsidiaries will be required to become guarantors.  If the issuer cannot make payments on the notes when they are due, the guarantors must make them instead.
Ratings (Moody’s / S&P)*: (B3 / B)
Security Type: Senior Unsecured Notes
Form: Rule 144A/Regulation S for life
Pricing (Trade) Date: July 13, 2021

 

Annex  A-1

 

 

Settlement Date:

July 16, 2021

 

We expect that delivery of the notes will be made to investors on or about July 16, 2021, which will be the third business day following the date hereof (such settlement being referred to as “T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes prior to the delivery of the notes hereunder will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially settle in T+3, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes prior to their date of delivery hereunder should consult their advisors.

Net Proceeds (after deducting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses):

$392,000,000

 

Principal Amount: $400,000,000
Maturity Date: July 31, 2029
Interest Payment Dates: January 31 and July 31, commencing January 31, 2022
Record Dates: January 15 and July 15
Coupon: 7.750%
Issue Price: 100.000%, plus accrued interest, if any, from July 16, 2021
Optional Redemption: Prior to July 31, 2024, make-whole call @ T+50 bps then at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage) of principal plus accrued and unpaid interest:

 

  On or after: Price:
July 31, 2024 103.8750%
July 31, 2025 101.9375%
July 31, 2026 and thereafter 100.000%

 

Equity Clawback: Prior to July 31, 2024, up to 35% at 107.750% of principal plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Change of Control: Put at 101.000% of principal plus accrued and unpaid interest.
CUSIP Numbers:

Rule 144A: 516806 AH9

 

Regulation S: U51319 AE8

 

ISIN Numbers:

Rule 144A: US516806AH93

 

Regulation S: USU51319AE89

 

 

*****

 

Lead Joint Book-Running Manager: Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

Joint Book-Running Managers:

BofA Securities, Inc., Capital One Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Truist Securities, Inc. and WoodRock Securities, L.P.

 

Co-Managers: Comerica Securities, Inc. and Zions Direct, Inc.

 

Annex  A-2

 

 

Additional Information:

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

 

The following describes changes to the summary of certain material provisions of the indenture contained in the DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES within the Preliminary Offering Memorandum. Language deleted is in strikethrough, and language added is in bold and underlined.

 

The definition of “Change of Control Triggering Event” on page 67 of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum is modified as follows:

 

Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of (x) both a Change of Control and a Rating Decline or (y) so long as any Existing Senior Notes remain outstanding, the obligation of the Company to make an offer to repurchase as a result of the occurrence of a “Change of Control” pursuant to any of the indentures governing the Existing Senior Notes.

 

*Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. This material is strictly confidential and is for your information only and is not intended to be used by anyone other than you. This material is personal to each offeree and does not constitute an offer to any other person or the public generally to subscribe for or otherwise acquire the Notes.

 

This Pricing Term Sheet supplements the description of the Notes and the offering in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and does not purport to be complete. Please refer to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum for a more complete description.

 

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Notes will be offered and sold to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement.

 

Annex  A-3

 

 

ANNEX B-1

 

FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY

 

 

Annex  B-1-1

 

 

ANNEX B-2

 

FORM OF OPINION OF GENERAL COUNSEL

 

Annex  B-2-1

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

SEVENTH AMENDMENT

 

to

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

among

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.,

as Borrower,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

 

the Guarantors Signatory Hereto,

 

and

 

the Banks Signatory Hereto

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This Seventh Amendment to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (this “Seventh Amendment”), dated as of July 16, 2021 (the “Seventh Amendment Effective Date”), is among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Borrower”); each of the undersigned guarantors (the “Guarantors”, and together with Borrower, the “Credit Parties”); each of the Banks party hereto; and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Banks (in such capacity, together with its successors, “Administrative Agent”).

 

Recitals

 

A.       Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Banks (other than the New Banks (as defined below)) are parties to that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 2, 2017 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the Banks (other than the New Banks) have, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, made certain credit available to and on behalf of Borrower.

 

B.       Borrower and Administrative Agent have requested that KeyBank National Association, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Texas Capital Bank, N.A., and Zions Bancorporation, N.A. (each a “New Bank”, collectively, the “New Banks”) each become a Bank under the Credit Agreement with an Elected Commitment and a Maximum Credit Amount in the amounts as shown for such New Banks on Schedule 1 to the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby).

 

C.       Borrower has advised Administrative Agent that each of ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, BMO Harris Financing, Inc., BOKF, NA dba Bank of Oklahoma, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Societe Generale, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, Houston Branch (each an “Exiting Bank, collectively, the “Exiting Banks”) no longer wishes to be a Bank under the Credit Agreement and has requested that each Exiting Bank’s Elected Commitment and Maximum Credit Amount under the Credit Agreement be reallocated to the Banks (including the New Banks) as shown on Schedule 1 to the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby).

 

D.       The parties hereto desire to enter into this Seventh Amendment to amend the Credit Agreement as set forth herein and to be effective as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

 

E.       NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                Defined Terms. Each capitalized term which is defined in the Credit Agreement, but which is not defined in this Seventh Amendment, shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby). Unless otherwise indicated, all section references in this Seventh Amendment refer to the Credit Agreement.

 

Page 1 

 

 

Section 2.                Amendments to Credit Agreement. In reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Seventh Amendment, and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5 hereof, effective as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date:

 

2.1     The body of the Credit Agreement shall be amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) as set forth in the pages of the Credit Agreement attached as Annex A hereto.

 

2.2     Schedule 1 to the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety in the form of Schedule 1 attached hereto and Schedule 1 attached hereto shall be deemed to be attached as Schedule 1 to the Credit Agreement.

 

2.3     Exhibit M attached hereto is hereby added as Exhibit M to the Credit Agreement and shall be deemed to be attached as Exhibit M to the Credit Agreement.

 

Any Schedule or Exhibit to the Credit Agreement not amended pursuant to the terms of this Seventh Amendment shall remain in effect without any amendment or other modification thereto.

 

Section 3.                Elected Commitments. In reliance on the covenants and agreements contained in this Seventh Amendment, and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5 hereof, each Bank (including the New Banks) hereby agrees that its Elected Commitment under the Credit Agreement effective as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date shall be the amount set forth opposite such Bank’s name on Schedule 1 to the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby) under the caption “Elected Commitment”. Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Banks (including the New Banks) hereby agree that (i) each Bank (including each New Bank) that has outstanding Loans (and participations in Letters of Credit) in amounts less than its Commitment Percentage of all outstanding Loans (and participations in Letters of Credit) shall purchase outstanding Loans (and participations in Letters of Credit) from Banks that have outstanding Loans (and participations in Letters of Credit) in amounts greater than their Commitment Percentage of all outstanding Loans (and participations in Letters of Credit) such that each Bank holds Loans (and participations in Letters of Credit) in its Commitment Percentage of all outstanding Loans (and participations in Letters of Credit), and (ii) the adjustments, if any, in the Aggregate Elected Commitment Amounts pursuant to this Seventh Amendment shall be deemed to occur simultaneously with the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

 

Page 2 

 

 

Section 4.                New Banks. Each New Bank hereby joins in, becomes a party to, and agrees to comply with and be bound by the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement as a Bank thereunder and under each and every other Loan Papers to which any Bank is required to be bound by the Credit Agreement, to the same extent as if the New Bank was an original signatory thereto. Each New Bank hereby appoints and authorizes Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each New Bank represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Seventh Amendment, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Bank under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and copies of the most recent financial statements delivered or deemed delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.1 thereof, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Seventh Amendment and to become a Bank on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Bank, (iii) it satisfies the requirements in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to become a Bank and (d) from and after the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, it shall be a party to and be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Papers and have the rights and obligations of a Bank thereunder.

 

Section 5.                Conditions Precedent. The effectiveness of this Seventh Amendment is subject to the following:

 

5.1    Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Seventh Amendment from the Credit Parties and all of the Banks (including the New Banks and the Exiting Banks).

 

5.2     Administrative Agent shall have received all fees, including fees received on behalf of, and delivered to, the Banks, due and payable on or prior to the Seventh Amendment Effective Date pursuant to the Engagement Letter dated as of July 8, 2021 among Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

 

5.3     Administrative Agent shall have received duly executed Notes payable to each Bank (including each New Bank) requesting a Note (or amendment and restatement thereof, as the case may be) in a principal amount equal to its Maximum Credit Amount (as amended hereby) dated as of the date hereof.

 

5.4     Contemporaneously with the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower shall have issued new Senior Notes under a Senior Indenture in a principal amount not less than $300,000,000.

 

5.5     Administrative Agent and the Banks shall have received a copy of the preliminary offering memorandum, the final offering memorandum and any other material documents relating to the offering of new Senior Notes on the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

 

5.6     Administrative Agent shall have received from each New Bank an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

5.7     On a pro forma basis, Borrower shall have Revolving Availability plus unrestricted and unencumbered cash and Cash Equivalents in an amount not less than $200,000,000.

 

5.8     Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following documents, instruments and agreements, each of which shall be in form and substance and executed in such counterparts as shall be acceptable to Administrative Agent and each of which shall, unless otherwise indicated, be dated the Seventh Amendment Effective Date:

 

(a)               an opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, counsel to Borrower, favorably opining as to such New York and Texas law-matters as Administrative Agent may request, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent;

 

(b)               copies of the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, and all amendments thereto, of Borrower and each other Credit Party accompanied by a certificate that such copy is true, correct and complete issued by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the State of Delaware and accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary or comparable Authorized Officer of Borrower and each other Credit Party that such copy is true, correct and complete as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date;

 

Page 3 

 

 

(c)               copies of the bylaws or limited liability company agreement, and all amendments thereto, of Borrower and each other Credit Party, accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary or comparable Authorized Officer of Borrower and each other Credit Party that each such copy is true, correct and complete as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date;

 

(d)               certain certificates and other documents issued by the appropriate Governmental Authorities of the states of formation and the other states, as applicable, which may be dated prior to the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, relating to the existence of each Credit Party and to the effect that each applicable Credit Party is organized or qualified to do business in such jurisdiction is in good standing with respect to the payment of franchise and similar Taxes and is duly qualified to transact business in such jurisdictions;

 

(e)               a certificate of incumbency of all officers of Borrower and each other Credit Party who will be authorized to execute or attest to any Loan Paper executed by the Secretary or comparable Authorized Officer of Borrower and each other Credit Party; and

 

(f)                copies of resolutions or comparable authorizations and consents approving the Loan Papers and authorizing the transactions contemplated by this Seventh Amendment and the other Loan Papers, duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or similar managing body) of Borrower and each other Credit Party, accompanied by certificates of the Secretary or comparable officer of Borrower and each other Credit Party that such copies are true and correct copies of resolutions duly adopted at a meeting of or (if permitted by applicable Law and, if required by such Law, by the Bylaws, or other charter documents of Borrower and each other Credit Party) by the unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors (or similar managing body) of Borrower and each other Credit Party, and that such resolutions constitute all the resolutions adopted with respect to such transactions, have not been amended, modified, or revoked in any respect, and are in full force and effect as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

 

Section 6.                Representations and Warranties; Etc. Each Credit Party hereby affirms: (a) that as of the date hereof, all of the representations and warranties contained in each Loan Paper to which such Credit Party is a party are true and correct in all material respects as though made on and as of the date hereof except (i) to the extent any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of a specific earlier date, in which case, such representation and warranty was true as of such date and (ii) to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly qualified by materiality or by reference to Material Adverse Effect, such representation and warranty (as so qualified) is true and correct in all respects, (b) no Default or Event of Default exist under the Loan Papers or will, after giving effect to this Seventh Amendment, exist under the Loan Papers and (c) no Material Adverse Change has occurred.

 

Section 7.                Miscellaneous.

 

7.1          Confirmation and Effect. The provisions of the Credit Agreement (as amended by this Seventh Amendment) shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the effectiveness of this Seventh Amendment. Each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof’, “herein”, or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, and each reference to the Credit Agreement in any other document, instrument or agreement executed and/or delivered in connection with the Credit Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

 

Page 4 

 

 

7.2           Ratification and Affirmation of Credit Parties. Each of the Credit Parties hereby expressly (a) acknowledges the terms of this Seventh Amendment, (b) ratifies and affirms its obligations under the Facility Guaranty and the other Loan Papers to which it is a party, (c) acknowledges, renews and extends its continued liability under the Facility Guaranty and the other Loan Papers to which it is a party (in each case, as amended hereby), (d) agrees that its guarantee under the Facility Guaranty and the other Loan Papers (in each case, as amended hereby) to which it is a party remains in full force and effect with respect to the Obligations, as amended hereby, (e) represents and warrants that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Seventh Amendment has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or company action of the Credit Parties, (ii) this Seventh Amendment constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Credit Parties, and (iii) this Seventh Amendment is enforceable against each Credit Party in accordance with its terms except as (A) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (B) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability, and (f) acknowledges and confirms that the amendments contemplated hereby shall not limit or impair any Liens securing the Obligations, each of which are hereby ratified, affirmed and extended to secure the Obligations after giving effect to this Seventh Amendment.

 

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

 

7.4           No Oral Agreement. This written Seventh Amendment, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Papers executed in connection herewith and therewith represent the final agreement between the parties and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or unwritten oral agreements of the parties. There are no subsequent oral agreements between the parties.

 

7.5           Governing Law. This Seventh Amendment (including, but not limited to, the validity and enforceability hereof) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

7.6           Payment of Expenses. Borrower agrees to pay or reimburse Administrative Agent for all of its out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Seventh Amendment, any other documents prepared in connection herewith and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

Page 5 

 

 

7.8          Successors and Assigns. This Seventh Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

7.9           Loan Paper. This Seventh Amendment shall constitute a “Loan Paper” for all purposes under the other Loan Papers.

 

7.10         Waiver of Jury Trial. Section 14.13 of the Credit Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference, mutatis mutandis.

 

7.11        Exiting Banks. By its execution of this Seventh Amendment, each Exiting Bank hereby (a) consents to this Seventh Amendment solely in its capacity as an Exiting Bank, and (b) acknowledges and agrees to Section 3 of this Seventh Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees and confirms that from and after the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, (i) each Exiting Bank shall cease to be a party to the Credit Agreement, (ii) no Exiting Bank shall have any obligations or liabilities under the Credit Agreement and, without limiting the foregoing, no Exiting Bank shall have any Commitment under the Credit Agreement and (iii) no Exiting Bank shall have any rights under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Paper (other than rights under the Credit Agreement expressly stated to survive the termination of such agreement and the repayment of amounts outstanding thereunder, including under Sections 2.1(b), 14.3(b) and 14.5 of the Credit Agreement).

 

[signature pages follow]

 

Page 6 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Seventh Amendment to be duly executed effective as of the date first written above.

 

BORROWER:

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

     
  By: /s/ Bryan Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan Lemmerman
  Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
     
GUARANTORS: LAREDO MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Bryan Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan Lemmerman
  Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
     
     
  GARDEN CITY MINERALS, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Bryan Lemmerman
  Name: Bryan Lemmerman
  Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page To Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended And Restated Credit Agreement

  

 

 

 

 

  WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent and as a Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Muhammad A. Dhamani
  Name: Muhammad A. Dhamani
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
  as a Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Ronald E. McKaig
  Name: Ronald E. McKaig
  Title:    Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Christopher Kuna
  Name:    Christopher Kuna
  Title:     Senior Director

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  BBVA USA,
  as a Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Julia Barnhill
  Name: Julia Barnhill
  Title:    Vice President

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  COMERICA BANK,
  as a Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Garrett R. Merrell
  Name: Garrett R. Merrell
  Title:    Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  TRUIST BANK, formerly known as BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY,
  as a Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ James Giordano
  Name: James Giordano
  Title:    Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  CITIBANK, N.A.,
  as a Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Jarrod Bourgeois
  Name: Jarrod Bourgeois
  Title:    Director
     

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as a New Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Benjamin Brollier
  Name: Benjamin Brollier
  Title:    Vice President

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  MIZUHO BANK, LTD.,
  as a New Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Edward Sacks
  Name: Edward Sacks
  Title:    Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, N.A.,
  as a New Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Quinn Markham
  Name: Quinn Markham
  Title:    Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

  ZIONS BANCORPORATION, N.A. dba
  AMEGY BANK
  as a New Bank
     
     
  By: /s/ Matt Lang
  Name: Matt Lang
  Title:    Vice President - Amegy Bank Division

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 
  ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC,
  as an Exiting Bank
 
  By: /s/ Darrell Holley
  Name: Darrell Holley
  Title: Managing Director
   
  By: /s/ Beth Johnson
  Name: Beth Johnson
  Title: Executive Director

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

  BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
  as an Exiting Bank
   
  By: /s/ Christopher M. Aitkin
  Name: Christopher M. Aitkin
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

  BMO HARRIS FINANCING, INC.,
  as an Exiting Bank
   
  By: /s/ Hill Taylor
  Name: Hill Taylor
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

  BOKF, NA dba BANK OF OKLAHOMA,
  as an Exiting Bank
   
  By: /s/ Tyler Thalken
  Name: Tyler Thalken
  Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

  CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,
  as an Exiting Bank
   
  By: /s/ Nupur Kumar
  Name: Nupur Kumar
  Title: Authorized Signatory
   
  By: /s/ Dan Kogan
  Name:  Dan Kogan
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

  GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
  as an Exiting Bank
   
  By: /s/ Jacob Elder
  Name: Jacob Elder
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

  SOCIETE GENERALE,
  as an Exiting Bank
   
  By: /s/ Roberto Simon
  Name: Roberto Simon
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

  THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, HOUSTON BRANCH,
  as an Exiting Bank
   
  By: /s/ Marc Graham
  Name: Marc Graham
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Seventh Amendment to

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

Bank  Maximum Credit Amount   Elected Commitment   Commitment Percentage 
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.  $248,275,862.07   $90,000,000.00    12.413793103%
Bank of America, N.A.  $226,206,896.54   $82,000,000.00    11.310344828%
BBVA USA  $190,344,827.59   $69,000,000.00    9.517241379%
Capital One, National Association  $190,344,827.59   $69,000,000.00    9.517241379%
Citibank, N.A.  $190,344,827.59   $69,000,000.00    9.517241379%
KeyBank National Association  $190,344,827.59   $69,000,000.00    9.517241379%
Mizuho Bank, Ltd.  $190,344,827.59   $69,000,000.00    9.517241379%
Texas Capital Bank, N.A.  $190,344,827.59   $69,000,000.00    9.517241379%
Truist Bank  $190,344,827.59   $69,000,000.00    9.517241379%
Comerica Bank  $96,551,724.13   $35,000,000.00    4.827586207%
Zions Bancorporation, N.A.  $96,551,724.13   $35,000,000.00    4.827586207%
Totals:  $2,000,000,000.00   $725,000,000.00    100.00%

 

 

 

 

Administrative Agent Address for Notice
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Credit Contact:

1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 1000

Houston, TX 77002

Attn:         Muhammad A. Dhamani

Tel:           512-294-1817

Email: Muhammad.Dhamani@wellsfargo.com

 

Primary Operations Contact:

1525 W WT Harris Blvd, 1st Floor

Charlotte, NC 28262-8522
MAC D1109-019
Attn: Agency Services

Tel:       704-590-2706

Fax:      704-590-2782

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT M

 

FORM OF AVAILABLE FREE CASH FLOW CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned hereby certifies on behalf of Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), that he/she is an Authorized Officer of the Borrower and that as such he/she is authorized to execute this certificate on behalf of the Borrower. With reference to that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 2, 2017 (together with all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, the “Credit Agreement”; each capitalized term used herein having the same meaning given to it in the Credit Agreement unless otherwise specified) among the Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Banks, and the Banks which are or become parties thereto, the undersigned certifies on behalf of the Borrower (and not individually) as follows:

 

(a)       Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating that the amount of Free Cash Flow for the most recent four fiscal quarter period ended prior hereto for which the financial statements have been delivered or deemed delivered for the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Credit Agreement, as applicable, is $[______________].

 

(b)       The amount of Available Free Cash Flow as of the date hereof is $[______________].

 

(c)       The amount of Available Free Cash Flow immediately after giving effect to [the Distributions permitted and made pursuant to Section 9.2(b)][the Redemptions permitted and made pursuant to Section 9.13(a)(i)] of the Credit Agreement on [__________], 20[__] is $[______________].

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED as of the date first written above.

 

  LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.
   
  By:  
  Name:          
  Title:  

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

TO EXHIBIT M

 

FREE CASH FLOW CALCULATIONS

 

[Attached.]

 

 

  

ANNEX A

 

Amended Credit Agreement

 

[See Attached.]

 

 

 

 

Execution Version

 

ANNEX A TO SIXTHSEVENTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

DATED AS OF
MAY 2, 2017

 

AMONG

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.,
AS BORROWER

 

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 HERETO,
AS BANKS,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., BMO HARRIS FINANCING, INC. AS SYNDICATION
AGENT,

 

AND BBVA USA, CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

AS CO-SYNDICATION AGENTS, CITIBANK, N.A., KEYBANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, MIZUHO BANK, LTD.,
TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, N.A.,
SOCIETE GENERALE AND THETRUIST BANK OF
NOVA SCOTIA
,

 

AS CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENTS

 

AND

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORPBOFA
SECURITIES, INC
.,

BBVA USA, CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AND,
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,CITIBANK, N.A.,
KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
MIZUHO BANK, LTD., TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, N.A., AND TRUIST BANK,

 

AS JOINT LEAD ARRANGERS AND JOINT BOOKRUNNERS

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page No.

 

ARTICLE I TERMS DEFINED 1

 

  Section 1.1 Terms Defined Above 1
  Section 1.2 Certain Defined Terms 1
  Section 1.3 Accounting Terms and Determinations 3632
  Section 1.4 Classification of Loans and Borrowings 3732
  Section 1.5 Interpretation 3733
  Section 1.6 Rates 3733
  Section 1.7 Divisions 34

 

ARTICLE II THE CREDIT FACILITIES 3834

 

  Section 2.1 Commitments 3834
  Section 2.2 Method of Borrowing 4250
  Section 2.3 Method of Requesting Letters of Credit 4351
  Section 2.4 Notes 4351
  Section 2.5 Interest Rates; Payments 4452
  Section 2.6 Mandatory Prepayments 4654
  Section 2.7 Voluntary Prepayments 4654
  Section 2.8 Mandatory Termination of Commitments; Termination Date and Maturity 4654
  Section 2.9 Voluntary Reduction of Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount 4654
  Section 2.10 Application of Payments 4755
  Section 2.11 Commitment Fee 4735
  Section 2.12 Letter of Credit Fees and Letter of Credit Fronting Fees 4735
  Section 2.13 Agency and Other Fees 4735
  Section 2.14 Loans and Borrowings Under Existing Credit Agreement 4735
  Section 2.15 Automatic Debt Issuance Borrowing Base Adjustments 4836
  Section 2.16 Increases, Reductions and Terminations of Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount 4836

 

ARTICLE III GENERAL PROVISIONS 5159

 

  Section 3.1 The Notes 5159
  Section 3.2 General Provisions as to Payments 5159
  Section 3.3 Funding Losses 5361
  Section 3.4 Non-Receipt of Funds by Administrative Agent 5337
  Section 3.5 Defaulting Banks 5337

 

i 

 

 

ARTICLE IV BORROWING BASE 5462

 

  Section 4.1 Reserve Reports; Proposed Borrowing Base 5438
  Section 4.2 Periodic Determinations of the Borrowing Base; Procedures and Standards 5438
  Section 4.3 Special Determination of Borrowing Base 5563
  Section 4.4 Borrowing Base Deficiency 5664
  Section 4.5 Initial Borrowing Base 5664
  Section 4.6 Asset Disposition Adjustment 5665

 

ARTICLE V COLLATERAL AND GUARANTIES 5765

 

  Section 5.1 Security 5765
  Section 5.2 Title Information 5866
  Section 5.3 Guarantees 5866
  Section 5.4 Additional Guarantors 5867

 

ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO BORROWINGS 5967

 

  Section 6.1 Conditions to Initial Borrowing and Participation in Letter of Credit Exposure 5967
  Section 6.2 Conditions to each Borrowing and each Letter of Credit 6270
  Section 6.3 Materiality of Conditions 6271

 

ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 6371

 

  Section 7.1 Existence and Power 6339
  Section 7.2 Corporate, Limited Liability Company, Partnership and Governmental Authorization; Contravention 6339
  Section 7.3 Binding Effect 6339
  Section 7.4 Financial Information 6339
  Section 7.5 Litigation 6472
  Section 7.6 ERISA 6472
  Section 7.7 Taxes and Filing of Tax Returns 6473
  Section 7.8 Title to Properties; Liens 6573
  Section 7.9 Mineral Interests 6573
  Section 7.10 Business; Compliance 6573
  Section 7.11 Licenses, Permits, Etc 6573
  Section 7.12 Compliance with Law; Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions 6674
  Section 7.13 Ownership Interests 6674
  Section 7.14 Full Disclosure 6674
  Section 7.15 Organizational Structure; Nature of Business 6775
  Section 7.16 Environmental Matters 6775
  Section 7.17 Burdensome Obligations 6776
  Section 7.18 Government Regulations 6876
  Section 7.19 No Default 6876
  Section 7.20 Gas Balancing Agreements and Advance Payment Contracts 6876
  Section 7.21 Qualified ECP Guarantor 6876
  Section 7.22 Solvency 6876

 

ii 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 6876

 

  Section 8.1 Information 6876
  Section 8.2 Business of Credit Parties 7140
  Section 8.3 Maintenance of Existence 7280
  Section 8.4 Right of Inspection; Books and Records 7280
  Section 8.5 Maintenance of Insurance 7280
  Section 8.6 Payment of Obligations 7381
  Section 8.7 Compliance with Laws and Documents 7381
  Section 8.8 Operation of Properties and Equipment 7381
  Section 8.9 Further Assurances 7482
  Section 8.10 Environmental Law Compliance and Indemnity 7482
  Section 8.11 Title Data 7583
  Section 8.12 ERISA Reporting Requirements 7584
  Section 8.13 Commodity Exchange Act Keepwell Provisions 7584
  Section 8.14 EEA Financial Institutions 7641
  Section 8.15 Accounts 7641

 

ARTICLE IX NEGATIVE COVENANTS 7641

 

  Section 9.1 Debt 7641
  Section 9.2 Restricted Payments 7742
  Section 9.3 Liens; Negative Pledge 7886
  Section 9.4 Consolidations and Mergers 7886
  Section 9.5 Asset Dispositions 7886
  Section 9.6 Use of Proceeds 7987
  Section 9.7 Investments 7987
  Section 9.8 Transactions with Affiliates 7987
  Section 9.9 ERISA 7988
  Section 9.10 Hedge Transactions 8088
  Section 9.11 Operating Leases 8143
  Section 9.12 Acquisition 8143
  Section 9.13 Repayment of Senior Notes; Amendment to Terms of Senior Indenture 8143
  Section 9.14 Non-Eligible Contract Participants 8244
  Section 9.15 Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement 8244
  Section 9.16 Sabalo Acquisition Agreement 8244

 

ARTICLE X FINANCIAL COVENANTS 8244

 

  Section 10.1 Financial Covenants 8244

 

ARTICLE XI DEFAULTS 8245

 

  Section 11.1 Events of Default 8245
  Section 11.2 Credit Bidding 46

 

iii 

 

 

ARTICLE XII AGENTS 8594

 

  Section 12.1 Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent; Secured Hedge Transactions 8594
  Section 12.2 Delegation of Duties 8594
  Section 12.3 Default; Collateral 8595
  Section 12.4 Liability of Administrative Agent 8797
  Section 12.5 Reliance by Administrative Agent 8897
  Section 12.6 Notice of Default 8898
  Section 12.7 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Administrative Agent 8998
  Section 12.8 Indemnification of Agents 8999
  Section 12.9 Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity 9099
  Section 12.10 Successor Administrative Agent and Letter of Credit Issuer 9099
  Section 12.11 Syndication Agent; Other Agents; Arrangers 91100
  Section 12.12 Administrative Agent May File Proof of Claim 91100
  Section 12.13 Secured Hedge Transactions 9247
  Section 12.14 Erroneous Payment 9247
  Section 12.15 Certain ERISA Matters 49

 

ARTICLE XIII PROTECTION OF YIELD; CHANGE IN LAWS 9350

 

  Section 13.1 Basis for DeterminingAlternate Rate of Interest Rate Applicable to Eurodollar Tranches Inadequate 9350
  Section 13.2 Illegality of Eurodollar Tranches 9453
  Section 13.3 Increased Cost of Eurodollar Tranche 95108
  Section 13.4 Adjusted Base Rate Tranche Substituted for Affected Eurodollar Tranche 96109
  Section 13.5 Capital Adequacy 96109
  Section 13.6 Taxes 98110
  Section 13.7 Discretion of Banks as to Manner of Funding 100113
  Section 13.8 Replacement of Banks 101113

 

ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS 101114

 

  Section 14.1 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications 101114
  Section 14.2 Waivers and Amendments; Acknowledgments 103116
  Section 14.3 Expenses; Documentary Taxes; Indemnification 10555
  Section 14.4 Right and Sharing of Set-Offs 106119
  Section 14.5 Survival 106119
  Section 14.6 Limitation on Interest 107120
  Section 14.7 Invalid Provisions 107120
  Section 14.8 Successors and Assigns 108121
  Section 14.9 Applicable Law and Jurisdiction 110123
  Section 14.10 Counterparts; Effectiveness 110123
  Section 14.11 No Third Party Beneficiaries 110123
  Section 14.12 COMPLETE AGREEMENT 110123
  Section 14.13 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ETC 111124
  Section 14.14 Confidential Information 111124
  Section 14.15 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility 112125
  Section 14.16 USA Patriot Act Notice 113126
  Section 14.17 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions 113126
  Section 14.18 Exiting Banks[Reserved] 11356
  Section 14.19 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFC 11456
  Section 14.20 Counterparts; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution 114127

 

iv 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A Form of Note

 

Exhibit B Form of Request for Borrowing

 

Exhibit C Form of Request for Letter of Credit

 

Exhibit D Form of Rollover Notice

 

Exhibit E Form of Certificate of Ownership Interests

 

Exhibit F Form of Financial Officer’s Compliance Certificate

 

Exhibit G Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

 

Exhibit H Form of Security Agreement

 

Exhibit I Form of Facility Guaranty

 

Exhibit J Form of Elected Commitment Increase Certificate

 

Exhibit K Form of Additional Bank Certificate

 

Exhibit L-1 Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

Exhibit L-2 Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

Exhibit L-3 Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

Exhibit L-4 Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

Exhibit M Form of Available Free Cash Flow Certificate

 

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1Schedule 1 Banks

 

Schedule 2Schedule 2 Litigation

 

Schedule 3Schedule 3 Organizational

 

Schedule 4Schedule 4 Existing Letters of Credit

 

v 

 

 

 

purchaser to take delivery of such production in lieu of payment, and, in either of the foregoing instances, the Advance Payment is, or is to be, applied as payment in full for such production when sold and delivered or is, or is to be, applied as payment for a portion only of the purchase price thereof or of a percentage or share of such production; provided that inclusion of the standard “take or pay” provision in any gas sales or purchase contract or any other similar contract shall not, in and of itself, constitute such contract as an Advance Payment Contract for the purposes hereof.

 

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

 

Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person, or any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or partnership interests, or by contract or otherwise.

 

Agent Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.1(c).

 

Agents” means Administrative Agent and any other agent appointed under this Agreement.

 

Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount” at any time shall equal the sum of the Elected Commitments, as the same may be terminated, reduced or increased from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof. As of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount is $725,000,000.

 

Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount” at any time shall equal the sum of the Maximum Credit Amounts, as the same may be increased, reduced or terminated from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

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

 

Amount of Capped Distributions, Investments and Redemptions” means, as of any time, the amount of Capped Distributions, Investments and Redemptions through and including such time; provided that, the amount of Permitted Investments described in subclause (l)(ii) of the definition thereof and made pursuant to Section 9.7 shall be determined as of the date such Investment is made.

 

Announcements” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.6.

 

Annualized EBITDAX” means, for the purposes of calculating the financial ratio set forth in Section 10.1(b) for (a) each Rolling Period ending on or prior to September 30, 2017 and (b) solely to the extent the Sabalo Acquisition Closing Date occurs prior to August 1, 2021, each of the Rolling Periods ending on September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022, Revolving Credit to the then effective Borrowing Base, on such date, in accordance with the table below:

 

1

 

 

Pricing Level Ratio of Outstanding
Revolving Credit to
Borrowing Base
Applicable Margin
for Eurodollar
Tranches
Applicable Margin
for Adjusted Base
Rate Tranches
I ≥90% 3.2503.500% 2.2502.500%
II ≥75% but<90% 3.0003.250% 2.0002.250%
III ≥50% but <75% 2.7503.000% 1.7502.000%
IV ≥25% but <50% 2.5002.750% 1.5001.750%
V <25% 2.2502.500% 1.2501.500%

 

Each change in the Applicable Margin shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change; provided that, if at any time Borrower fails to deliver a Reserve Report pursuant to Section 4.1, then the “Applicable Margin” means the rate per annum set forth on the grid at Pricing Level I.

 

Approved Petroleum Engineer” means Ryder Scott Company, L.P. or another reputable firm of independent petroleum engineers as shall be selected by Borrower and approved by Required Banks, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

Arrangers” means, collectively, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp.BBVA USA, Capital One, National Association, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith IncorporatedCitibank, N.A., KeyBank National Association, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Texas Capital Bank, N.A., and Truist Bank, and BofA Securities, Inc. (or any other registered broker-dealer wholly-owned by Bank of America Corporation to which all or substantially all of Bank of America Corporation’s, or any of its subsidiaries’ investment banking, commercial lending services or related businesses may be transferred following the date of this Agreement), in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners and “Arranger” means any of them individually.

 

Asset Disposition” means the sale, assignment, lease, license, transfer, exchange or other disposition by any Credit Party of all or any portion of its right, title and interest in any Borrowing Base Property or the termination (other than at its scheduled maturity) or monetization by any Credit Party of any Borrowing Base Hedge.

 

Assignee” has the meaning given such term in Section 14.8(d).

 

Assignment and Assumption Agreement” has the meaning given such term in Section 14.8(d).

 

Authorized Officer” means, as to any Person, its Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Vice-Chairman, President, Executive Vice President(s), Senior Vice President(s) or Vice President duly authorized to act on behalf of such Person.

 

Available Amount” means, at any time, the sum of (without duplication): (a) $50,000,000, less (b) the sum of, if positive, (i) the aggregate amount of all Redemptions permitted and made pursuant to Section 9.13(a)(i), minus (ii) the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower in connection with the issuance of common equity in the Borrower after the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

 

2

 

 

Available Free Cash Flow” means, as of any time, the sum of (a) Free Cash Flow for the most recent four fiscal quarter period ended prior thereto for which the financial statements have been delivered or deemed delivered pursuant to Section 8.1, minus (b) the aggregate amount of all Distributions permitted and made pursuant to Section 9.2(b) during such four fiscal quarter period, minus (c) the aggregate amount of all Redemptions permitted and made pursuant to Section 9.13(a)(i) during such four fiscal quarter period.

 

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to any then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (a) if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark or (b) otherwise, any 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 Section 13.1(c)(iv).

 

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).

 

Bank” means (a) any financial institution listed on Schedule 1 hereto as having a Commitment and (b) any Person that shall have become a party to this Agreement as an Additional Bank pursuant to Section 2.16, and in each case such Bank’s successors and assigns, and “Banks” shall mean all Banks.

 

Bank Products” means any of the following bank services: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards, and (c) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

Bank Products Provider” means any Bank or Affiliate of a Bank that provides Bank Products to any Credit Party.

 

Bankruptcy Code” means the United States Bankruptcy Code, Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

 

Base Rate” means the fluctuating rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as its “prime rate.” The “prime rate” is a rate set by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. based upon various factors including Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

3

 

 

Benchmark” means, initially, USD LIBOR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to USD 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 Section 13.1(c)(i).

 

Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor:

 

(a)       with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event or Early Opt-in Election, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

(i)       the sum of: (A) Term SOFR and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

(ii)       the sum of: (A) Daily Simple SOFR and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

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

 

(b)       with respect to any Term SOFR Transition Event, the sum of (i) Term SOFR and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or

 

(c)       with respect to any Other Benchmark Rate Election, the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

provided, that, (I) in the case of clause (a)(i) above, if the Administrative Agent decides that Term SOFR is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then Term SOFR will be deemed unable to be determined for purposes of this definition and (II) in the case of clause (a)(i) or clause (b) above, the applicable 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. If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii), clause (b) or clause (c) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Papers.

 

4

 

 

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

 

(a)       for purposes of clause (a)(i) and clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement”, an amount equal to (i) 0.11448% (11.448 basis points) for an Available Tenor of one-month’s duration, (ii) 0.26161% (26.161 basis points) for an Available Tenor of three-months’ duration and (iii) 0.42826% (42.826 basis points) for an Available Tenor of six-months’ duration;

 

(b)       for purposes of clause (a)(ii) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement”, an amount equal to 0.11448% (11.448 basis points);

 

(c)       for purposes of clause (a)(iii) 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 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 Available Tenor 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 Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities; and

 

(d)       for purposes of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement”, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to 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 Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities.

 

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Adjusted Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides 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 Papers).

 

5

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c)       in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent has provided the Term SOFR Notice to the Banks and the Borrower pursuant to Section 13.1(c)(i)(B); or

 

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

 

For the avoidance of doubt, (x) 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 (y) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clauses (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

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

 

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

 

(b)       a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the central bank for the currency applicable to such Benchmark, 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

 

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(c)       a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer 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, with respect to any then-current Benchmark, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to such Benchmark pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of the definition thereof has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Paper in accordance with Section 13.1(c) and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Paper in accordance with Section 13.1(c).

 

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”.

 

Benefitting Guarantor” means a Guarantor for which funds or other support are required for such Guarantor to constitute an Eligible Contract Participant.

 

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

 

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

 

Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the initial paragraph hereof.

 

Borrower Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

 

Borrowing” means any disbursement to Borrower under, or to satisfy the obligations of any Credit Party under, any of the Loan Papers.

 

Borrowing Base” means, at any time, an amount determined in accordance with Article IV. As of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, the Borrowing Base is $725,000,000.

 

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other than the Permitted Holders, of Equity representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity of Borrower or (c) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of Borrower by Persons who were not (i) on the board of directors on the Effective Date, (ii) nominated by the board of directors of Borrower, or (iii) appointed by directors a majority of whom were on the board of directors on the Effective Date or so nominated.

 

Closing Date” means May 2, 2017.

 

Closing Transactions” means the transactions to occur on or prior to the Effective Date pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Commitment” means, with respect to any Bank, the commitment of such Bank to make Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, as such amount may be terminated, reduced or increased from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof. The amount representing each Bank’s Commitment shall at any time be the least of (a) such Bank’s Maximum Credit Amount, (b) such Bank’s Commitment Percentage of the then effective Borrowing Base and (c) such Bank’s Elected Commitment.

 

Commitment Fee Percentage” means, on any date, the percentage determined pursuant to the table below based on the ratio of the Outstanding Revolving Credit on such date to the then effective Borrowing Base on such date:

 

Pricing
Level
Ratio of Outstanding
Revolving Credit to
Borrowing Base
Commitment Fee
Percentage
I ≥90% 0.500%
II ≥75% but <90% 0.500%
III ≥50% but <75% 0.500%
IV ≥25% but <50% 0.3750.500%
V <25% 0.3750.500%

 

Commitment Percentage” means, with respect to any Bank at any time, the percentage of the Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount represented by such Bank’s Elected Commitment, as such percentage may be modified from time to time pursuant to Section 2.16(e) or otherwise hereunder.

 

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.

 

Consolidated Cash Balance” means the aggregate amount of (a) cash, (b) Cash Equivalents and (c) any other marketable securities, treasury bonds and bills, certificates of deposit, investments in money market funds and commercial paper, in each case, held or owned by (either directly or indirectly), credited to the account of or that would otherwise be required to be reflected as an asset on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, in each case of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that the Consolidated Cash Balance shall exclude, without duplication, any cash or Cash Equivalents (v) for which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries have, in the ordinary course of business, issued checks or initiated wires or ACH transfers in order to utilize such cash or Cash Equivalents, (w) allocated for, reserved or otherwise set aside to pay royalty obligations, working interest obligations, vendor payments, suspense payments, similar payments as are customary in the oil and gas industry, severance and ad valorem taxes, payroll, payroll taxes, other taxes, and employee wage and benefit payment obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, due and owing on or before the last Business Day of the then next occurring calendar week, (x) constituting pledges and/or deposits securing or in respect of (or allocated for, reserved or otherwise set aside to pay the purchase price and related obligations under) binding and enforceable purchase and sale agreements with any Persons who are not Affiliates of the Credit Parties, in each case to the extent permitted by this Agreement, (y) posted as collateral to secure obligations to any Letter of Credit Issuer, or (z) subject to a Lien pursuant to clause (i) or clause (k) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrances.

 

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Consolidated Current Assets” means, for any Person at any time, the sum of (a) the current assets of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such time, plus (b) in the case of Borrower, the Revolving Availability at such time. For purposes of this definition, any non-cash assets resulting from the requirements of ASC 815 for any period of determination shall be excluded from the determination of current assets of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, for any Person at any time, the current liabilities of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such time. For purposes of this definition, any non-cash liabilities resulting from the requirements of ASC 815 for any period of determination shall be excluded from the determination of current liabilities of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

Consolidated EBITDAX” means, for any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, (a) plus each of the following, to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income without duplication, determined for such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period: (i) any provision for (or less any benefit from) income or franchise Taxes; (ii) interest expense (as determined under GAAP as in effect as of December 31, 2016), (iii) depreciation, depletion and amortization expense; (iv) exploration expenses; and (v) other non-cash charges to the extent not already included in the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv), (b) plus the aggregate Specified EBITDAX Adjustments during such period; provided that the aggregate Specified EBITDAX Adjustments shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Consolidated EBITDAX for such period prior to giving effect to any Specified EBITDAX Adjustments for such period, and (c) minus all non-cash income to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAX for any Rolling Period in connection with any determination of the financial ratio contained in Section 10.1(b), if during such Rolling Period, Borrower or any Consolidated Restricted Subsidiary shall have made a Material Disposition or Material Acquisition, the Consolidated EBITDAX for such Rolling Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Disposition or Material Acquisition, as applicable, occurred on the first day of such Rolling Period.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any Person as of any period, the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise included therein) the following: (a) the income of any other Person (other than its Consolidated Subsidiaries) in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, unless received by such Person or its Consolidated Subsidiaries in a cash distribution (provided that this clause (a) shall not prohibit any Specified EBITDAX Adjustment from being added to Consolidated Net Income in accordance with the definition of Consolidated EBITDAX); (b) any after-tax gains attributable to asset dispositions; (c) to the extent not included in clauses 0 and 0 above, any after-tax (i) extraordinary gains (net of extraordinary losses), or (ii) non-cash nonrecurring gains; and (d) non-cash or nonrecurring charges to the extent not already included in clauses (a), (b), or (c) of this definition.

 

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Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of calculation, the ratio of (a) Senior Secured Debt of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDAX (or, in the case of the Fiscal Quarters ending (i) on or prior to September 30, 2017 and (ii) solely to the extent the Sabalo Acquisition Closing Date occurs prior to August 1, 2021, on September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022, Annualized EBITDAX) for the Rolling Period most recently ended for which financial statements have been received pursuant to Section 8.1.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary” or “Consolidated Subsidiaries” means, for any Person, at any time, any Subsidiary or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in its consolidated financial statements as of such time.

 

Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of calculation, with respect to Section 10.1(b), the ratio of (a) (i) if there are no Loans outstanding on such date, Net Debt of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such day, or (ii) if there are Loans outstanding on such date, Total Debt of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date minus unrestricted and unencumbered cash and Cash Equivalents on such date up to $50,000,000 to (b) Consolidated EBITDAX (or, in the case of the Fiscal Quarters ending (i) on or prior to September 30, 2017 and (ii) solely to the extent the Sabalo Acquisition Closing Date occurs prior to August 1, 2021, on September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022, Annualized EBITDAX) for the Rolling Period ending on such date.

 

Conversion Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).

 

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

 

Covered Entity” means any of the following: (a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

Conversion Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).

 

Credit Parties” means, collectively, Borrower and each direct or indirect Subsidiary of Borrower, and “Credit Party” means any one of the foregoing.

 

Current Financials” means (a) the most recent annual audited consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flow delivered to Banks hereunder, and (b) the most recent quarterly unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flow delivered to Banks hereunder.

 

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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 syndicated business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

 

Debt” of any Person means, without duplication: (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) all other indebtedness (including obligations under Capital Leases, other than Capital Leases which are usual and customary oil and gas leases) of such Person on which interest charges are customarily paid or accrued, (d) all Guarantees by such Person, (e) the unfunded or unreimbursed portion of all letters of credit issued for the account of such Person, (f) any amount owed by such Person representing the deferred purchase price for property or services acquired by such Person other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not more than ninety (90) days past the invoice date, (g) all obligations of such Person secured by a Lien (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person or is non-recourse to the credit of that Person, and (h) all liability of such Person as a general partner of a partnership for obligations of such partnership of the nature described in 0 through 0 preceding. The Debt of any Person shall include all obligations of such Person of the character described above to the extent such Person remains legally liable in respect thereof notwithstanding that any such obligation is not included as a liability of such Person under GAAP. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, neither direct nor indirect obligations of a Person in respect of Hedge Transactions shall constitute Debt.

 

Debt Issuance Date” means any date on which a Credit Party issues Senior Notes.

 

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code and all other applicable liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, suspension of payments or similar debtor relief laws from time to time in effect affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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

 

Default Rate” means a rate per annum during the period commencing on the due date until such amount is paid in full equal to the sum of (a) two percent (2%), plus (b) the Adjusted Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin then in effect for Adjusted Base Rate Borrowings (provided that, if such amount in default is principal of a Borrowing subject to a Eurodollar Tranche and the due date is a day other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, the “Default Rate” for such principal shall be, for the period from and including the due date and to but excluding the last day of the Interest Period therefor, (i) two percent (2%), plus (ii) the Applicable Margin then in effect for Eurodollar Borrowings, plus (iii) the LIBOR Rate for such Borrowing for such Interest Period as provided in Section 2.5, and thereafter, the rate provided for above in this definition).

 

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

 

Defaulting Bank” means any Bank that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder; (b) has notified Borrower or any Credit 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 or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit; (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent or a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Bank that it will comply with its obligations to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit under this Agreement; provided that such Bank shall cease to be a Defaulting Bank pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent; or (d) has (or whose bank holding company (or any other Person controlling such Bank) has) (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) been placed into receivership, conservatorship or bankruptcy or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-in Action; provided that a Bank shall not become a Defaulting Bank solely as a result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Bank or Person controlling such Bank or the exercise of control (other than through the appointment of a conservator or receiver) over a Bank or Person controlling such Bank by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof, so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Bank 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 Bank (or such Governmental Authority) to modify, reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Bank. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meaning “controlling”) shall have the meaning given to such term in the definition of Affiliate; provided, further, that the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator with respect to a Bank or any Person controlling such Bank under the Dutch Financial Supervision Act 2007 (as amended from time to time and including any successor legislation) shall not be deemed to result in an event described in (d) hereof so long as such appointment does not result in or provide such Bank with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Bank (or such administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official or Governmental Authority) to modify, reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Bank.

 

Determination” means any Periodic Determination or Special Determination (including any Determination pursuant to Section 4.6).

 

Determination Date” means (a) each May 1 and November 1, commencing November 1, 2017, and (b) with respect to any Special Determination, the first day of the first month which is not less than 30 days following the date of a request for a Special Determination. The Effective Date shall also constitute a Determination Date for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Distribution” by any Person, means (a) with respect to any stock issued by such Person or any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, membership or other equity ownership interest of such Person, the retirement, redemption, purchase, or other acquisition for value of any such stock, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, membership or other equity ownership interest, (b) the declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution on or with respect to any stock, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, membership or other equity ownership interest of any Person, and (c) any other payment by such Person with respect to such stock, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, membership or other equity ownership interest.

 

Documentary Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or Property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made by Borrower or any guarantor hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Loan Paper.

 

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

 

Domestic Lending Office” means, as to each Bank, its office identified in such Bank’s Administrative Questionnaire as its Domestic Lending Office or such other office as such Bank may hereafter designate as its Domestic Lending Office by notice to Borrower and Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

(b)       the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to trigger a fallback from USD LIBOR and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Banks.

 

EDGAR” means the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval computer system for the receipt, acceptance, review and dissemination of documents submitted to the SEC in electronic format.

 

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.

 

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ERISA Affiliate” means each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with Borrower or any Credit Party 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.

 

Erroneous Payment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.14(a).

 

Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.14(d).

 

Erroneous Payment Impacted Class” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.14(d).

 

Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.14(d).

 

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

 

Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to the fact that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate.

 

Eurodollar Borrowing” means any Borrowing which will constitute a Eurodollar Tranche.

 

Eurodollar Business Day” means any Business Day on which commercial banks are open for international business (including dealings in dollar deposits) in London.

 

Eurodollar Lending Office” means, as to each Bank, its office, branch or Affiliate located at its address identified in such Bank’s Administrative Questionnaire as its Eurodollar Lending Office or such other office, branch or Affiliate of such Bank as it may hereafter designate as its Eurodollar Lending Office by notice to Borrower and Administrative Agent.

 

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means for any day that percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York, New York in respect of “Eurocurrency liabilities” (or in respect of any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Tranches is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of any Bank to United States residents). The Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

 

Eurodollar Tranche” means, with respect to any Interest Period, any portion of the principal amount outstanding under the Loans which bears interest at a rate computed by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.

 

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Excluded Account” means any deposit account, securities account or commodities account of a Credit Party holding amounts to be used exclusively for funding accrued payroll, payroll taxes, withheld income taxes and other wage and benefit payments in respect of or for the benefit of employees, officers and directors of the Credit Parties.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Credit Party individually determined on a Credit Party by Credit Party basis, any Obligations or other obligation in respect of any Hedge Transaction if, and solely to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Credit Party of, or the grant by such Credit Party of a security interest or other Lien to secure, such Obligations or other obligation in respect of such Hedge Transaction (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Credit Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an Eligible Contract Participant at the time such guarantee or grant of a security interest or other Lien is entered into or otherwise becomes effective with respect to, or any other time such Credit Party is by virtue of such guarantee or grant of security interest or other Lien otherwise deemed to enter into, such Obligations or other obligation in respect of such Hedge Transaction (or guarantee thereof). If such an obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such obligation that is attributable to swaps the guarantee or grant of security interest or other Lien for which (or for any guarantee of which) so is or becomes illegal.

 

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Bank, any Assignee or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of Borrower or any guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Papers, (a) taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income, and franchise taxes (including the Texas Margin Tax) imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), in each case by the United States of America or such other jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Bank, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which Borrower or any guarantor is located, (c) in the case of a Bank, any U.S. federal withholding tax imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Bank with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a Law in effect on the date on which (i) such Bank acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment or (ii) such Bank changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 13.6, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Bank’s assignor immediately before such Bank became a party hereto or to such Bank immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (d) taxes attributable to such Bank’s or Letter of Credit Issuer’s failure to comply with Section 13.6(d) and (e) any U.S. federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Exhibit” refers to an exhibit attached to this Agreement and incorporated herein by reference, unless specifically provided otherwise.

 

Existing Banks” has the meaning as set forth in the Recitals hereto.

 

Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

 

Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit listed on Schedule 4.

 

Exiting Bank” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.18.

 

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Facility Guaranty” means the Fifth Amended and Restated Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit I attached hereto to be executed by each existing and future Subsidiary of Borrower in favor of the Secured Parties, pursuant to which each such Subsidiary guarantees payment and performance in full of the Obligations, and each joinder or supplement thereto now or hereafter executed.

 

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the date of this Agreement and any regulations thereunder or official interpretations thereof.

 

FCA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.6.

 

FCPA” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation of the United States of America or any successor Governmental Authority.

 

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by Administrative Agent.

 

Fee Letter” means, collectively, (a) the letter agreement dated as of April 26, 2017 between Borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and (b) any other letter agreements entered into from time to time between Borrower, the Administrative Agent and/or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC providing for the payment of fees to the Administrative Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and/or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in connection with this Agreement or any transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Fifth Amendment Effective Date” means October 22, 2020.

 

First Measurement Period” has the meaning given to such term in Section 9.10.

 

Fiscal Quarter” means the three-month periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31 of each Fiscal Year.

 

Fiscal Year” means a twelve-month period ending December 31.

 

Flood Insurance Regulations” means (a) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC § 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time, and (d) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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Floor” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise, as applicable) with respect to such Benchmark.

 

Foreign Bank” means a Bank that is not a U.S. Person.

 

Fourth Amendment Effective Date” means April 30, 2020.

 

Free Cash Flow” means, as of any date of determination, Consolidated EBITDAX minus the sum for such fiscal period of (without duplication) (a) consolidated interest expense (paid and capitalized) of Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, plus (b) any capital expenditures made by Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, plus (c) income and franchise taxes plus (d) to the extent actually acquired with or paid for in cash, any Permitted Investments (other than Cash Equivalents) made by Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 9.7, plus (e) to the extent actually paid in cash, any mandatory repayments of Debt made during such period, plus (f) exploration expenses, including plugging and abandonment expenses.

 

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 1.3.

 

Gas Balancing Agreement” means any agreement or arrangement whereby any Credit Party, or any other party having an interest in any Hydrocarbons to be produced from Mineral Interests in which any Credit Party owns an interest, has a right to take more than its proportionate share of production therefrom.

 

Governmental Authority” means any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality of any nation or of any province, state, commonwealth, nation, territory, possession, county, parish or municipality, whether now or hereafter constituted or existing (including any central bank or any supra-national body exercising such powers or functions, such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions, by “comfort letter” or other similar undertaking of support or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

Guarantor” means Laredo Midstream Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Garden City Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each other existing and future Subsidiary of Borrower.

 

Hazardous Discharge” means any releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, disposing or dumping of any Hazardous Substance from or onto any real property owned, leased or operated at any time by any Credit Party or any real property owned, leased or operated by any other party.

 

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Hazardous Substance” means any pollutant, toxic substance, hazardous waste, compound, element or chemical that is defined as hazardous, toxic, noxious, dangerous or infectious pursuant to any Applicable Environmental Law or which is otherwise regulated by any Applicable Environmental Law.

 

Hedge Agreement” means, collectively, any agreement, instrument, arrangement or schedule or supplement thereto evidencing any Hedge Transaction.

 

Hedge Transaction” means any commodity, interest rate, currency or other swap, option, collar, futures contract or other contract pursuant to which a Person hedges risks or manages costs related to commodity prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates, securities prices or financial market conditions (including any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act; provided, that for purposes of Sections 8.1(c), 8.1(q), and 9.10, “Hedge Transactions” shall refer to the underlying agreement and not include any separate guaranty or separate document granting a security interest or other Lien in respect of the obligations under such underlying agreement). Hedge Transactions expressly include Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions.

 

Hedge Transaction Letters of Credit” means Letters of Credit issued to secure Borrower’s obligations to counterparties under Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions.

 

Hydrocarbons” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasolines, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, and all other liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons produced or to be produced in conjunction therewith, and all products, by-products and all other substances derived therefrom or the processing thereof, and all other minerals and substances produced in conjunction with such substances, including sulphur, geothermal steam, water, carbon dioxide, helium, and any other minerals, ores, or substances of value, and the products and proceeds therefrom.

 

IBA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.6.

 

Increasing Bank” has the meaning given such term in Section 2.16(a).

 

Indemnified Entity” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.3(b).

 

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

Initial Borrowing Base” means a Borrowing Base in the amount of $1,000,000,000, which shall be in effect during the period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until the first Determination after the Effective Date.

 

Initial Reserve Report” means the “Reserve Report” most recently delivered by Borrower to the Administrative Agent under and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

Interest Option” has the meaning given such term in Section 2.5(c).

 

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Interest Period” means, with respect to each Eurodollar Tranche, the period commencing on the Borrowing Date or Conversion Date applicable to such Tranche and ending one, two, three, six, or, if available to all Banks, twelve months thereafter, as Borrower may elect in the applicable Request for Borrowing; provided that: (a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Eurodollar Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Eurodollar Business Day unless such Eurodollar Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Eurodollar Business Day; (b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Eurodollar Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c)(c) below, end on the last Eurodollar Business Day of a calendar month; and (c) no Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Tranche shall extend past the Termination Date.

 

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, any loan, advance, extension of credit, capital contribution to, investment in or purchase of the stock securities of, or interests in, any other Person; provided that, “Investment” shall not include current customer and trade accounts which are payable in accordance with customary trade terms.

 

ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

January 2022 Notes” means the 5.625% senior unsecured notes of Borrower or Predecessor Borrower, as applicable, due January 15, 2022.

 

January 2025 Notes” means the 9.500% senior unsecured notes of Borrower or Predecessor Borrower, as applicable, due January 15, 2025.

 

Laws” means all applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, regulations, orders, writs, injunctions or decrees of any state, commonwealth, nation, territory, possession, county, township, parish, municipality or Governmental Authority.

 

LC Issuing Lender Commitment”: unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Borrower and such Letter of Credit Issuer, (a) as to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in its capacity as a Letter of Credit Issuer, $45,000,000, (b) as to Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as a Letter of Credit Issuer, $20,000,000, and (c) as to BOKF, NA dba Bank of Oklahoma, in its capacity as a Letter of Credit Issuer, $20,000,000 and (d) as to each of the foregoing and each other Letter of Credit Issuer from time to time hereunder, such other amount separately agreed to in a written agreement between the Borrower and such Letter of Credit Issuer (which agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution).

 

Legacy Asset Disposition” means the disposition by Borrower of the Legacy Assets pursuant to that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of May 7, 2021 (as in effect on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, the “Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement”) between Borrower, as “Seller”, and Sixth Street, as “Purchaser”, pursuant to which Borrower will assign or novate the “Assets” and the “Hedges” (each as defined in the Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement as in effect on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date; such assets herein referred to as the “Legacy Assets”).

 

Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of Legacy Asset Disposition. all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

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Letter of Credit Fee” means, for any date, with respect to any Letter of Credit issued hereunder, a fee in an amount equal to a percentage of the average daily aggregate amount of Letter of Credit Exposure of all Banks during the Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) ending on the date such payment is due (calculated on a per annum basis based on such average daily aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure) determined by reference to the ratio of Outstanding Revolving Credit to the then effective Borrowing Base on such date, in accordance with the table below:

 

Pricing Level Ratio of Outstanding Revolving Credit to Borrowing Base Per Annum Letter of Credit Fee
I ≥90% 3.2503.500%
II ≥75% but <90% 3.0003.250%
III ≥50% but <75% 2.7503.000%
IV ≥25% but <50 2.5002.750%
V <25% 2.2502.500%

 

Such fee shall be payable in accordance with the terms of Section 2.12. For clarity, each change in the Letter of Credit Fee shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change, if any; in the case of the change in the Letter of Credit Fee pursuant to the Fifth Amendment to this Agreement, such change is effective on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.

 

Letter of Credit Fronting Fee” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit issued hereunder, a fee equal to the greater of (a) $500 or (b) .125% per annum of the average daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit during the Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) ending on the date the payment of such fee is due.

 

Letter of Credit Issuer” means Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and Bank of America, N.A., and BOKF, NA dba Bank of Oklahoma, each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit issued hereunder including the Existing Letters of Credit, as applicable, and each such Person’s successors in such capacity, and any other Bank designated by Administrative Agent which (without obligation to do so) consents to issue Letters of Credit hereunder; provided, that no Letter of Credit Issuer shall be required, without the consent of such Letter of Credit Issuer, to issue Letters of Credit in excess of its LC Issuing Lender Commitment.

 

Letter of Credit Period” means the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending five (5) Business Days prior to the Termination Date.

 

Letters of Credit” means, collectively, standby letters of credit issued for the account of Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(b) and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit, in each case as extended or otherwise modified by the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer from time to time.

 

LIBOR Rate” means, subject to the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 13.1(c):

 

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LIBOR Rate” means, subject to the implementation of a Replacement Rate in accordance with Section 13.1(b), (a) for any interest rate calculation with respect to anya Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rateLoan, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the applicable Interest Period as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. (London time,) two (2) Eurodollar Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits in the London interbank market with a maturity comparable to suchfirst day of the applicable Interest Period. In the event thatIf, for any reason, such rate is not so published then the “LIBOR Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) at which dollar deposits of an amount comparable to such Eurodollar Borrowing and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office ofshall be determined by the Administrative Agent in immediately available fundsto be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. (London time,) two (2) Eurodollar Business Days prior to the commencement offirst day of the applicable Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 13.1(b), in the event that a Replacement Rate with respect to LIBOR Rate is implemented, then all references herein to LIBOR Rate shall be deemed references to such Replacement Rate., and

 

(b)       for any interest rate calculation with respect to an Adjusted Base Rate Loan, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for an Interest Period equal to one month (commencing on the date of determination of such interest rate) as published by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination, or, if such date is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day. If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then the “LIBOR Rate” for such Adjusted Base Rate Loan shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination for a period equal to one month commencing on such date of determination.

 

Each calculation by the Administrative Agent of the LIBOR Rate shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 13.1(c), in the event that a Benchmark Replacement with respect to the LIBOR Rate is implemented then all references herein to the LIBOR Rate shall be deemed references to such Benchmark Replacement.

 

Lien” means with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset; provided that a provision in a joint operating agreement, joint development agreement or other similar or customary agreement made or entered

 

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Material Gas Imbalance” means, with respect to all Gas Balancing Agreements to which any Credit Party is a party or by which any Mineral Interest owned by any Credit Party is bound, a net gas imbalance to Borrower or any other Credit Party, individually or taken as a whole in excess of $20,000,000. Gas imbalances will be determined based on written agreements, if any, specifying the method of calculation thereof, or, alternatively, if no such agreements are in existence, gas imbalances will be calculated by multiplying (a) the volume of gas imbalance as of the date of calculation (expressed in thousand cubic feet) by (b) the heating value in btu’s per thousand cubic feet, times the Henry Hub average daily spot price for the month immediately preceding the date of calculation.

 

Maximum Credit Amount” means, as to any Bank, the amount set forth opposite such Bank’s name on Schedule 1 under the caption “Maximum Credit Amount”, as such amount may be terminated, reduced or increased from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

Maximum Lawful Rate” means, for each Bank, the maximum rate (or, if the context so permits or requires, an amount calculated at such rate) of interest which, at the time in question would not cause the interest charged on the portion of the Loans owed to such Bank at such time to exceed the maximum amount which such Bank would be allowed to contract for, charge, take, reserve, or receive under applicable Law after taking into account, to the extent required by applicable Law, any and all relevant payments or charges under the Loan Papers.

 

May 2022 Notes” means the 7.375% senior unsecured notes of Borrower or Predecessor Borrower, as applicable, due May 1, 2022.

 

Medallion” means Medallion Gathering & Processing, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and its Subsidiaries.

 

Mineral Interests” means rights, estates, titles, and interests in and to oil and gas leases and any oil and gas interests, royalty and overriding royalty interests, production payments, net profits interests, oil and gas fee interests, and other rights therein, including any reversionary or carried interests relating to the foregoing, together with rights, titles, and interests created by or arising under the terms of any unitization, communitization, and pooling agreements or arrangements, and all properties, rights and interests covered thereby, whether arising by contract, by order, or by operation of Law, which now or hereafter include all or any part of the foregoing.

 

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

 

Mortgages” means all mortgages, amendments to, and amendments and restatements of, mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, pledge agreements and similar documents, instruments and agreements creating, evidencing, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens required by Article V as may have been heretofore or may hereafter be granted or assigned to Administrative Agent to secure payment of the Obligations or any part thereof, all as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time. All Mortgages shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

 

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Net Cash Proceeds” means the remainder of (a) the gross cash proceeds received by any Credit Party from any Asset Disposition (including any associated Hedge Transaction termination receipts) less (b) underwriter discounts and commissions, investment banking fees, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses, and other usual and customary transaction Other Benchmark Rate Election” means, if the then-current Benchmark is USD LIBOR, the occurrence of:

 

(a)       a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed), in lieu of a USD LIBOR-based rate, a term benchmark rate that is not a SOFR-based rate as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and

 

(b)       the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to trigger a fallback from USD LIBOR and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Banks.

 

Outstanding Revolving Credit” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure on such date, including the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure related to Letters of Credit to be issued on such date, plus (b) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Loans on such date, including the amount of any Borrowing to be made on such date.

 

Participant” has the meaning given such term in Section 14.8(b).

 

Participant Register” has the meaning given such term in Section 14.8(c).

 

Payment Recipient” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.14(a).

 

Payor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.4.

 

Periodic Determination” means any determination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 4.2.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” means with respect to any asset:

 

(a)       Liens securing the Obligations in favor of the Secured Parties or their Affiliates under the Loan Papers;

 

(b)       easements, rights-of-way, and other similar encumbrances, and minor defects in the chain of title that are customarily accepted in the oil and gas financing industry, none of which interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of any Credit Party or materially detract from the value or use of the property to which they apply;

 

(c)       inchoate statutory or operators’ Liens securing obligations for labor, services, materials and supplies furnished to Mineral Interests which are not delinquent;

 

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(d)       mechanic’s, materialmen’s, warehouseman’s, journeyman’s and carrier’s Liens and other similar Liens arising by operation of Law or statute in the ordinary course of business which are not delinquent; agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, area of mutual interest agreements, production sharing agreements or other similar or customary agreements, transactions, properties, interests or arrangements, and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, in each case made or entered into in the ordinary course of the oil and gas business, excluding, however, Investments in other Persons (other than any ‘tax partnership,’ as defined in the Code, that is deemed to be entered into by any Credit Party arising under any joint operating agreements, joint development agreements or other similar or customary agreements made or entered into in the ordinary course of the oil and gas business); provided that, none of the foregoing shall involve the incurrence of any Debt not permitted by Section 9.1;

 

(j)       loans and advances to directors, officers and employees permitted by applicable Law not to exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate at any time;

 

(k)       Investments in stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts arising from Investments permitted under this definition, owing to a Credit Party as a result of a bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding of the obligor in respect of such debts or upon the enforcement of any Lien in favor of such Credit Party; provided that such Credit Party shall give the Administrative Agent prompt written notice in the event that the aggregate amount of all investments held at any one time under this clause (k)  exceeds $10,000,000;

 

(l)       (i) Investments made prior to March 31, 2020the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, solely to the extent permitted by the Credit Agreement as in effect at the date of the making of such Investment and (ii) other Investments made from and after April 1, 2020the Seventh Amendment Effective Date, so long as immediately after giving effect to any such Investment (A) no Default or Event of Default exists or results therefrom, (B) undrawn Commitments are greater than or equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of the Total Commitment, (C) the Borrower will be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 10.1(a), (D) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.50 to 1.00, and (E) the Amount of Capped Distributions, Investments and Redemptions is not greater than $100,000,000; and

 

(m)       [RESERVED].

 

Permitted Purchase Money Debt” means Debt incurred by a Credit Party in the ordinary course of business to finance the purchase of assets, including the interests of a lessor under a Capital Lease, provided that (a) the principal amount of the Debt secured by Liens on the purchased asset shall not exceed 100% of the purchase price of such asset and (b) the aggregate amount of all Debt secured by such Liens shall not exceed $20,000,000.

 

Permitted Refinancing Debt” means any Debt of Borrower, and Debt constituting Guarantees thereof by other Credit Parties, incurred or issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, repay, renew, replace (whether or not contemporaneously), defease, discharge, redeem, or refund, outstanding Permitted Senior Debt, in whole or in part from time to time; provided that (a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Debt (or if such Permitted Refinancing Debt is issued at a discount, the initial issuance price of such Permitted Refinancing Debt) does not exceed the then outstanding principal amount of the Permitted Senior reserves but for the fact that the applicable Credit Party has not made a final investment decision to develop such Mineral Interests and (ii) which have been identified in supplemental reserve engineering material presented and delivered to Banks in connection with the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base.

 

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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 Bank” has the meaning specified in Section 8.1.

 

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

 

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning set forth in 0.

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, with respect to any Benefitting Guarantor, in respect of any Hedge Transaction, each Credit Party that, at the time the guaranty by such Benefitting Guarantor of, or the grant by such Benefitting Guarantor of a security interest or other Lien securing, obligations under such Hedge Transaction is entered into or becomes effective with respect to, or at any other time such Benefitting Guarantor is by virtue of such guaranty or grant of a security interest or other Lien otherwise deemed to enter into, such Hedge Transaction, constitutes an Eligible Contract Participant and can cause such Benefitting Guarantor to qualify as an Eligible Contract Participant at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(ii) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Bank and (c) any Letter of Credit Issuer, as applicable.

 

Recognized Value” means, with respect to Mineral Interests, the value attributed to such Mineral Interests in the most recent Determination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Article IV (or for purposes of determining the Initial Borrowing Base in the event no such Determination has occurred), based upon the present value discounted at 10% per annum of the estimated net cash flow to be realized from the production of Hydrocarbons from such Mineral Interests.

 

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

 

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of any then-current Benchmark means (a) if such Benchmark is USD LIBOR, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two (2) Eurodollar Business Days preceding the date of such setting and (b) otherwise, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 14.8(e).

 

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as in effect from time to time.

 

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Relevant Governmental Body” means, with respect to any given Benchmark, (a) the central bank for the currency applicable to such Benchmark or any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (i) such Benchmark or (ii) the administrator of such Benchmark or (b) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (i) the central bank for the currency applicable to such Benchmark, (ii) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark, (iii) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (iv) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.

 

Rentals” means amounts payable by a lessee under an Operating Lease.

 

Replacement Rate” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13.1(b).

 

Request for Borrowing” means a request by Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.2.

 

Request for Letter of Credit” means a request by Borrower for a Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.3.

 

Required Banks” means (a) as long as the Commitments are in effect, Banks having an aggregate Commitment Percentage greater than 50% of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount, and (b) following termination or expiration of the Commitments, Banks holding greater than 50% of the Outstanding Revolving Credit.

 

Required Reserve Value” means both (a) Proved Mineral Interests that have a Recognized Value of not less than 85% of the Recognized Value of all Proved Mineral Interests held by Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (b) Proved Mineral Interests (without giving effect to clause (b) of the definition of Proved Undeveloped Mineral Interests) that have a Recognized Value of not less than 85% of the Recognized Value of all Proved Mineral Interests (without giving effect to clause (b) of the definition of Proved Undeveloped Mineral Interests) held by Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Reserve Report” means an unsuperseded engineering analysis of the Mineral Interests owned by Borrower and its Subsidiaries in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent prepared in accordance with customary and prudent practices in the petroleum engineering industry and Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 69. Each Reserve Report required to be delivered by March 31 of each year pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be audited or prepared by the Approved Petroleum Engineer. Each other Reserve Report shall be prepared by Borrower’s in-house staff. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any Special Determination requested by Borrower, the Reserve Report shall be in form and scope mutually acceptable to Borrower and the Administrative Agent. For purposes of Section 4.1, and until superseded, the Initial Reserve Report shall be considered a Reserve Report.

 

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

 

Restricted Payment” means, with respect to any Person: (a) any Distribution by such Person, (b) the retirement, redemption or prepayment prior to the scheduled maturity by such Person or any of the Affiliates of such Person of any subordinated Debt of such Person, and (c) the redemption of such Person’s stock or Equity (other than, in each case, (i) the Obligations and (ii) any Distribution by a Subsidiary of Borrower to Borrower or any other Subsidiary of Borrower).

 

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Revolving Availability” means, at any time: (a) the Total Commitment in effect at such time minus (b) the Outstanding Revolving Credit at such time.

 

Revolving Loans” means the revolving loans, in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time not to exceed the amount of the Total Commitment then in effect, to be made by Banks to Borrower pursuant to the Commitments of the Banks.

 

Rolling Period” means (a) for the Fiscal Quarters ending on March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017, and September 30, 2017, the applicable period commencing on January 1, 2017 and ending on the last day of such applicable Fiscal Quarter, (b) solely to the extent that the Sabalo Acquisition Closing Date occurs prior to August 1, 2021, for the Fiscal Quarters ending on September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022, the applicable period commencing on July 1, 2021 and ending on the last day of such applicable Fiscal Quarter and (c) for all other Fiscal Quarters not applicable to clauses (a) and (b) above, any period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on the last day of such applicable Fiscal Quarter.

 

Rollover Notice” has the meaning given such term in Section 2.5(c).

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto that is a nationally recognized rating agency.

 

Sabalo” means, collectively, Sabalo Energy, LLC, a Texas limited liability company and Sabalo Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

 

Sabalo Acquisition” means the Acquisition by Borrower of the Sabalo Assets pursuant to that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of May 7, 2021 (as in effect on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, the “Sabalo Acquisition Agreement”) between Borrower, as “Purchaser”, and Sabalo, as “Seller”, pursuant to which Borrower will acquire the “Assets” (as defined in the Sabalo Acquisition Agreement as in effect on the Sixth Amendment Effective Date; such assets herein referred to as the “Sabalo Assets”) (the date such Acquisition is consummated, the “Sabalo Acquisition Closing Date”).

 

Sabalo Acquisition Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of Sabalo Acquisition.

 

Sabalo Acquisition Agreement Closing Date” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of Sabalo Acquisition.

 

Sabalo Assets” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of Sabalo Acquisition.

 

Sabalo Third Party Reserve Report” means the reserve report or engineering database prepared by W.D. Von Gonten & Co. evaluating the Mineral Interests of the Sabalo Assets (including all Proved Mineral Interests as of April 1, 2021).

 

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, territory or region which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions.

 

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 or the U.S. Department of State, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person that is owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

 

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Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State.

 

Schedule” means a “schedule” attached to this Agreement and incorporated herein by reference, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

 

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

 

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Banks, the Letter of Credit Issuers, the Bank Products Providers and each counterparty to a Hedge Agreement pursuant to which Obligations may be owing from time to time (to the extent of such Obligations), and “Secured Party” means any of them individually.

 

Security Agreement” means an amended and restated security and pledge agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto to be executed by Borrower and each existing and future Subsidiary of Borrower, together with each other security and pledge agreement or joinder or supplement thereto delivered pursuant to Article V or otherwise, in each case as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Senior Notes” means any unsecured senior Debt securities (whether registered or privately placed) incurred pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture.

 

Senior Notes Indenture” means any indenture among Borrower or Predecessor Borrower, as applicable, as issuer, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and the trustee named therein, pursuant to which Senior Notes are issued, as the same may be amended or supplemented in accordance with Section 9.13.

 

Senior Secured Debt” shall mean, as of any date and without duplication, all Debt of the types described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) (other than intercompany IndebtednessDebt owing to Borrower or any Subsidiary), and clause (e) of the definition thereof (provided that the amount of any such IndebtednessDebt issued at a discount to its face value shall be determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case, that is not Subordinated Debt and that is secured by a Lien on any assets of the Credit Parties.

 

Seventh Amendment” means that certain Seventh Amendment to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of the Seventh Amendment Effective Date by and among Borrower, Administrative Agent and Banks party thereto.

 

Seventh Amendment Effective Date” means July 16, 2021.

 

Seventh Amendment Effective Date Senior Notes” means Senior Notes issued on or about the Seventh Amendment Effective Date.

 

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Sixth Amendment” means that certain Sixth Amendment to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of the Sixth Amendment Effective Date by and among Borrower, Administrative Agent and Banks party thereto.

 

Sixth Amendment Effective Date” means May 7, 2021.

 

Sixth Street” means Piper Investments Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

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 on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 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.

 

Solvent” means, with respect to any Person or any group of Persons as of any date, that (a) the value of the assets of such Person or group (both at fair value and present fair saleable value) is, on the date of determination, greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent and unliquidated liabilities) of such Person or group as of such date, (b) as of such date, such Person or group is able to pay all liabilities of such Person or group as such liabilities mature, and (c) as of such date, such Person or group does not have unreasonably small capital given the nature of its business, in each case within the meaning of such terms under the Bankruptcy Code. In computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated liabilities at any time, such liabilities shall be computed at the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

Special Determination” means any determination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Article IV or Section 8.11 other than a Periodic Determination.

 

Specified Acquisition” means any Acquisition for which: (a) a binding and enforceable purchase and sale agreement has been signed by a Credit Party; (b) at the time of the signing of the applicable purchase and sale agreement, the ratio of Revolving Availability to the then effective total Commitments is at least 0.10 to 1.0, and (c) the aggregate volumes hedged with respect to the reasonably anticipated projected production from Proved Mineral Interests (without giving effect to clause (b) of the definition of Proved Undeveloped Mineral Interests) to be acquired in all pending Specified Acquisitions that have not yet been consummated shall not exceed 15.0% of the Credit Parties’ reasonably anticipated projected production from Proved Mineral Interests (without giving effect to all such pending Specified Acquisitions).

 

Specified EBITDAX Adjustments” means the amount that may be added to Consolidated Net Income in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDAX (or, in the case of each Rolling Period ending (i) on or prior to September 30, 2017 and (ii) solely to the extent the Sabalo Acquisition Closing Date occurs prior to August 1, 2021, on September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022, the amount that may be included in the calculation of Annualized Consolidated EBITDAX) attributable to the proportional (based on Borrower’s direct or indirect economic ownership percentage of Medallion as of such date) Consolidated EBITDAX of Medallion for any Rolling Period or portion thereof for which the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distribution by Medallion was (x) not prohibited by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument or Laws applicable to Medallion and (y) not otherwise conditioned, limited, restricted or prohibited, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that calculation of such amount shall be done in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and for which Borrower has provided supporting details and information for such calculation.

 

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Specified Senior Notes Repurchases” means Redemptions permitted and made pursuant to Section 9.13(a) from and after the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.

 

Specified FS Delivery Date” means the date on which the financial statements and the corresponding compliance certificate for the Rolling Period ending September 30, 2021 are delivered to the Banks pursuant to Section 8.1(b) and Section 8.1(c).

 

Subordinated Debt” shall mean the collective reference to any Debt of any Credit Party that is subordinated in right and time of payment to the Obligations and containing such other terms and conditions, in each case as are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

Subsidiary” means, for any Person, any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions (including that of a general partner) are at the time directly or indirectly owned, collectively, by such Person and any Subsidiaries of such Person. The term “Subsidiary” shall include Subsidiaries of Subsidiaries (and so on).

 

Super Majority Banks” means (a) as long as the Commitments are in effect, Banks having an aggregate Commitment Percentage of 66-2/3% or more of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount, and (b) following termination or expiration of the Commitments, Banks holding 66-2/3% or more of the Outstanding Revolving Credit.

 

Supported QFC” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.19.

 

Surplus Commitment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.5(c).

 

Swap Liquidation” means the sale, assignment, novation, liquidation, unwind or termination of all or any part of any Hedge Agreement (other than, in each case, at its scheduled maturity).

 

Taxes” means all taxes, assessments, filing or other fees, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, stamp taxes, interest equalization taxes, capital transaction taxes, foreign exchange taxes or other charges, or other charges of any nature whatsoever, from time to time or at any time imposed by Law or any federal, state or local governmental agency. “Tax” means any one of the foregoing.

 

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 Bank and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event.

 

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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, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, has previously occurred resulting in the replacement of the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Paper in accordance with Section 13.1(c) with a Benchmark Replacement the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement component of which is not Term SOFR.

 

Termination Date means the earliest to occur of (a) October 17, 2021, if any of the January 2022 Notes are outstanding other than in the form of Permitted Refinancing Debt on October 17, 2021; (b) December 15, 2022, if any of the March 2023 Notes are outstanding other than in the form of Permitted Refinancing Debt on December 15, 2022; and (c) April 19, 2023July 29, 2024, if any of the January 2025 Notes are outstanding other than in the form of Permitted Refinancing Debt on July 29, 2024; and (d) July 16, 2025, or any earlier date on which the Commitments are terminated in full pursuant to Section 2.9 or Section 11.1.

 

Third Amendment Effective Date” means April 19, 2018.

 

Total Commitment” means all of the Banks’ Commitments.

 

Total Debt” means, as of any date, all Debt of Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Tranche” means an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche or a Eurodollar Tranche and “Tranches” means Adjusted Base Rate Tranches or Eurodollar Tranches or any combination thereof.

 

Type” means with reference to a Tranche, the characterization of such Tranche as an Adjusted Base Rate Tranche or a Eurodollar Tranche based on the method by which the accrual of interest on such Tranche is calculated.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time, of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required as a result thereof to be applied in connection with the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Administrative Agent’s or any Secured Party’s Lien on any collateral for the Obligations pledged or granted pursuant to the Loan Papers.

 

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

 

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

 

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Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(3) of the Code.

 

U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.19.

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.6(d).

 

Withholding Agent” means any Credit Party or the Administrative Agent.

 

USD LIBOR” means the London interbank offered rate for Dollars.

 

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 1.3   Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise specified herein (including, in the definitions of Capital Lease and Operating Lease), all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries delivered to Banks except for changes in which Borrower’s independent certified public accountants concur and which are disclosed to Administrative Agent on the next date on which financial statements are required to be delivered to Banks pursuant to Section 8.1(a) and Section 8.1(b); provided that, unless Borrower and Required Banks shall otherwise agree in writing, no such change shall modify or affect the manner in which compliance with the covenants contained in Section 9.11 or Article X are computed such that all such computations shall be conducted utilizing financial information presented consistently with prior periods. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

Section 1.4    Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”).

 

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Section 1.5 Interpretation. As used herein, the term “including” in its various forms means including without limitation. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. 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 or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth in the Loan Papers), (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 Papers), (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. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable). No provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Paper shall be interpreted or construed against any Person solely because such Person or its legal representative drafted such provision.

 

Section 1.6 Rates. Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “LIBOR Rate”.

 

Section 1.6 Rates. The interest rate on Eurodollar Loans and Adjusted Base Rate Loans (when determined by reference to clause (c) of the definition of Adjusted Base Rate) may be determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate, which is derived from the London interbank offered rate. The London interbank offered rate is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. On March 5, 2021, ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), the administrator of the London interbank offered rate, and the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), the regulatory supervisor of IBA, announced in public statements (the “Announcements”) that the final publication or representativeness date for the London interbank offered rate for dollars for: (a) 1-week and 2-month tenor settings will be December 31, 2021 and (b) overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month tenor settings will be June 30, 2023. No successor administrator for IBA was identified in such Announcements. As a result, it is possible that commencing immediately after such dates, the London interbank offered rate for such tenors may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed a representative reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans or Adjusted Base Rate Loans (when determined by reference to clause (c) of the definition of Adjusted Base Rate). There is no assurance that the dates set forth in the Announcements will not change or that IBA or the FCA will not take further action that could impact the availability, composition or characteristics of any London interbank offered rate. Public and private sector industry initiatives have been and continue, as of the date hereof, to be underway to implement new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate. In the event that the London interbank offered rate or any other then-current Benchmark is no longer available or in certain other circumstances set forth in Section 13.1(c), such Section 13.1(c) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower, pursuant to Section 13.1(c), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans and Adjusted Base Rate Loans (when determined by reference to clause (c) of the definition of Adjusted Base Rate) is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, (i) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of the “LIBOR Rate” or with respect to any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including any then-current Benchmark or any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement), as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to Section 13.1(c), will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the LIBOR Rate or any other Benchmark, or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (ii) the effect, implementation or composition of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any Benchmark, any component definition thereof or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Bank or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

 

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Section 1.7 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Papers, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

 

ARTICLE II

THE CREDIT FACILITIES

 

Section 2.1 Commitments.

 

(a)       Subject to Section 2.1(c) and the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, each Bank severally agrees to lend to Borrower from time to time prior to the Termination Date amounts not to exceed in the aggregate at any one time outstanding, the amount of such Bank’s Commitment less such Bank’s Letter of Credit Exposure, to the extent any such Loan would not cause the Outstanding Revolving Credit to exceed the Total Commitment. Each Borrowing shall (i) be in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or any larger integral multiple of $100,000, and (ii) be made from each Bank ratably in accordance with its respective Commitment Percentage. Subject to the foregoing limitations and the other provisions of this Agreement, Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.1(a), repay amounts borrowed under this Section 2.1(a) and request new Borrowings under this Section 2.1(a).

 

(b)       The Letter of Credit Issuers will issue Letters of Credit, from time to time during the Letter of Credit Period upon request by Borrower, for the account of Borrower, so long as (i) the aggregate Letter of Credit Exposure of all Banks shall not exceed $80,000,000, (ii) the

 

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Section 2.11 Commitment Fee. On the Termination Date, and on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter prior to the Termination Date, and in the event the Commitments are terminated in their entirety prior to the Termination Date, on the date of such termination, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending on June 30, 2017, Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of each Bank based on each Bank’s Commitment Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Commitment Fee Percentage (computed on the basis of actual days elapsed and as if each calendar year consisted of 360 days) of the average daily Revolving Availability for the Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) then ended; provided that, the aforementioned commitment fee shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of any Defaulting Bank.

 

Section 2.12 Letter of Credit Fees and Letter of Credit Fronting Fees. On the Termination Date, and on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter prior to the Termination Date, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending on June 30, 2017, and, in the event the Commitments are terminated in their entirety prior to the Termination Date, on the date of such termination, Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent (to be distributed by Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.1(b)) (a) the Letter of Credit Fee which accrued during such Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) and (b) the Letter of Credit Fronting Fee which accrued during such Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof), in each case computed on the basis of actual days elapsed and as if each calendar year consisted of 360 days.

 

Section 2.13 Agency and Other Fees. Borrower shall pay (a) to Administrative Agent and its Affiliates such fees and other amounts as Borrower shall be required to pay to such Persons from time to time pursuant to theany applicable Fee Letter and (b) to Banks such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.

 

Section 2.14 Loans and Borrowings Under Existing Credit Agreement. On the Effective Date:

 

(a)       Borrower shall pay all accrued and unpaid commitments fees, break funding fees (if any) and all other fees that are outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement for the account of each “Bank” under the Existing Credit Agreement;

 

(b)       each “Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing” outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be extended and renewed so as to continue as a new Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing under this Agreement;

 

(c)       each “Eurodollar Borrowing” outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be deemed repaid on the Effective Date and funded as a new Eurodollar Borrowing under this Agreement;

 

(d)       each Existing Letter of Credit shall constitute a Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.1 hereof; and

 

(e)       the Existing Credit Agreement and the commitments thereunder shall be superseded by this Agreement and such commitments shall terminate.

 

It is the intent of the parties hereto that (i) this Agreement not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities existing under the Existing Credit Agreement or evidence repayment of any such obligations and liabilities and that this Agreement amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement and (ii) the Liens securing the “Obligations” under and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement and granted pursuant to the “Loan Papers” as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement and the liabilities and obligations of Borrower shall not be extinguished, but shall be carried forward, and such Liens shall secure such “Obligations” under the Existing Credit Agreement, in each case, as renewed, amended, restated and modified hereby.

 

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Section 2.15 Automatic Debt Issuance Borrowing Base Adjustments. In addition to the redeterminations of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 4.2, Section 4.3, and Section 4.6 and adjustments of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 8.11, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if Borrower issues any Senior Notes on any Debt Issuance Date, to the extent any portion of such Senior Notes does not constitute Permitted Refinancing Debt or Seventh Amendment Effective Date Senior Notes, the Borrowing Base shall automatically reduce on such Debt Issuance Date by an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate stated principal amount of any Senior Notes issued by the Credit Parties on such Debt Issuance Date (other than the portion of such Senior Notes constituting Permitted Refinancing Debt or Seventh Amendment Effective Date Senior Notes). For the avoidance of doubt, the stated amount of the portion of any Senior Notes that constitutes Permitted Refinancing Debt or Seventh Amendment Effective Date Senior Notes shall not be included for purposes of determining the reduction in the Borrowing Base required by this Section 2.15 and only the stated amount of the portion of such Senior Notes not constituting Permitted Refinancing Debt or Seventh Amendment Effective Date Senior Notes shall be included in calculating the adjustment required by this Section 2.15. For the purposes of this Section 2.15, if any such Senior Notes are issued at a discount or otherwise sold for less than “par”, the reduction shall be calculated based upon the stated principal amount without reference to such discount.

 

Section 2.16 Increases, Reductions and Terminations of Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount.

 

(a)       Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2.16(b), Borrower may increase the Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount then in effect by increasing the Elected Commitment of a Bank (an “Increasing Bank”) and/or by causing a Person that is acceptable to Administrative Agent that at such time is not a Bank to become a Bank (any such Person that is not at such time a Bank and becomes a Bank, an “Additional Bank”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in no case shall an Additional Bank be Borrower, an Affiliate of Borrower or a natural person.

 

(b)       Any increase in the Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount shall be subject to the following additional conditions (provided that the conditions set forth in the following clauses (i) and (ii) shall not apply in connection with any increase in the Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount made substantially contemporaneously with any redetermination or other adjustment to the Borrowing Base hereunder):

 

(i)       such increase shall not be less than $50,000,000 unless Administrative Agent otherwise consents, and no such increase shall be permitted if after giving effect thereto the Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount exceeds the Borrowing Base then in effect (for the sake of clarity, all increases in the Elected Commitments of any Increasing Banks and any Additional Banks effective on a single date shall be included in the increase of the Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount for purposes of this Section 2.16(b)(i)); than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, or if Borrower fails to borrow any Eurodollar Borrowing, after notice has been given to any Bank in accordance with Section 2.2, Borrower shall reimburse each Bank on demand for any resulting loss or expense incurred by it, including any loss incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, or any loss arising from the reemployment of funds at rates lower than the cost to such Bank of such funds and related costs, which in the case of the payment or prepayment prior to the end of the Interest Period for any Eurodollar Tranche, shall include the amount, if any, by which (a) the interest which such Bank would have received absent such payment or prepayment for the applicable Interest Period exceeds (b) the interest which such Bank would receive if its Commitment Percentage of the amount of such Eurodollar Borrowing were deposited, loaned, or placed by such Bank in the interbank eurodollar market on the date of such payment or prepayment for the remainder of the applicable Interest Period. Such Bank shall promptly deliver to Borrower and Administrative Agent a certificate as to the amount of such loss or expense, which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

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Section 3.4 Non-Receipt of Funds by Administrative Agent. Unless Administrative Agent shall have been notified by a Bank or Borrower (as used in this Section, “Payor”) prior to the date on which such Bank is to make payment to Administrative Agent hereunder or Borrower is to make a payment to Administrative Agent for the account of one or more Banks, as the case may be (as used in this Section, such payment being herein called the “Required Payment”), which notice shall be effective upon receipt, that Payor does not intend to make the Required Payment to Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent may assume that the Required Payment has been made and may, in reliance upon such assumption (but shall not be required to), make the amount thereof available to the intended recipient on such date and, if Payor has not in fact made the Required Payment to Administrative Agent, (a) the recipient of such payment shall, on demand, pay to Administrative Agent the amount made available to it together with interest thereon in respect of the period commencing on the date such amount was so made available by Administrative Agent until the date Administrative Agent recovers such amount at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Base Rate then in effect for such period, and (b) Administrative Agent shall be entitled to offset against any and all sums to be paid to such recipient, the amount calculated in accordance with the foregoing clause (a). The obligations of the Banks under this Agreement to make the Loans, to issue or participate in Letters of Credit and to make payments under this Section, Section 12.14, Section 13.6(c), or Section 14.4, as applicable, are several and are not joint or joint and several. The failure of any Lender to make available its Commitment Percentage of any Loan requested by the Borrower shall not relieve it or any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date

 

Section 3.5 Defaulting Banks.

 

(a)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Maximum Credit Amount of a Defaulting Bank shall not be included in determining whether all Banks, the Super Majority Banks or the Required Banks have taken or may take any action hereunder (including approval of any redetermination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Article IV and any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 14.2); provided that, any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Banks or each affected Bank which affects such Defaulting Bank differently than other affected Banks shall require the consent of such Defaulting Bank; and provided further that in no event shall (i) the Commitment, Elected Commitment or Maximum Credit Amount of any Defaulting Bank be increased or amounts owed to such Defaulting Bank reduced without the consent of such Defaulting Bank, or (ii) the Termination Date or any date fixed for any payment of principal of or interest on the Loan or any fees hereunder be postponed without the consent of such Defaulting Bank.

 

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(b)       If any Bank shall fail to make any payment referenced in clause (a) of the definition of “Defaulting Bank”, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Bank and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or any Letter of Credit Issuer to satisfy such Bank’s obligations hereunder until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Bank hereunder; in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion; provided that, subject to Section 14.17, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against such Bank as a result of such Bank’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

(c)       Borrower shall not be obligated to pay the Administrative Agent any Defaulting Bank’s ratable share of the fees described in Sections 2.11, 2.12 or 2.13 (notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such sections) for the period commencing on the day such Defaulting Bank becomes a Defaulting Bank and continuing for so long as such Bank continues to be a Defaulting Bank.

 

ARTICLE IV
BORROWING BASE

 

Section 4.1 Reserve Reports; Proposed Borrowing Base. As soon as available and in any event by March 31 and September 30 of each year, commencing September 30, 2017, Borrower shall deliver to each Bank a Reserve Report prepared as of the immediately preceding December 31 and June 30, respectively. Simultaneously with the delivery to Administrative Agent and each Bank of each Reserve Report, Borrower shall notify Administrative Agent of the Borrowing Base which Borrower requests become effective for the period commencing on the next Determination Date.

 

Section 4.2 Periodic Determinations of the Borrowing Base; Procedures and Standards. Based in part on the Reserve Report made available to Banks pursuant to Section 4.1, Banks shall redetermine the Borrowing Base on or prior to the next Determination Date or such date promptly thereafter as reasonably possible (a) based on the engineering and other information available to Banks, and (b) in accordance with, and consistent with, the subsequent provisions of this Section 4.2. Any Borrowing Base which becomes effective as a result of any Determination of the Borrowing Base shall be subject to the following restrictions: (i) such Borrowing Base shall not exceed the Borrowing Base requested by Borrower pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.3 (as applicable), (ii) such Borrowing Base shall not exceed the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount then in effect, (iii) to the extent such Borrowing Base represents an increase from the Borrowing Base in effect prior to such Determination such Borrowing Base shall be approved by all Banks, and (iv) any Borrowing Base which represents a decrease in the Borrowing Base in effect prior to such Determination, or a reaffirmation of such prior Borrowing Base, shall require approval of Super Majority Banks. The Administrative Agent shall propose such redetermined Borrowing Base to Banks within fifteen (15) days following receipt by the Banks of a Reserve Report (or such Credit, except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly stated as of a certain date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such certain date:

 

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Section 7.1 Existence and Power. Each of the Credit Parties (a) is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership duly incorporated or organized (as applicable), and is validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization (as applicable), (b) has all corporate, limited liability company or partnership power (as applicable) and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its businesses as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and (c) is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation, foreign limited liability company or foreign partnership (as applicable) in each jurisdiction where a failure to be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 7.2 Corporate, Limited Liability Company, Partnership and Governmental Authorization; Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Notes, the Mortgages and the other Loan Papers by each Credit Party (as applicable) (a) are within such Credit Party’s corporate, partnership, or limited liability company powers (as applicable), (b) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, or limited liability company action (as applicable), (c) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or official, and (d) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable Law or regulations (including the Margin Regulations) or of the articles of association, partnership agreement, certificate of limited partnership, articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, bylaws, regulations or other organizational documents (as applicable) of any such Credit Party or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon any such Credit Party or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any such Credit Party except Liens securing the Obligations.

 

Section 7.3 Binding Effect. (a) Each of this Agreement and the Notes constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Borrower; (b) the Mortgages, the Security Agreement, the Facility Guaranty and the other Loan Papers when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will then constitute valid and binding obligations of each Credit Party a party thereto; and (c) each Loan Paper is enforceable against each Credit Party a party thereto in accordance with its terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

Section 7.4 Financial Information.

 

(a)       The Current Financials fairly present, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of Borrower and its consolidated results of operations and cash flows as of the date and for the periods covered thereby.

 

(b)       There has been no material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, relative to that set forth in the financial statements of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019.

 

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(p)       prompt written notice of all created or acquisition of any new Subsidiary of Borrower and to comply, and cause such Subsidiary to comply, with Article V; and

 

(q)       prompt written notice of the amendment, modification or termination of any Hedge Agreement or the termination of any Hedge Transaction.; and

 

(r)       not less than three (3) Business Days’ (or such shorter time as the Administrative Agent may agree to its sole discretion) prior to making any Distribution pursuant to Section 9.2(b) or making of any Redemption pursuant to Section 9.13(a)(i), a certificate of an Authorized Officer in substantially the form of Exhibit M hereto setting forth the amounts of (i) Free Cash Flow for the most recent four fiscal quarter period ended prior thereto for which financial statements have been delivered for the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or Section 8.1(b), as applicable, (ii) Available Free Cash Flow as of the date of delivery of such certificate and (iii) Available Free Cash Flow immediately after giving effect to making any Distribution pursuant to Section 9.2(b) or making of any Redemption pursuant to Section 9.13(a)(i).

 

Any information that Borrower is required to deliver to the Administrative Agent or any, or all, Banks pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a)(a) and (b)(b) of this Section 8.1 shall be deemed delivered if and when such information is filed on EDGAR or the equivalent thereof with the SEC.

 

Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Banks and the Letter of Credit Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Banks (each, a “Public Bank”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. Borrower hereby agrees that (i) it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Banks; (ii) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (iii) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Letter of Credit Issuers and the Banks to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that, to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute confidential information subject to Section 14.14, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 14.14); (iv) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (v) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

 

Section 8.2 Business of Credit Parties. The primary business of each Credit Party will continue to be the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of Mineral Interests, and/or the production and/or marketing of Hydrocarbons and accompanying elements therefrom. Borrower will not, and will not permit any Credit Party to (a) at any time maintain its jurisdiction of organization in any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America or (b) acquire or make by each Benefitting Guarantor in order for such Benefitting Guarantor to honor its obligations (without giving effect to (b)) under the Facility Guaranty and any other Loan Paper including obligations with respect to Hedge Transactions (provided, however, that Borrower shall only be liable under this Section 8.13(a) for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 8.13(a), or otherwise under this Agreement or any Loan Paper, as it relates to such Benefitting Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of Borrower under this Section 8.13(a) shall remain in full force and effect until all Obligations are paid in full to the Banks, Administrative Agent and all other Persons to whom Obligations are owing, and all of the Banks’ Commitments are terminated. Borrower intends that this Section 8.13(a) constitute, and this Section 8.13(a) shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each Benefitting Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(ii) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

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(b)       Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Paper, Obligations guaranteed by any Guarantor, or secured by the grant of any Lien by such Guarantor under any Loan Paper, shall exclude all Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Guarantor.

 

Section 8.14 EEA Financial Institutions. No Credit Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Section 8.15 Accounts. All of the Accounts other than Excluded Accounts of the Credit Parties shall at all times be subject to an Account Control Agreement; provided, that in the case of any Account acquired pursuant to an acquisition permitted under Section 9.12 (and which was not formed in contemplation of such acquisition), so long as Borrower provides the Administrative Agent with written notice of the existence of such Account within five (5) Business Days following the date of such acquisition (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), Borrower will have thirty (30) days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) to (a) transfer such account to an account with a LenderBank and (b) subject such account to an Account Control Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, with respect to each Account of the Credit Parties in existence on the Effective Date, the Credit Parties shall, no later than June 2, 2017 (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent duly executed Account Control Agreements as are required pursuant to this Section 8.15.

 

ARTICLE IX
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any commitment to lend or participate in Letter of Credit Exposure hereunder or any amount payable under any Loan remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:

 

Section 9.1 Debt. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, incur, become or remain liable for any Debt other than (a) the Obligations, (b) Debt of any Credit Party to any other Credit Party, (c) Permitted Purchase Money Debt, (d) subject to any adjustment to the Borrowing Base required under Section 2.15, Senior Notes and any guarantees thereof and any Permitted Refinancing Debt, provided that, solely with respect to Senior Notes not constituting Permitted Refinancing Debt, (i) such Senior Notes do not have any scheduled amortization prior to the stated maturity of such Senior Notes, (ii) such Senior Notes do not mature sooner than a date that is at least one-hundred and eighty (180) days following the Termination Date in effect on the date of issuance of such Senior Notes, (iii) such Senior Notes and any guarantees thereof are on market terms for similar instruments of issuers of similar size and credit quality given the then prevailing market conditions, (iv) as determined in good faith by the senior management of Borrower, such Senior Notes and any guarantees thereof are on terms, taken as a whole, no more restrictive or burdensome than this Agreement, provided that (A) the financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Senior Notes are not more restrictive than those in this Agreement and (B) the representations and warranties, covenants (other than financial maintenance covenants) and events of default of such Senior Notes are not, taken as a whole, more restrictive or burdensome than those in this Agreement, and (v) such Senior Notes do not have any mandatory prepayment or redemption provisions (other than customary change of control or asset sale tender offer provisions) which would require a mandatory prepayment or redemption in priority to the Obligations, and (e) other Debt in an amount not to exceed at any time $20,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

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Solely for purposes of clause (d) of this Section 9.1, any Permitted Senior Debt for the payment of which the proceeds of other Senior Notes or Permitted Refinancing Debt has been deposited in trust or otherwise set aside shall be deemed no longer “outstanding” so long as such Permitted Senior Debt is repaid within sixty (60) days after the Credit Parties’ receipt of proceeds of such other Senior Notes or Permitted Refinancing Debt.

 

Section 9.2 Restricted Payments. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, declare, pay or make, or incur any liability to declare, pay or make, any Restricted Payment, except that Borrower may:

 

(a)       declare and pay dividends with respect to its Equity payable solely in additional shares of its Equity (or in de minimis amounts of cash payable in lieu of partial shares of its Equity); and

 

(b)       make Distributions from and after April 1, 2020; so long as immediately after giving effect to any such Distribution (i) no Default or Event of Default exists or results therefrom, (ii) undrawn Commitments are greater than or equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of the Total Commitment, (iii) the Borrower will be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 10.1(a), (iv) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.00 to 1.00, in the case of both (iii) and (iv), Net Debt or Total Debt, as applicable, shall be determined as of the date of calculation after giving effect to such Distribution occurring on such date and Consolidated EBITDAX shall be determined as if such Distribution occurred on the last day of the Fiscal Quarter then most recently ended for which financial statements have been received pursuant to Section 8.1 and, (v) the Amount of Capped Distributions, Investments and Redemptions is not greater than $100,000,000Available Free Cash Flow on a pro forma basis shall be greater than or equal to $0 and (vi) the Borrower shall have timely delivered the certificate required under Section 8.1(r) with respect to such Distribution; and provided, further that (x) any Equity repurchased pursuant to this Section 9.2(b) shall be contemporaneously cancelled by the Borrower and (y) for clarity, (1) such cancellation is not restricted by Section 9.5 and does not trigger any requirement that the Borrower or any other Credit Party take any further action to be in compliance therewith, and (2) the requirement set forth in clause (iv) of this Section 9.2(b) is applicable only at the time of such Distribution after giving effect to any related borrowing or Debt issuance and does not require that the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio be maintained at not Section 4.6, Borrower delivers reasonable prior written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent, and (y) if a Borrowing Base Deficiency would result from such Swap Liquidation as a result of an automatic redetermination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to Section 4.6, Borrower prepays Borrowings, prior to or contemporaneously with the consummation of such Swap Liquidation to the extent that such prepayment would have been required under Section 2.6(a) after giving effect to such automatic redetermination of the Borrowing Base.

 

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Section 9.11 Operating Leases. Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, incur, become, or remain liable under any Operating Lease which would cause the aggregate amount of all Rentals payable by any Credit Party in any Fiscal Year to be greater than $20,000,000.

 

Section 9.12 Acquisition. Without the prior written consent of Required Banks, Borrower will not, nor will Borrower permit any other Credit Party to, acquire, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock (or other outstanding equity interests) of any Person, or all or substantially all of the assets comprising a division of any Person; provided that, nothing contained in this Section 9.12 shall prohibit Borrower or any other Credit Party from making (i) the Sabalo Acquisition and (ii) any other acquisition of a Person whose primary business is the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of Mineral Interests, and/or the production and/or marketing of Hydrocarbons and accompanying elements therefrom or any other acquisition which is permitted by the terms of this Agreement, including acquisitions of Hydrocarbons and Mineral Interests, and any Permitted Investment.

 

Section 9.13 Repayment of Senior Notes; Amendment to Terms of Senior Indenture. Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Credit Party to:

 

(a)       call, make or offer to make any optional or voluntary Redemption of or otherwise optionally or voluntarily Redeem (whether in whole or in part) the Senior Notes prior to the date that is one-hundred and eighty (180) days after the Termination Date except that Borrower may call, make or offer to make Redemptions from and after April 1, 2020;the Seventh Amendment Effective Date: (i) so long as immediately after giving effect to such Redemptions (and any Borrowings incurred in connection therewith), (i1) no Default or Event of Default exists or results therefrom, (ii2) undrawn Commitments are greater than or equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of the Total Commitment, (iii3) the Borrower will be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 10.1(a), (iv4) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than 2.502.0 to 1.00, (or solely with respect to Specified Senior Notes Repurchases for5) Available Free Cash Flow on a pro forma basis shall be greater than or equal to $0 and (6) the Borrower shall have timely delivered the certificate required under Section 8.1(r) with respect to such Redemption; (ii) with an aggregate repurchase price not to exceed $50,000,000, not greater than 2.75 to 1.00), and (v) the Amount of Capped Distributions, Investments and Redemptions is not greater than $100,000,000; orthe Available Amount, so long as immediately after giving effect to such Redemptions (and any Borrowings incurred in connection therewith), (1) no Default or Event of Default exists or results therefrom, (2) undrawn Commitments are greater than or equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of the Total Commitment, and (3) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is not greater than (x) 2.75 to 1.00, prior to the Specified FS Delivery Date and (y) 2.50 to 1.00, on and after the Specified FS Delivery Date; or (iii) with the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower in connection with the issuance of common equity in the Borrower after the Seventh Amendment Effective Date; provided that, (1) such net cash proceeds received are applied within sixty (60) days following such issuance and (2) so long as immediately after giving effect to such Redemptions, no Default, Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency exists or results therefrom; provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of net cash proceeds utilized for any Redemptions pursuant to this subclause (iii) shall not increase the Available Amount; or

 

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(b)       amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to, any of the terms of the Senior Notes or the Senior Notes Indenture if (i) the effect thereof would be to shorten the maturity of the Senior Notes or shorten the average life or increase the amount of any payment of principal thereof or increase the rate or scheduled recurring fee or add call or pre-payment premiums or shorten any period for payment of interest thereon, (ii) such action requires the payment of a consent fee (howsoever described), (iii) such action increases the interest rate margins applicable to the Senior Notes or alters the calculation of interest thereunder, (iv) such action adds or amends any representations and warranties, covenants or events of default to be more restrictive or burdensome than this Agreement without this Agreement being contemporaneously amended to add similar provisions or (v) adds or changes any redemption, put or prepayment provisions; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit the execution of supplemental agreements to add guarantors if required by the terms thereof (provided that any such guarantor also guarantees the Obligations pursuant to the Facility Guaranty and each of Borrower and such guarantor otherwise complies with Section 5.4).

 

Section 9.14    Non-Eligible Contract Participants. Borrower shall not permit any Credit Party that is not an Eligible Contract Participant to own, at any time, any Mineral Interests or any Equity in any Subsidiaries.

 

Section 9.15   Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement. After the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, Borrower shall not permit any amendment, waiver, modification or consent to the Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement that is materially adverse to the interests of the Banks (it being understood that any additions or increases in the Legacy Assets including, without limitation, any additions or increases in the working interests or otherwise pertaining to Mineral Interests to be acquired by Sixth Street pursuant to the Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement shall be deemed to be materially adverse to the Banks).

 

Section 9.16   Sabalo Acquisition Agreement. After the Sixth Amendment Effective Date, Borrower shall not permit any amendment, waiver, modification or consent to the Sabalo Acquisition Agreement that is materially adverse to the interests of the Banks (it being understood that any reductions or decreases in the Sabalo Assets including, without limitation, any reductions or decreases in the working interests or otherwise pertaining to Mineral Interests to be acquired by Borrower pursuant to the Sabalo Acquisition Agreement shall be deemed to be materially adverse to the Banks).

 

ARTICLE X
FINANCIAL COVENANTS

 

Section 10.1   Financial Covenants. Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any commitment to lend or participate in Letter of Credit Exposure hereunder or any amount payable under any Loan remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:

 

(a)       As of the end of any Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2017, Borrower will not permit its ratio of Consolidated Current Assets to Consolidated Current Liabilities to be less than 1.00 to 1.00; and

 

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(b)       Borrower will not (i) as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter ending on or prior to September 30, 2020, permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio for the Rolling Period then ending to be greater than 4.25 to 1.00; (ii) as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter ending on or prior to March 31, 2021, permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio for the Rolling Period then ending to be greater than 4.00 to 1.00; and (iii) as of the last day of anythe Fiscal Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2021, permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio for the Rolling Period then ending to be greater than 3.75 to 1.00; and (iv) as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter ending on or after September 30, 2021, permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio for the Rolling Period then ending to be greater than 3.50 to 1.00.

 

ARTICLE XI
DEFAULTS

 

Section 11.1   Events of Default. If one or more of the following events (collectively “Events of Default” and individually an “Event of Default”) shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

(a)       Borrower shall fail to pay when due any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation with respect to any Letters of Credit when due;

 

(b)       Borrower shall fail to pay any accrued interest due and owing on any Loan or any fees or any other amount payable hereunder when due and such failure shall continue for a period of five (5) Business Days following the due date;

 

(c)       any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement applicable thereto contained in Section 4.4, Section 8.1(d), Section 8.3(a), Section 8.5, Article IX, or Article X;

 

(d)       any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Papers (other than those covered by Section 11.1(a), Section 11.1(b) and Section 11.1(c)) and such failure continues for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date any Authorized Officer of any Credit Party acquires knowledge of such failure, or (ii) written notice thereof has been given to any such Credit Party by Administrative Agent at the request of any Bank;

 

(e)       any representation, warranty, certification or statement made or deemed to have been made by any Credit Party in this Agreement or by any Credit Party or any other Person on behalf of any Credit Party in any other Loan Paper or any other certificate, financial statement or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made, deemed made, or confirmed.

 

(f)       (i) any Credit Party shall fail to make any payment when due on any Debt in a principal amount equal to or greater than $50,000,000, or any event or condition (A) shall occur which results in the acceleration of the maturity of any Debt (other than Debt under or in connection with a Hedge Agreement) of any such Credit Party in a principal amount equal to or greater than $50,000,000 individually or in the aggregate, or (B) shall occur which entitles (or,

 

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(l)       Borrower shall fail to cure any Borrowing Base Deficiency in accordance with Section 2.6 or Section 4.4;

 

(m)       a Change of Control shall occur; or

 

(n)       an Event of Default (as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture) shall occur under the Senior Notes Indenture;

 

then, and in every such event, Administrative Agent shall without presentment, notice or demand (unless expressly provided for herein) of any kind (including notice of intention to accelerate and acceleration), all of which are hereby waived, (i) if requested by Required Banks, terminate the Commitments and they shall thereupon terminate, and (ii) if requested by Required Banks, take such other actions as may be permitted by the Loan Papers including, declaring the Loan Papers, or any of them, (together with accrued interest thereon) to be, and the Loans, or any of them, shall thereupon become, immediately due and payable; provided that (iii) in the case of any of the Events of Default specified in Section 11.1(g) or Section 11.1(h), without any notice to Borrower or any other Credit Party or any other act by Administrative Agent or Banks, the Commitments shall thereupon terminate and the Loans and other Obligations (together with accrued interest thereon) shall become immediately due and payable.

 

Section 11.2   Credit Bidding.

 

(a)       The Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, shall have the right, exercisable at the direction of the Required Banks, to credit bid and purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties all or any portion of the collateral for the Obligations pledged or granted pursuant to the Loan Papers at any sale thereof conducted by the Administrative Agent under the provisions of the UCC, including pursuant to Sections 9-610 or 9-620 of the UCC, at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, including section 363 thereof, or a sale under a plan of reorganization, or at any other sale or foreclosure conducted by the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with applicable law. Such credit bid or purchase may be completed through one or more acquisition vehicles formed by the Administrative Agent to make such credit bid or purchase and, in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent is authorized, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles, and assign the applicable Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle in exchange for Equity and/or debt issued by the applicable acquisition vehicle (which shall be deemed to be held for the ratable account of the applicable Secured Parties on the basis of the Obligations so assigned by each Secured Party); provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Banks, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Banks contained in Section 14.2.

 

(b)       Each Bank hereby agrees, on behalf of itself and each of its Affiliates that is a Secured Party, that, except as otherwise provided in any Loan Paper or with the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Required Banks, it will not take any enforcement action, accelerate obligations under any of the Loan Papers, or exercise any right that it might otherwise have under applicable law to credit bid at foreclosure sales, UCC sales or other similar dispositions of collateral for the Obligations pledged or granted pursuant to the Loan Papers.

 

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of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Bank in any such proceeding.

 

Section 12.13   Secured Hedge Transactions. To the extent any Affiliate of a Bank is a party to a Hedge Transaction with Borrower or any other Credit Party and thereby becomes a beneficiary of the Liens pursuant to any Loan Paper, such Affiliate of a Bank shall be deemed to appoint the Administrative Agent its nominee and agent to act for and on behalf of such Affiliate in connection with such Loan Papers and to be bound by the terms of this Article XII, and the other provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section 12.14     Erroneous Payment.

 

(a)       Each Bank and, each Letter of Credit Issuer, each other Secured Party and any other party hereto hereby severally agrees that if (i) the Administrative Agent notifies (which such notice shall be conclusive absent manifest error) such Bank or Letter of Credit Issuer or any other Secured Party (or the Bank Affiliate of a Secured Party) or any other Person that has received funds from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates, either for its own account or on behalf of a Bank, Letter of Credit Issuer or other Secured Party (each such recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Bank or Letter of Credit Issuer from the Administrative Agent or any of its AffiliatesPayment Recipient were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Bank or Letter of Credit IssuerPayment Recipient (whether or not known to such Bank or Letter of Credit IssuerPayment Recipient) or (ii) itany Payment Recipient receives any payment from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, or (z) that such Bank or Letter of Credit IssuerPayment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) then, in each case, an error in payment hasshall be presumed to have been made (any such amounts specified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 12.14(a), whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise; individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and the Bank or Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be,, then, in each case, such Payment Recipient is deemed to have knowledge of such error at the time of its receipt of such Erroneous Payment and to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Bank or Letter of Credit Issuer; provided that nothing in this Section shall require the Administrative Agent to provide any of the notices specified in clauses (i) or (ii) above. Each Payment Recipient agrees that it shall not assert any right or claim to theany Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payments received, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.

 

(b)       Without limiting the immediately preceding clause (a), each Bank and each Letter of Credit IssuerPayment Recipient agrees that, in the case of clause (a)(ii) above, it shall promptly (and, in all events, within one Business Day of its knowledge (or deemed knowledge) of such error) notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such occurrence and, in .

 

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(c)       In the case of either clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall such Payment Recipient shall (or, shall cause any Person who received any portion of an Erroneous Payment on its behalf to), promptly, but in all events no later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds (and in the currency so received), together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Bank or Letter of Credit IssuerPayment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in same day funds 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 from time to time in effect.

 

(d)       In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with immediately preceding clause (c), from any Bank that is a Payment Recipient or an Affiliate of a Payment Recipient (such unrecovered amount as to such Bank, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), then at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and upon the Administrative Agent’s written notice to such Bank such Bank shall be deemed to have made a cashless assignment of the full face amount of the portion of its Loans (but not its Commitments) with respect to which such Erroneous Payment was made (the “Erroneous Payment Impacted Class”) to the Administrative Agent or, at the option of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent’s applicable lending affiliate in an amount that is equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments) of the Erroneous Payment Impacted Class, the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) plus any accrued and unpaid interest on such assigned amount, without further consent or approval of any party hereto and without any payment by the Administrative Agent or its applicable lending affiliate as the assignee of such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment. Without limitation of its rights hereunder, the Administrative Agent may cancel any Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment at any time by written notice to the applicable assigning Bank and upon such revocation all of the Loans assigned pursuant to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment shall be reassigned to such Bank without any requirement for payment or other consideration. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (i) any assignment contemplated in this clause (d) shall be made without any requirement for any payment or other consideration paid by the applicable assignee or received by the assignor, (ii) the provisions of this clause (d) shall govern in the event of any conflict with the terms and conditions of Section 12.10 and (iii) the Administrative Agent may reflect such assignments in the Register without further consent or action by any other Person.

 

(ce)    The Borrower and each other Credit PartyEach party hereto hereby agrees that (xi) in the event an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Bank or Letter of Credit IssuerPayment Recipient that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent (A) shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Bank or Letter of Credit IssuerPayment Recipient with respect to such amount and (B) is authorized to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Payment Recipient under any Loan Paper, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Payment Recipient from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 12.14 or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement, (yii) the receipt of an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repayby a Payment Recipient shall not for the purpose of this Agreement be treated as a payment, prepayment, repayment, discharge or otherwise satisfyother satisfaction of any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Credit Party for the purpose of making a payment on the Obligations and (ziii) to the extent that an Erroneous Payment was in any way or at any time credited as payment or satisfaction of any of the Obligations, the Obligations or any part thereof that were so credited, and all rights of the applicable Bank, Letter of Credit Issuer, Administrative Agent or other Secured PartyPayment Recipient, as the case may be, shall be reinstated and continue in full force and effect as if such payment or satisfaction had never been received except in the case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), to the extent such Erroneous Payment, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that, comprises funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Credit Party for the purposes of making such Erroneous Payment..

 

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(df)      Each party’s obligations under this Section 12.14 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of right or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Bank, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under theany Loan PapersPaper.

 

(g)       Nothing in this Section 12.14 will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from any Payment Recipient’s receipt of an Erroneous Payment.

 

Section 12.15 Certain ERISA Matters(a) Each Bank (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Bank party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Bank party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Bank party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and its Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i)       such Bank is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Bank’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments or this Agreement;

 

(ii)       the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Bank’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement;

 

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(iii)       (A) such Bank is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Bank to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Bank, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Bank’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

 

(iv)       such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Bank.

 

(b)       In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Bank or (2) a Bank has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Bank further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Bank party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Bank party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Bank party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Bank involved in such Bank’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

 

ARTICLE XIII
PROTECTION OF YIELD; CHANGE IN LAWS

 

Section 13.1     Basis for DeterminingAlternate Rate of Interest Rate Applicable to Eurodollar Tranches Inadequate.

 

(a)       Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. Unless and until a Benchmark Replacement Rate is implemented in accordance with Section 13.1clause (bc), if the Required Banks determine that for any reason below, in connection with any request for a LoanEurodollar Borrowing or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (i)or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) adequate andthe Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for determining theascertaining the Adjusted LIBOR Rate or LIBOR Rate for any requestedsuch Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Loan or with respect to clause (c) of the definition of Adjusted Base Rate, or (iii) the LIBOR Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Loan or with respect to clause (c) of the definition of Adjusted BaseBorrowing or (iii) the Required Banks shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Adjusted LIBOR Rate or LIBOR Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Banks of funding such Loan,making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify Borrower and each Bank. Thereafter, the obligation of the Banks to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans and to calculate clause (c) of the definition ofshall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Banks by telephone or fax as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Banks that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any interest election request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (ii) if any borrowing request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made either as an Adjusted Base Rate with respect to Adjusted Base Rate Loans shall be suspended until Administrative Agent (upon the instructionBorrowing or, at the election of the Borrower with the consent of the Required Banks) revokes such notice; provided that, for purposes of clarity, Adjusted Base Rate Loans shall be calculated without giving effect to clause (c) of the definition of Adjusted Base Rate during such period. Upon receipt of such notice, Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Adjusted Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein., at an alternate rate of interest determined by the Required Banks that represents their cost of funds; provided that, no Bank shall be required to provide their cost of funds.

 

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(b)       Laws Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the Banks (or any of their respective lending offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Banks (or any of their respective lending offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Bank shall promptly give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Borrower and the other Banks. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Banks to make Eurodollar Borrowings, and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to a Eurodollar Borrowing or continue any Loan as a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be suspended (the “Affected Loans”) and thereafter the Borrower may select only Adjusted Base Rate Borrowings and (ii) if any of the Banks may not lawfully continue to maintain an Affected Loan to the end of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, the applicable Affected Loan shall immediately be converted to an Adjusted Base Rate Borrowing for the remainder of such Interest Period.

 

(c)       Benchmark Replacement Setting.

 

(i)       Benchmark Replacement.

 

(bA) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 13.1(a) above, if at any time (i) Administrative Agent has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that (x) the circumstances described in Section 13.1herein or in any other Loan Paper, if a Benchmark Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) have arisen and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, or (y) the circumstances described in Section 13.1(a)(i) or (a)(ii) have not arisen but the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of any of the LIBOR Rate or any Governmental Authority having, or purporting to have, jurisdiction over Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the London interbank offered rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans in the United States of America syndicated loan market in the applicable currency, (ii) Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. shall publicly announce that it is no longer making loans at interest rates based on the London interbank offered rate or shall commence to make syndicated loans in the United States of America at rates that are not fixed or based upon the London interbank offered rate, or (iii) if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that it has determined in good faith, that syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the London interbank offered rate, then Administrative Agent and Borrower shall endeavor to agree upon an alternate rate of interest to the LIBOR Rate that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans in the United States of America (the “Replacement Rate”), in which case, the Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences,of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such applicable interest rateBenchmark for all purposes under the Loan Papers unless and until (A) an event described in Section 13.1(a)(i), (a)(ii), (b)(i), (b)(ii) or (b)(iii) occurs with respect to the Replacement Rate or (B) Administrative Agent (or the Required Banks through Administrative Agent) notifies Borrower that the Replacement Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Banks of funding the Loans bearing interest at the Replacement Rate. In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this Agreement and the other Loan Papers shall be amended solely with the consent of Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 13.1(b). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Papers (including, without limitation, Section 14.2), such amendment shall become effectivehereunder and under any Loan Paper 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 so long asor any other Loan Paper and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a)(iii) or clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Paper 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 Banks without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Paper so long as the Administrative Agent shallhas not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such amendment to the Banks, written notices from such Banks that in the aggregate constitute Required Banks, with each such notice stating that such Bank objects to such amendment. To the extent the Replacement Rate is approved by Administrative Agent in connection with this clause (b), the Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for Administrative Agent, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by Administrative Agent (it being understood that any such modification by Administrative Agent shall not require the consent of, or consultation with, any of the Banks).by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Banks comprising the Required Banks. If an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.

 

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(B)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Paper, 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 such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Paper 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 Paper; provided that this clause (B) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Banks and the Borrower a Term SOFR Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver a Term SOFR Notice after a Term SOFR Transition Event and may elect or not elect to do so in its sole discretion.

 

(ii)       Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Paper, 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 Paper.

 

(iii)       Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Banks of (A) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (B) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (C) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (D) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 13.1(c)(iv) below and (E) 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 Bank (or group of Banks) pursuant to this Section 13.1(c), 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 Paper, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 13.1(c).

 

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(iv)       Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Paper, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (A) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR or USD LIBOR) and either (1) 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 (2) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (B) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (A) above either (1) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (2)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.

 

(v)       Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Borrowings to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to any Benchmark or at any time that a tenor for any Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate that is based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate.

 

(vi)       London Interbank Offered Rate Benchmark Transition Event. On March 5, 2021, the IBA, the administrator of the London interbank offered rate, and the FCA, the regulatory supervisor of the IBA, made the Announcements that the final publication or representativeness date for Dollars for (I) 1-week and 2-month London interbank offered rate tenor settings will be December 31, 2021 and (II) overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month London interbank offered rate tenor settings will be June 30, 2023. No successor administrator for the IBA was identified in such Announcements. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the Announcements resulted in the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event with respect to the London interbank offered rate pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and that any obligation of the Administrative Agent to notify any parties of such Benchmark Transition Event pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section 13.1(c) shall be deemed satisfied.

 

Section 13.2   Illegality of Eurodollar Tranches.

 

(a)       If, after the date of this Agreement, the adoption of any applicable Law, rule or regulation, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or its Eurodollar Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Bank (or its Eurodollar Lending Office) to make, maintain or fund any portion of the Loans subject to a Eurodollar Tranche and such Bank shall so notify Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent

 

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(b)       Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates understanding, that (i) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of the Loan Papers to which it is a party, (ii) it has made an independent decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Papers to which it is a party, without reliance on any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking by Banks or Agents whether written, oral or implicit, other than as expressly set out in this Agreement or in another Loan Paper delivered on or after the Closing Date, (iii) there are no representations, warranties, covenants, undertakings or agreements by any Bank or any Agent as to the Loan Papers except as expressly set out in this Agreement or in another Loan Paper delivered on or after the Closing Date, (iv) neither any Bank nor any Agent owes any fiduciary duty to Borrower or any other Credit Party with respect to any Loan Paper or the transactions contemplated thereby, (v) the relationship pursuant to the Loan Papers between Borrower, on one hand, and Banks and Agents, on the other hand, is and shall be solely that of debtor and creditor, respectively, (vi) no partnership or joint venture exists with respect to the Loan Papers between Borrower and any Bank or any Agent, (vii) should an Event of Default or Default occur or exist each Bank and each Agent will determine in its sole and absolute discretion and for its own reasons what remedies and actions it will or will not exercise or take at that time, (viii) without limiting any of the foregoing, Borrower is not relying upon any representation or covenant by any Bank or any Agent or any representative thereof, and no such representation or covenant has been made, that any Bank or any Agent will, at the time of an Event of Default, or at any other time, waive, negotiate, discuss, or take or refrain from taking any action permitted under the Loan Papers with respect to any such Event of Default or Default or any other provision of the Loan Papers, and (ix) each Bank has relied upon the truthfulness of the acknowledgments in this Section 14.2(b) in deciding to execute and deliver this Agreement and to make the Loans.

 

(c)       The Aggregate Elected Commitment Amount, a Bank’s Elected Commitment Amount, a Bank’s Maximum Credit Amount, the Commitment Percentage of each Bank, and Schedule 1 to this Agreement may be amended as set forth in Section 2.16, Schedule 1 to this Agreement may be amended as set forth in Section 14.8(b), and Administrative Agent (and, if applicable, the Borrower) may, without the consent of any Bank, enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Papers or to enter into additional Loan Papers as Administrative Agent reasonably deems appropriate in order to implement any Benchmark Replacement Rateor any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes or otherwise effectuate the terms of Section 13.1(bc) in accordance with the terms of Section 13.1(bc). Any other provision of this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Papers may be amended or waived if, but only if such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by Borrower and Required Banks (and, if the rights or duties of Administrative Agent are affected thereby, by Administrative Agent); provided that, (1) no such amendment or waiver shall (a) increase the Commitment, Maximum Credit Amount and Elected Commitment of any Bank, (b) subject any Bank to any additional obligation, or (c) amend or waive any of the provisions of Article IV or the definitions contained in Section 1.2 applicable thereto without the written consent of such Bank and (2) no such amendment or waiver shall unless signed by all Banks (or, in the case of clauses (C) and (D), each Bank affected thereby): (a) increase the Borrowing Base, (b) amend or waive any of the provisions of Article IV or the definitions contained in Section 1.2 applicable thereto, (c) forgive any of the principal of or reduce the rate of interest on the Loans (other than as a result of the adoption of athe implementation of any Benchmark Replacement Rate pursuant to Section 13.1(bc)) or any fees hereunder, (d) postpone the Termination Date or any date fixed for any payment of principal of or interest on the Loan or any fees hereunder, (e) change the percentages of the Aggregate Maximum Credit Amount, the definitions of “Required Bank” and/or “Super Majority Bank”, or the number of Banks which shall be required for the Banks or any of them to take any action under this Section 14.2(c) or any other provision of this Agreement, (f) permit Borrower to assign any of its rights hereunder, (g) provide for the release or substitution of collateral for the Obligations or any part thereof other than releases required pursuant to sales of collateral which are expressly permitted by Section 9.5, (h) provide for the release of any Credit Party from its Facility Guaranty, except in connection with a transaction expressly permitted under Section 9.4, or (i) amend Section 2.9, Section 3.2(c) or any other provisions governing the pro rata sharing of payments or pro rata reduction of Commitments, as applicable, among Banks in a manner to permit non-pro rata sharing of payments amongor non-pro rata reduction of Commitments, as applicable, among Banks or (j) (x) subordinate any of the Obligations owed to the Banks in right of payment or otherwise adversely affect the priority of payment of any of such Obligations or (y) subordinate any of the Liens securing the Obligations owed to the Banks, in each case without the consent of each of the Banks. Borrower, Administrative Agent and each Bank further acknowledge that any decision by Administrative Agent or any Bank to enter into any amendment, waiver or consent pursuant hereto shall be made by such Bank or Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, and in making any such decision Administrative Agent and each such Bank shall be permitted to give due consideration to any credit or other relationship Administrative Agent or any such Bank may have with Borrower, any other Credit Party or any Affiliate of any Credit Party.

 

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Section 14.3   Expenses; Documentary Taxes; Indemnification.

 

(a)       Borrower shall pay (i) all out-of-pocket expenses of Administrative Agent, including reasonable fees and disbursements of special counsel for Administrative Agent, in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other Loan Papers and, if appropriate, the recordation of the Loan Papers, any waiver or consent hereunder or any amendment hereof or any Default or alleged Default hereunder, and (ii) if an Event of Default occurs, all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Administrative Agent and each Bank, including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with such Event of Default and collection and other enforcement proceedings resulting therefrom, fees of auditors and consultants incurred in connection therewith and investigation expenses incurred by Administrative Agent and each Bank in connection therewith. Without duplication of Section 13.6, Borrower shall indemnify each Bank against any Documentary Taxes.

 

(b)       Borrower agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Entity (as defined below), upon demand, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, claims, losses, damages, penalties, fines, actions, judgments, suits, settlements, costs, expenses or disbursements (including reasonable fees of attorneys, accountants, experts and advisors) of any kind or nature whatsoever (in this section collectively called “liabilities and costs”) which to any extent (in whole or in part) may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Indemnified Entity growing out of, resulting from or in any other way associated with any of the collateral for the Loans, the Loan Papers, or the transactions and events (including the enforcement or defense thereof) at any time associated therewith or contemplated therein (including any violation or noncompliance with any applicable environmental Laws by any Credit Party or any liabilities or duties of any Credit Party or of any Indemnified Entity with respect to Hazardous Substances found in or released into the environment).

 

THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH LIABILITIES AND COSTS ARE IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY OR ARE IN ANY

 

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(iii)       the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

Section 14.18   Exiting Banks[Reserved].

 

(a)       From and after the Effective Date, (i) each of the Existing Banks that have not entered into this Agreement on the Effective Date (and will not have a Commitment hereunder) (an “Exiting Bank”) shall cease to be a party to this Agreement, (ii) no Exiting Bank shall have any obligations or liabilities under this Agreement with respect to the period from and after the Effective Date and, without limiting the foregoing, no Exiting Bank shall have any Commitment under this Agreement and (iii) no Exiting Bank shall have any rights under this Agreement or any other Loan Paper (other than rights under the Existing Credit Agreement expressly stated to survive the termination of such agreement and the repayment of amounts outstanding thereunder).

 

(b)       Existing Banks hereby waive any requirements for notice of prepayment and the payment of any related prepayment penalties, minimum amounts of prepayments of Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement), ratable reductions of the commitments of the Banks under the Existing Credit Agreement and ratable payments on account of the principal or interest of any Loan (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) under the Existing Credit Agreement to the extent such prepayment, reductions or payments are required pursuant thereto.

 

Section 14.19   Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFC. To the extent that the Loan Papers provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and, each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Papers and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

 

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

 

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