Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723d8k.htm
EX-2.3 - AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE MERGER AGREEMENT. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex23.htm
EX-4.2 - FORM OF SECURED NOTES. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex42.htm
EX-4.4 - FORM OF SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex44.htm
EX-4.5 - FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS LETTER. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex45.htm
EX-3.1 - RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex31.htm
EX-3.2 - AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex32.htm
EX-4.1 - SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex41.htm
EX-99.1 - PRESS RELEASE OF ZAZA ENERGY CORPORATION. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex991.htm
EX-10.2 - FORM OF COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex102.htm
EX-99.2 - BIOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DIRECTORS. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex992.htm
EX-10.4 - LOCK-UP AGREEMENT. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex104.htm
EX-10.3 - SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex103.htm
EX-4.3 - FORM OF WARRANT TO PURCHASE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF ZAZA ENERGY CORPORATION. - ZaZa Energy Corpd305723dex43.htm

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

 

 

GUARANTY AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 21, 2012

OF

ZAZA HOLDINGS, INC.,

ZAZA ENERGY, LLC, AND

TOREADOR RESOURCES CORPORATION

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

SECTION 1         GUARANTY

     1   

SECTION 2        OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE

     2   

SECTION 3        WAIVER

     3   

SECTION 4        OBLIGATIONS UNIMPAIRED

     3   

SECTION 5        SUBROGATION AND SUBORDINATION

     4   

SECTION 6        REINSTATEMENT OF GUARANTY

     5   

SECTION 7        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EACH GUARANTOR

     6   

Section 7.1

   Organization; Power and Authority      6   

Section 7.2

   Authorization, Etc.      6   

Section 7.3

   Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, Etc.      6   

Section 7.4

   Governmental Authorizations, Etc.      6   

Section 7.5

   Information Regarding the Company      6   

Section 7.6

   Solvency      7   

SECTION 8        TERM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT

     7   

SECTION 9        SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

     7   

SECTION 10      AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     7   

Section 10.1

   Requirements      7   

Section 10.2

   Solicitation of Holders of Notes      7   

Section 10.3

   Binding Effect      8   

Section 10.4

   Notes Held By Company, Etc.      8   

SECTION 11      NOTICES

     8   

SECTION 12      MISCELLANEOUS

     9   

Section 12.1

   Successors and Assigns; Joinder      9   

Section 12.2

   Severability      9   

Section 12.3

   Construction      9   

Section 12.4

   Further Assurances      9   

Section 12.5

   Governing Law      9   

Section 12.6

   Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial      9   

Section 12.7

   Reproduction of Documents; Execution      10   

 

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GUARANTY AGREEMENT

This GUARANTY AGREEMENT, dated as of February 21, 2012 (this “Guaranty Agreement”), is made by each of the undersigned (each a “Guarantor” and, together with each of the other signatories hereto and any other entities from time to time parties hereto pursuant to Section 12.1 hereof, the “Guarantors”) in favor of the Purchasers (as defined below) and U.S. Bank National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent (together with its successors and assigns, the “Collateral Agent”) for itself and the Purchasers. The Purchasers and the Collateral Agent are herein collectively called the “holders” and individually a “holder”.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

WHEREAS, ZaZa Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is entering into a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2012 (as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), with the Persons listed on the signature pages thereto (together with their respective successors and assigns, the “Purchasers”) simultaneously with the delivery of this Guaranty Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings specified in the Securities Purchase Agreement unless otherwise defined herein;

WHEREAS, the Company has authorized the issuance, pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, of 8.00% Senior Secured Notes due February 21, 2017 in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 (as amended, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Initial Notes”). The Initial Notes and any other Notes that may from time to time be issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (including any notes issued in substitution for any of the Notes), as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, are herein collectively called the “Notes” and individually a “Note”;

WHEREAS, it is a condition to the agreement of the Purchasers to purchase the Notes that this Guaranty Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by each Guarantor and shall be in full force and effect; and

WHEREAS, each Guarantor will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement and the board of directors (or similar governing body) of each Guarantor has determined that the incurrence of such obligations is in the best interests of such Guarantor.

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to induce, and in consideration of, the execution and delivery of the Securities Purchase Agreement and the purchase of the Notes by each of the Purchasers, each Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees with, and represents and warrants to each of the holders as follows:

SECTION 1 GUARANTY.

Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably, unconditionally and jointly and severally with the other Guarantors guarantees to each holder, the due and punctual payment in full of (a) the principal of, Premium on and interest on (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or

 


like proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), and any other amounts due under, the Notes when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at stated maturity or by required or optional prepayment or by acceleration or otherwise) and (b) any other sums which may become due under the terms and provisions of the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other instrument referred to therein (all such obligations described in clauses (a) and (b) above are herein called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The guaranty in the preceding sentence is an absolute, present and continuing guaranty of payment and not of collectibility and is in no way conditional or contingent upon any attempt to collect from the Company or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations (including, without limitation, any other Guarantor hereunder) or upon any other action, occurrence or circumstance whatsoever. In the event that the Company shall fail so to pay any of such Guaranteed Obligations, each Guarantor agrees to pay the same when due to the holders entitled thereto, without demand, presentment, protest or notice of any kind, in lawful money of the United States of America, pursuant to the requirements for payment specified in the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, as applicable. Each default in payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall give rise to a separate cause of action hereunder and separate suits may be brought hereunder as each cause of action arises. Each Guarantor agrees that the Notes issued in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement may (but need not) make reference to this Guaranty Agreement.

Each Guarantor agrees to pay and to indemnify and save each holder harmless from and against any damage, loss, cost or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) which such holder may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (x) any breach by such Guarantor, by any other Guarantor or by the Company of any warranty, covenant, term or condition in, or the occurrence of any default under, this Guaranty Agreement, the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other instrument referred to therein, together with all expenses resulting from the compromise or defense of any claims or liabilities arising as a result of any such breach or default, (y) any legal action commenced to challenge the validity or enforceability of this Guaranty Agreement, the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other instrument referred to therein and (z) enforcing or defending the provisions of this Guaranty Agreement.

Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that such Guarantor’s liability hereunder is joint and several with the other Guarantors and any other Person(s) who may guarantee the obligations and Debt under and in respect of the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement and any other Transaction Document.

SECTION 2 OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE.

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall be primary, absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, irrespective of the validity or enforceability of the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other instrument referred to therein, shall not be subject to any counterclaim, setoff, deduction or defense based upon any claim such Guarantor may have against the Company or any holder or otherwise, and shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or condition whatsoever (whether or not such Guarantor shall have any knowledge or notice thereof),

 

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including, without limitation: (a) any amendment to, modification of, supplement to or restatement of the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other instrument referred to therein (it being agreed that the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall apply to the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any such other instrument as so amended, modified, supplemented or restated) or any assignment or transfer of any thereof or of any interest therein, or any furnishing, acceptance or release of any security for the Notes or the addition, substitution or release of any other Guarantor or any other entity or other Person primarily or secondarily liable in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations; (b) any waiver, consent, extension, indulgence or other action or inaction under or in respect of the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other instrument referred to therein; (c) any bankruptcy, insolvency, arrangement, reorganization, readjustment, composition, liquidation or similar proceeding with respect to the Company or its property; (d) any merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Guarantor or of the Company into or with any other Person or any sale, lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of any Guarantor or of the Company to any Person; (e) any failure on the part of the Company for any reason to comply with or perform any of the terms of any other agreement with any Guarantor; (f) any failure on the part of any holder to obtain, maintain, register or otherwise perfect any security; or (g) any other event or circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, and in any event however material or prejudicial it may be to any Guarantor or to any subrogation, contribution or reimbursement rights any Guarantor may otherwise have. Each Guarantor covenants that its obligations hereunder will not be discharged except by indefeasible payment in full in cash of all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other obligations hereunder.

SECTION 3 WAIVER.

Each Guarantor unconditionally waives to the fullest extent permitted by law, (a) notice of acceptance hereof, of any action taken or omitted in reliance hereon and of any default by the Company in the payment of any amounts due under the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other instrument referred to therein, and of any of the matters referred to in Section 2 hereof, (b) all notices which may be required by statute, rule of law or otherwise to preserve any of the rights of any holder against such Guarantor, including, without limitation, presentment to or demand for payment from the Company or any Guarantor with respect to any Note, notice to the Company or to any Guarantor of default or protest for nonpayment or dishonor and the filing of claims with a court in the event of the bankruptcy of the Company, (c) any right to require any holder to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy including, without limitation, any right, power or remedy conferred in the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction Document, (d) any requirement for diligence on the part of any holder and (e) any other act or omission or thing or delay in doing any other act or thing which might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of such Guarantor or in any manner lessen the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.

SECTION 4 OBLIGATIONS UNIMPAIRED.

Each Guarantor authorizes the holders, without notice or demand to such Guarantor or any other Guarantor and without affecting its obligations hereunder, from time to time: (a) to renew, compromise, extend, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, all or any

 

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part of the Notes, or any obligations under the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other instrument referred to therein; (b) to change any of the representations, covenants, events of default or any other terms or conditions of or pertaining to the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other instrument referred to therein, including, without limitation, decreases or increases in amounts of principal, rates of interest, Premium or any other obligation; (c) to take and hold security for the payment of the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other instrument referred to therein, for the performance of this Guaranty Agreement or otherwise for the Debt guaranteed hereby and to exchange, enforce, waive, subordinate and release any such security; (d) to apply any such security and to direct the order or manner of sale thereof as the holders in their sole discretion may determine; (e) to obtain additional or substitute endorsers or guarantors or release any other Guarantor or any other Person or entity primarily or secondarily liable in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations; (f) to exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, any Guarantor or any other Person; and (g) to apply any sums, by whomsoever paid or however realized, to the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other obligations owed hereunder. The holders shall have no obligation to proceed against any additional or substitute endorsers or guarantors or to pursue or exhaust any security provided by the Company, such Guarantor or any other Guarantor or any other Person or to pursue any other remedy available to the holders.

If an event permitting the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of any Notes shall exist and such acceleration shall at such time be prevented or the right of any holder to receive any payment on account of the Guaranteed Obligations shall at such time be delayed or otherwise affected by reason of the pendency against the Company, any Guarantor or any other guarantors of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law, such Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty Agreement and its obligations hereunder, the maturity of such principal amount shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same effect as if the holder thereof had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, and such Guarantor shall forthwith pay such accelerated Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 5 SUBROGATION AND SUBORDINATION.

(a) Each Guarantor will not exercise any rights which it may have acquired by way of subrogation under this Guaranty Agreement, by any payment made hereunder or otherwise, or accept any payment on account of such subrogation rights, or any rights of reimbursement, contribution or indemnity or any rights or recourse to any security for the Notes or this Guaranty Agreement unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash.

(b) Each Guarantor hereby subordinates the payment of all Debt and other obligations of the Company or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations owing to such Guarantor, whether now existing or hereafter arising, including, without limitation, all rights and claims described in clause (a) of this Section 5, to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all of the Guaranteed Obligations. If the Collateral Agent so requests, any such Debt or other obligations shall be enforced and performance received by such Guarantor as trustee for the holders and the proceeds thereof shall be paid over to the Collateral Agent promptly, in the form received (together with any necessary endorsements) to be applied to the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, as may be directed by the Collateral Agent, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of any Guarantor under this Guaranty Agreement.

 

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(c) If any amount or other payment is made to or accepted by any Guarantor in violation of any of the preceding clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 5, such amount shall be deemed to have been paid to such Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the holders and shall be paid over to the Collateral Agent promptly, in the form received (together with any necessary endorsements) to be applied to the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, as may be directed by the Collateral Agent, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of such Guarantor under this Guaranty Agreement.

(d) Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement and that its agreements set forth in this Guaranty Agreement (including this Section 5) are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

(e) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that, to the extent that a Guarantor shall have paid an amount hereunder to the Collateral Agent that is greater than the net value of the benefits received, directly or indirectly, by such paying Guarantor as a result of the issuance and sale of the Notes (such net value, its “Proportionate Share”), such paying Guarantor shall, subject to Section 5(a) and 5(b), be entitled to contribution from any Guarantor that has not paid its Proportionate Share of the Guaranteed Obligations. Any amount payable as a contribution under this Section 5(e) shall be determined as of the date on which the related payment is made by such Guarantor seeking contribution and each Guarantor acknowledges that the right to contribution hereunder shall constitute an asset of such Guarantor to which such contribution is owed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5(e) shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the holders hereunder or under the Notes, the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other document, instrument or agreement executed in connection therewith, and each Guarantor shall remain jointly and severally liable for the full payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 6 REINSTATEMENT OF GUARANTY.

This Guaranty Agreement shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if and to the extent at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any holder on account of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by a holder upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any other guarantors, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to the Company or any other guarantors or any part of its or their property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

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SECTION 7 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EACH GUARANTOR.

Each Guarantor represents and warrants to each holder as follows:

Section 7.1 Organization; Power and Authority. Such Guarantor is a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of Delaware or Texas, as applicable, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Such Guarantor has the corporate or limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to execute and deliver this Guaranty Agreement and to perform the provisions hereof.

Section 7.2 Authorization, Etc. This Guaranty Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action, as applicable, on the part of such Guarantor, and this Guaranty Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

Section 7.3 Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by such Guarantor of this Guaranty Agreement will not (a) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, organizational documents, or any other agreement or instrument to which such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or by which such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (b) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or (c) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries. “Governmental Authority” means (x) the government of (i) the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision thereof, or (ii) any other jurisdiction in which such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, or (y) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

Section 7.4 Governmental Authorizations, Etc. No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Guarantor of this Guaranty Agreement.

Section 7.5 Information Regarding the Company. Such Guarantor now has and will continue to have independent means of obtaining information concerning the affairs, financial condition and business of the Company. No holder shall have any duty or responsibility to provide such Guarantor with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Company which may come into possession of the holders. Such

 

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Guarantor has executed and delivered this Guaranty Agreement without reliance upon any representation by the holders including, without limitation, with respect to (a) the due execution, validity, effectiveness or enforceability of any instrument, document or agreement evidencing or relating to any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any loan or other financial accommodation made or granted to the Company, (b) the validity, genuineness, enforceability, existence, value or sufficiency of any property securing any of the Guaranteed Obligations or the creation, perfection or priority of any lien or security interest in such property or (c) the existence, number, financial condition or creditworthiness of other guarantors or sureties, if any, with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations.

Section 7.6 Solvency. Upon the execution and delivery hereof, such Guarantor will be solvent, will be able to pay its debts as they mature, and will have capital sufficient to carry on its business.

SECTION 8 TERM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT.

This Guaranty Agreement and all guarantees, covenants and agreements of the Guarantors contained herein shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such time as all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other obligations hereunder shall be indefeasibly paid in full in cash and shall be subject to reinstatement pursuant to Section 6.

SECTION 9 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Guaranty Agreement and may be relied upon by any subsequent holder, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent, any Purchaser or any other holder. All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of a Guarantor pursuant to this Guaranty Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties of such Guarantor under this Guaranty Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Guaranty Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between each holder and the Guarantors and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 10 AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

Section 10.1 Requirements. This Guaranty Agreement may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of each Guarantor and the Required Noteholders, except that no amendment or waiver (a) of any of the provisions of Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 10 hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), or (b) which results in the limitation of the liability of any Guarantor hereunder will be effective as to any holder unless consented to by such holder in writing.

Section 10.2 Solicitation of Holders.

(a) Solicitation. Each Guarantor will provide each holder with sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a decision is required, to enable such holder to make an informed and considered decision with respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof.

 

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(b) Payment. The Guarantors will not directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any security or provide other credit support, to any holder as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any holder of any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof unless such remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted or other credit support concurrently provided, on the same terms, ratably to each holder even if such holder did not consent to such waiver or amendment.

Section 10.3 Binding Effect. Any amendment or waiver consented to as provided in this Section 10 applies equally to all holders and is binding upon them and upon each future holder and upon each Guarantor without regard to whether any Transaction Document has been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any obligation, covenant or agreement not expressly amended or waived or impair any right consequent thereon. No course of dealing between a Guarantor and the holder nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Transaction Document shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder. As used herein, the term “this Guaranty Agreement” and references thereto shall mean this Guaranty Agreement as it may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Section 10.4 Notes Held By Company, Etc. Solely for the purpose of determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this Guaranty Agreement, or have directed the taking of any action provided herein to be taken upon the direction of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by any Guarantor, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

SECTION 11 NOTICES.

All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or (b) by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or (c) by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid). Any such notice must be sent:

(x) if to any Guarantor, to the address listed below such Guarantor’s signature hereto, or such other address as such Guarantor shall have specified to the holders in writing,

(y) if to any Purchaser, to such Purchaser at the addresses specified for such communications set forth in the Purchaser Schedule to the Securities Purchase Agreement, or such other address as such holder shall have specified to the Guarantors in writing, or

(z) if to the Collateral Agent, to 5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 1150, Houston, Texas 77056, Attention: Mauri Cowen, Vice President, Facsimile: 713-235-9213 or such other address as the Collateral Agent shall have specified to the Guarantors in writing.

 

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SECTION 12 MISCELLANEOUS.

Section 12.1 Successors and Assigns; Joinder. All covenants and other agreements contained in this Guaranty Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns whether so expressed or not. It is agreed and understood that any Person may become a Guarantor hereunder by executing a Guarantor Supplement substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and delivering the same to the Holders. Any such Person shall thereafter be a “Guarantor” for all purposes under this Guaranty Agreement.

Section 12.2 Severability. Any provision of this Guaranty Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law), not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 12.3 Construction. Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with any other covenant. Whether any provision herein refers to action to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.

The section and subsection headings in this Guaranty Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall neither be deemed to be a part of this Guaranty Agreement nor modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof. All references herein to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections of this Guaranty Agreement. Words and definitions in the singular shall be read and construed as though in the plural and vice versa, and words in the masculine, neuter or feminine gender shall be read and construed as though in either of the other genders where the context so requires.

Section 12.4 Further Assurances. Each Guarantor agrees to execute and deliver all such instruments and take all such action as the holders may from time to time reasonably request in order to effectuate fully the purposes of this Guaranty Agreement.

Section 12.5 Governing Law. THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCLUDING CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF SUCH STATE THAT WOULD PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN SUCH STATE.

Section 12.6 Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) Each Guarantor irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty Agreement or any of the agreements, documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith. To the

 

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fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(b) Nothing in this Section 12.6 shall affect the right of any holder to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right that the holders may have to bring proceedings against any Guarantor in the courts of any appropriate jurisdiction or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.

(c) THE GUARANTORS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT, DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR THE ACTIONS OF THE HOLDERS IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF.

Section 12.7 Reproduction of Documents; Execution. This Guaranty Agreement may be reproduced by any holder by any photographic, photostatic, electronic, digital, or other similar process and such holder may destroy any original document so reproduced. Each Guarantor agrees and stipulates that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by such holder in the regular course of business) and any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. This Section 12.7 shall not prohibit any Guarantor or any other holder from contesting any such reproduction to the same extent that it could contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy of any such reproduction. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Guaranty Agreement by telecopier or pdf shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guaranty Agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date and year first above written.

 

ZAZA HOLDINGS, INC.
By:   /s/ John E. Hearn, Jr.
  Name:   John E. Hearn, Jr.
  Title:   President

 

ZAZA ENERGY, LLC
By:   /s/ Todd Alan Brooks
  Name:   Todd Alan Brooks
  Title:   Manager

 

TOREADOR RESOURCES CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Craig M. McKenzie

  Name:   Craig M. McKenzie
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Notice Address for each Guarantor:

c/o ZaZa Energy Corporation

1301 McKinney Street, Suite 2850

Houston, TX 77010

Attn: Charles Campise

Tel: 713-595-1900

Fax: 713-595-1919

 

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