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EX-99.4 - EX-99.4 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex994.htm
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EX-99.2 - EX-99.2 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex992.htm
EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex991.htm
EX-23.6 - EX-23.6 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex236.htm
EX-23.5 - EX-23.5 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex235.htm
EX-23.3 - EX-23.3 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex233.htm
EX-23.2 - EX-23.2 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex232.htm
EX-23.1 - EX-23.1 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex231.htm
EX-21.1 - EX-21.1 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex211.htm
EX-10.10 - EX-10.10 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex1010.htm
EX-10.9 - EX-10.9 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex109.htm
EX-10.8 - EX-10.8 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex108.htm
EX-10.7 - EX-10.7 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex107.htm
EX-10.6 - EX-10.6 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex106.htm
EX-10.5 - EX-10.5 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex105.htm
EX-10.4 - EX-10.4 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex104.htm
EX-10.3 - EX-10.3 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212dex103.htm
S-1 - S-1 - EnVen Energy Corpd641212ds1.htm

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES INDENTURE

Dated as of February 15, 2018

Among

ENERGY VENTURES GoM LLC,

ENVEN FINANCE CORPORATION,

THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO

and

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent

11.000% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2023

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     1  

SECTION 1.01

  Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.02

  Other Definitions      61  

SECTION 1.03

  Rules of Construction      62  

SECTION 1.04

  Acts of Holders      63  

ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES

     65  

SECTION 2.01

  Form and Dating; Terms      65  

SECTION 2.02

  Execution and Authentication      66  

SECTION 2.03

  Registrar and Paying Agent      67  

SECTION 2.04

  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      67  

SECTION 2.05

  Holder Lists      68  

SECTION 2.06

  Transfer and Exchange      68  

SECTION 2.07

  Replacement Notes      69  

SECTION 2.08

  Outstanding Notes      69  

SECTION 2.09

  Treasury Notes      70  

SECTION 2.10

  Temporary Notes      70  

SECTION 2.11

  Cancellation      70  

SECTION 2.12

  Defaulted Interest      71  

SECTION 2.13

  CUSIP and ISIN Numbers      71  

ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION

     72  

SECTION 3.01

  Notices to Trustee      72  

SECTION 3.02

  Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased      72  

SECTION 3.03

  Notice of Redemption      72  

SECTION 3.04

  Effect of Notice of Redemption      74  

SECTION 3.05

  Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price      74  

SECTION 3.06

  Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part      74  

SECTION 3.07

  Optional Redemption      75  

SECTION 3.08

  Mandatory Redemption      76  

ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS

     77  

SECTION 4.01

  Payment of Notes      77  

SECTION 4.02

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      77  

SECTION 4.03

  Taxes      77  

SECTION 4.04

  Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      78  

SECTION 4.05

  Corporate Existence      78  

SECTION 4.06

  Reports and Other Information      78  

SECTION 4.07

  Compliance Certificate      83  

 

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SECTION 4.08

  Limitation on Restricted Payments      83  

SECTION 4.09

  Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      93  

SECTION 4.10

  Limitation on Liens      103  

SECTION 4.11

  Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries      104  

SECTION 4.12

  Transactions with Affiliates      104  

SECTION 4.13

  Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries that are Not Guarantors      108  

SECTION 4.14

  Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control      112  

SECTION 4.15

  Asset Sales      114  

SECTION 4.16

  Real Estate Mortgages and Filings      119  

SECTION 4.17

  Effectiveness of Covenants      120  

SECTION 4.18

  Limitation on Activities of Co-Issuer      122  

ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS

     122  

SECTION 5.01

  Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets      122  

SECTION 5.02

  Successor Entity Substituted      125  

ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     125  

SECTION 6.01

  Events of Default      125  

SECTION 6.02

  Acceleration      128  

SECTION 6.03

  Other Remedies      128  

SECTION 6.04

  Waiver of Past Defaults      128  

SECTION 6.05

  Control by Majority      129  

SECTION 6.06

  Limitation on Suits      129  

SECTION 6.07

  Rights of Holders to Receive Payment      129  

SECTION 6.08

  Collection Suit by Trustee      130  

SECTION 6.09

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      130  

SECTION 6.10

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      130  

SECTION 6.11

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      130  

SECTION 6.12

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      130  

SECTION 6.13

  Priorities      131  

SECTION 6.14

  Undertaking for Costs      132  

ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE

     132  

SECTION 7.01

  Duties of Trustee      132  

SECTION 7.02

  Rights of Trustee      133  

SECTION 7.03

  Individual Rights of Trustee      135  

SECTION 7.04

  Trustee’s Disclaimer      135  

SECTION 7.05

  Notice of Defaults      135  

SECTION 7.06

  Compensation and Indemnity      136  

SECTION 7.07

  Replacement of Trustee      137  

SECTION 7.08

  Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.      138  

 

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SECTION 7.09

  Eligibility; Disqualification      138  

ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     138  

SECTION 8.01

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      138  

SECTION 8.02

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      138  

SECTION 8.03

  Covenant Defeasance      139  

SECTION 8.04

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      139  

SECTION 8.05

  Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      141  

SECTION 8.06

  Repayment to the Issuers      142  

SECTION 8.07

  Reinstatement      142  

ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     142  

SECTION 9.01

  Without Consent of Holders      142  

SECTION 9.02

  With Consent of Holders      144  

SECTION 9.03

  Revocation and Effect of Consents      146  

SECTION 9.04

  Notation on or Exchange of Notes      146  

SECTION 9.05

  Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.      146  

ARTICLE 10 GUARANTEES

     147  

SECTION 10.01

  Guarantee      147  

SECTION 10.02

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      148  

SECTION 10.03

  Execution and Delivery      149  

SECTION 10.04

  Subrogation      149  

SECTION 10.05

  Benefits Acknowledged      149  

SECTION 10.06

  Release of Guarantees      149  

ARTICLE 11 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     151  

SECTION 11.01

  Satisfaction and Discharge      151  

SECTION 11.02

  Application of Trust Money      152  

ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS

     152  

SECTION 12.01

  [Reserved]      152  

SECTION 12.02

  Notices      152  

SECTION 12.03

  [Reserved]      154  

SECTION 12.04

  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      154  

SECTION 12.05

  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      154  

SECTION 12.06

  Rules by Trustee and Agents      155  

SECTION 12.07

  No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members, Partners and Stockholders      155  

SECTION 12.08

  Governing Law      155  

SECTION 12.09

  Waiver of Jury Trial      155  

SECTION 12.10

  Force Majeure      155  

 

iv


SECTION 12.11

  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      156  

SECTION 12.12

  Successors      156  

SECTION 12.13

  Severability      156  

SECTION 12.14

  Counterpart Originals      156  

SECTION 12.15

  Table of Contents, Headings, etc.      156  

SECTION 12.16

  Facsimile and PDF Delivery of Signature Pages      156  

SECTION 12.17

  U.S.A. PATRIOT Act      156  

SECTION 12.18

  Payments Due on Non-Business Days      157  

SECTION 12.19

  Limited condition transactions; measuring compliance      157  

ARTICLE 13 SECURITY

     159  

SECTION 13.01

  Security Interest      159  

SECTION 13.02

  [Reserved]      160  

SECTION 13.03

  Officer’s Certificate      160  

SECTION 13.04

  Release of Collateral      160  

SECTION 13.05

  Release of Liens      160  

SECTION 13.06

  Form and Sufficiency of Release      161  

SECTION 13.07

  Purchaser Protected      162  

SECTION 13.08

  The Collateral Agent      162  

SECTION 13.09

  Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents      168  

SECTION 13.10

  Amendments to Security Documents      168  

SECTION 13.11

  Impairment of security interest      169  

SECTION 13.12

  After-Acquired Property      169  

SECTION 13.13

  Intercreditor Agreement      169  

 

Appendix A    Provisions Relating to Initial Notes and Additional Notes
Exhibit A    Form of Note
Exhibit B    Form of Institutional Accredited Investor Transferee Letter of Representation
Exhibit C    Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

 

 

v


INDENTURE, dated as of February 15, 2018, among Energy Ventures GoM LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), EnVen Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Co-Issuer” and, together with the Issuer, the “Issuers”), EnVen Energy Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (the “Company”) and the other Guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and Collateral Agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuers have duly authorized the creation of and issue of $325,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11.000% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2023 (the “Initial Notes”); and

WHEREAS, each of the Issuers and the Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture;

NOW, THEREFORE, each of the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01 Definitions.

Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person,

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging, amalgamating or consolidating with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

Unless otherwise stated herein, Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been incurred, with respect to clause (1) of the preceding sentence, on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and, with respect to clause (2) of the preceding sentence, on the date of consummation of such acquisition of assets.

Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01, Section 4.09 and Section 4.10, whether or not they bear the same CUSIP numbers.

Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means (without duplication), as of the date of determination, (1) the sum of:


(a) the discounted future net revenues from Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state or federal or foreign income taxes, as estimated in the reserve report prepared either as of the end of either the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year (or, if such date of determination is within 45 days after the end of such most recently completed fiscal year and no reserve report as of the end of such fiscal year has as yet been prepared by the Company’s petroleum engineers, the Company’s preceding fiscal year), or, at the Company’s option, the most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available, which quarterly reserve report is prepared or audited by independent petroleum engineers as to Proved Reserves accounting for at least 80% of all such discounted future net revenues and by the Company’s petroleum engineers with respect to any other Proved Reserves covered by such report, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

(i) estimated Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired (including on the date of determination) since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, and

(ii) estimated Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of Proved Reserves (including previously estimated development costs incurred during the period and the accretion of discount since the prior period end) since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions,

and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the discounted future net revenue attributable to:

(iii) estimated Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such year-end or quarterly reserve report produced or disposed of (including on the date of determination) since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, and

(iv) reductions in estimated Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in such year-end or quarterly reserve report since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report attributable to downward revisions of estimates of Proved Reserves since the date of such year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable, due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions;

in the case of the preceding clauses (i) through (iv), calculated on a pre-tax basis in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such Person’s year-end or quarterly reserve report, as applicable) and estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers or any independent petroleum engineers engaged by the Company for that purpose;

 

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(b) the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no Proved Reserves are attributable, based on the Company’s books and records as of a date no earlier than the last day of the Company’s most recent quarterly or annual period for which internal financial statements are available;

(c) the Net Working Capital of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the last day of the Company’s most recent quarterly or annual period for which internal financial statements are available; and

(d) (i) the greater of (A) the net book value, and (B) the fair market value of other tangible assets (including Investments in unconsolidated Subsidiaries), and

(ii) restricted cash and notes receivable associated with asset retirement obligations related to Oil and Gas Properties;

in each case, of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of a date no earlier than the last day of the date of the Company’s most recent quarterly or annual period for which internal financial statements are available; provided that the Company shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal of any assets,

minus, to the extent not otherwise taken into account in this clause (1), (2) the sum of:

(a) any amount included in clauses (1)(a)(i) through (1)(a)(iv) above that is attributable to minority interests;

(b) any net gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of the Company’s most recent annual or quarterly period for which internal financial statements are available (to the extent not deducted in calculating Net Working Capital of the Company in accordance with clause (1)(c) above of this definition);

(c) to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated on a pre-tax basis in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices and costs utilized in the applicable reserve report described in clause (1)(a)), attributable to reserves that are required to be delivered to third parties to fully satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Volumetric Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto, and

(d) to the extent included in clause (1)(a) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated on a pre-tax basis in accordance with SEC guidelines attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments that, based on the estimates of production, price and cost assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenues specified in (1)(a) above, would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments on the schedules specified with respect thereto.

 

3


Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date, the excess, if any, of:

(a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at February 15, 2020 (as set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.07), plus (ii) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through February 15, 2020 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over

(b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Note on such Redemption Date, as calculated by the Issuer or on behalf of the Issuer by such Person as the Issuer will designate;

provided that such calculation will not be the duty or obligation of the Trustee.

Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets (including by way of Production Payments and Reserve Sales) outside the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); provided that the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.14 and/or Section 5.01(a) and not by Section 4.15; and

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 4.09 and directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;

 

4


in each case, other than:

(a) any disposition of (i) Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities, (ii) obsolete, damaged or worn out property or assets in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale or no longer used or useful in the ordinary course of business, (iii) assets no longer economically practicable or commercially reasonable to maintain (as determined in good faith by the management of the Company), (iv) dispositions to landlords of improvements made to leased real property pursuant to customary terms of leases entered into in the ordinary course of business and (v) assets for purposes of charitable contributions or similar gifts to the extent such assets are not material to the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to conduct its business in the ordinary course;

(b) any disposition in connection with the making of any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.08 or any Permitted Investment;

(c) any disposition of property or assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary with an aggregate fair market value for any individual transaction or series of related transactions of less than $20.0 million;

(d) any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary;

(e) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in the Oil and Gas Business;

(f) (i) the lease, assignment or sub-lease, license or sublicense of any real or personal property (other than Oil and Gas Properties) and (ii) the exercise of termination rights with respect to any lease, sub-lease, license or sublicense or other agreement, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(g) any issuance, disposition or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness, assets or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary; foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation, eminent domain or any similar action (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any casualty event) with respect to assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

(h) the sale, lease, assignment, license, sublease or discount of inventory, equipment, accounts receivable, notes receivable or other current assets in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable or other dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection thereof;

 

5


(i) the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(j) any surrender, expiration or waiver of contract rights or oil and natural gas leases or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other rights or litigation claims of any kind in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(k) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

(l) the lapse, abandonment or other disposition of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, which in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company are not material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(m) the granting of a Lien that is permitted under Section 4.10;

(n) the issuance of directors’ qualifying shares and shares of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law;

(o) the disposition of any assets (including Equity Interests) (i) acquired in a transaction permitted under this Indenture (other than Oil and Gas Properties), which assets are not used or useful in the principal business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) made in connection with the approval of any applicable antitrust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the good faith determination of the Company to consummate any acquisition permitted under this Indenture;

(p) dispositions of property to the extent that such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property;

(q) dispositions of property in connection with any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction;

(r) a disposition of Hydrocarbons or mineral products inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(s) 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 financing of, and within 60 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto; and

 

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(t) the abandonment, farm-out pursuant to a Farm-Out Agreement, lease or sublease of developed or underdeveloped Oil and Gas Properties owned or held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or which are usual and customary in the Oil and Gas Business generally or in the geographic region in which such activities occur.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease Obligation of any Person, the amount thereof that would appear as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, as amended, or any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means, for any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person or, if such Person does not have such a board of directors or other governing body and is owned or managed by a single entity, the Board of Directors of such entity, or, in either case, any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided, “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Borrowing Base” means the maximum amount determined or re-determined by the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility as the aggregate lending value of the Company and its Subsidiaries’ Proved Reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties against which such lenders are prepared to provide loans, letters of credit or other Indebtedness to the Company and the Subsidiaries under the Revolving Credit Facility, using their customary practices and standards for determining reserve-based borrowing base loans and which are generally applied by commercial lenders to borrowers in the Oil and Gas Business in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, as determined semiannually during each year and/or on such other occasions as may be provided for by the Revolving Credit Facility, and which is based upon, inter alia, the review by such lenders of the hydrocarbon reserves, royalty interests and assets and liabilities of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Legal Holiday.

Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares in the capital of such corporation;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

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(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person;

but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on February 25, 2016 of an Accounting Standards Update (the “ASU”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases for purposes of all financial definitions and calculations for purpose of this Indenture (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASU (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations in the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.06.

Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) U.S. dollars;

(2) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary or any jurisdiction in which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries conducts business, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(3) readily marketable direct obligations issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition;

(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding three years and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the United States dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (4) above or clauses (7), (8) and (9) below entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

 

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(6) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company) and, in each case, maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(7) marketable short-term money market and similar liquid funds having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company);

(8) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or any public instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 36 months from the date of acquisition;

(9) readily marketable direct obligations issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case, having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company) with maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(10) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company) with maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(11) Investments with average maturities of 36 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P is rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Company); and

(12) investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (11) above.

In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States, Cash Equivalents will also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (12) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (ii) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments in clauses (1) through (12) and in this paragraph.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents will include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above; provided that such amounts, except amounts used to pay non-dollar denominated obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, are converted into any currency listed in clause (1) or (2) above as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

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

Cash Management Obligations” means Obligations in connection with, or in respect of, Cash Management Services.

Cash Management Services” means (a) commercial credit cards, merchant card services, purchase or debit cards, including non-card e-payables services, (b) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automatic clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services), (c) foreign exchange, netting and currency management services and (d) any other demand deposit or operating account relationships or other cash management services, including under any Cash Management Agreements.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following after the Issue Date:

(1) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition in one or a series of related transactions (other than by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or business combination) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one or more Permitted Holders;

(2) the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) (a) any Person (other than a Permitted Holder) or (b) Persons (other than one or more Permitted Holders) constituting a “group” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of Equity Interests of the Company representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Company (it being understood and agreed that for purposes of measuring beneficial ownership held by any Person that is not a Permitted Holder, Equity Interests held by any Permitted Holder will be excluded), unless the Permitted Holders have, at such time, directly or indirectly, the right or the ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the board of directors of the Company;

 

10


(3) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company or the merger of any Person with or into a Subsidiary of the Company, unless the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, immediately prior to such transaction, hold securities of the surviving or transferee Person that represent, immediately after such transaction, at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving or transferee Person; or

(4) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, a Change of Control shall not occur as a result of the IPOCo Transactions, the Qualified IPO and any transactions relating thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the contribution of the Equity Interests of the Company to IPOCo and (ii) any transaction in which the Company remains a subsidiary of IPOCo but one or more intermediate holding companies between the Company and IPOCo are added, liquidated, merged or consolidated out of existence. No Change of Control will be deemed to have occurred unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Collateral” means the First Lien Collateral and the Second Lien Collateral.

Collateral Agent” means (a) Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the collateral agent for the holders of the Notes and any Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations and (b) any successor thereto.

Consolidated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and accretion expense, including the amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and the amortization of unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post-employment benefits, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated EBITDAX” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period:

 

  (1)

increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case (other than in the case of clauses (h) and (l)) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

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  (a)

total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, any losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such Hedging Obligations or such derivative instruments, and bank and letter of credit fees, letter of guarantee and bankers’ acceptance fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, together with items excluded from the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense” pursuant to the definition thereof; plus

(b) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, federal, state, franchise, excise, property and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including any future taxes or other levies which replace or are intended to be in lieu of such taxes and any penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations) and the net tax expense associated with any adjustments made pursuant to the definition of “Consolidated Net Income,” and any payments to a Parent Company or equity holders of such Person in respect of such taxes permitted to be made under this Indenture; plus

(c) Consolidated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense for such period; plus

(d) any other non-cash charges, including any write-offs or write-downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period, including any impairment charges or the impact of purchase accounting, including non-cash charges attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations and ceiling test write-downs on Oil and Gas Properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines (provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (A) the Company may determine not to add back such non-cash charge in the current period and (B) to the extent the Company does decide to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof, with the exception of any cash payments related to the settlement of deferred compensation balances awarded prior to the Issue Date, in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDAX to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

(e) minority interest expense, the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of income attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, excluding cash distributions in respect thereof, and the amount of any reductions in arriving at Consolidated Net Income resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 810, Consolidation; plus

(f) the amount of board of director fees and any management, monitoring, consulting, transaction, advisory and other fees (including termination fees) and indemnities and expenses paid or accrued in such period to the extent permitted under Section 4.12; plus

 

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(g) the increase in deferred revenue (to be defined as the amount of long or short term deferred revenue of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP) as of the end of such period from deferred revenue as of the beginning of such period (or minus any such decrease); plus

(h) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDAX or Consolidated Net Income in any prior period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDAX pursuant to clause (2) below for any previous period and not added back; plus

(i) any costs or expenses incurred pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan, agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of such Person or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of such Person (other than Disqualified Stock); plus

(j) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth under the subheading “Non-GAAP Measures—Adjusted EBITDA” under the section “Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data of EnVen” under “Offering Memorandum Summary” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such period; provided that the aggregate amount of addbacks made pursuant to this clause (j) and clause (n) below shall not exceed an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated EBITDAX for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the determination date; plus

(k) any net loss from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations (excluding held-for-sale discontinued operations until actually disposed of); plus

(l) the amount of any loss attributable to a new facility until the date that is 12 months after completing construction of or acquiring such facility, as the case may be; provided that (A) such losses are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and certified by a Financial Officer of the Company and (B) losses attributable to such facility after 12 months from the date of completing construction of or acquisition of such facility, as the case may be, shall not be included in this clause (m); plus

(m) realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus

 

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(n) costs related to the implementation of operational and reporting systems and technology initiatives; provided that the aggregate amount of addbacks made pursuant to this clause (n) and clause (j) above shall not exceed an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated EBITDAX for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the determination date; plus

(o) exploration expenses (to the extent the Company adopts the successful efforts method of accounting); plus

(p) (x) Transaction Expenses and (y) any fees, costs, expenses or charges (other than depreciation and amortization expense) related to any actual, proposed or contemplated issuance or registration (actual or proposed) of an Equity Offering or debt financing (including any one time expense relating to enhanced accounting functions or other transactions costs associated with becoming a public company) or any Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, Restricted Payment or the incurrence or registration (actual or proposed) of Indebtedness (including a refinancing thereof) (in each case, whether or not consummated or successful), including (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Notes and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Revolving Credit Facility, or any other Debt Facilities and (ii) any amendment, waiver or other modification of the Notes, the Revolving Credit Facility, any other Debt Facilities, any other Indebtedness or any Equity Offering, in each case, whether or not consummated, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; and

(2) decreased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

  (a)

non-cash gains for such period (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDAX in any prior period (other than any such accrual or reserve that has been added back to Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBITDAX in accordance with this definition);

(b) the amount of any non-controlling interest consisting of loss attributable to non-controlling interests of third parties in any non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary added to (and not deducted from) Consolidated Net Income in such period;

(c) any income from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations (excluding held-for-sale discontinued operations until actually disposed of);

(d) gains for such period from Hedging Obligations or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standard Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements; and

 

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(e) realized foreign exchange gains resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Indebtedness” means, as of the date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness (other than Hedging Obligations) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:

 

  (1)

cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations), net of cash interest income, with respect to Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness, including commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance or any similar facilities or financings and net cash costs under hedging agreements (other than in connection with the early termination thereof); plus

(2) non-cash interest expense resulting solely from (a) the amortization of original issue discount from the issuance of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries at less than par (excluding the Notes and any Non-Recourse Indebtedness), and (b) pay-in-kind interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries payable pursuant to the terms of the agreements governing Indebtedness for borrowed money, excluding, in each case, (i) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and any other amounts of non-cash interest other than referred to in clauses (2)(a) and (2)(b) above (including as a result of the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting), (ii) interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments, including pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815—Derivatives and Hedging, (iii) costs associated with incurring or terminating Hedging Obligations and cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates, (iv) commissions, discounts, yield, make-whole premium and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) incurred in connection with any Non-Recourse Indebtedness, (v) “additional interest” owing pursuant to a registration rights agreement with respect to any securities, (vi) any payments with respect to make-whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, (vii) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (viii) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness, (ix) interest expense attributable to a Parent Company resulting from push-down accounting, (x) any expense resulting from the discounting of Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting, (xi) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential), with respect thereto in connection with any acquisition or Investment and (xii) annual agency fees paid to the administrative agents and collateral agents (including any security or collateral trust arrangements related thereto) under any Debt Facilities, including the Revolving Credit Facility and the Notes.

 

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For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation will be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding (and excluding the effect of), without duplication,

 

  (1)

extraordinary, exceptional, non-recurring or unusual gains, losses, fees, costs, charges or expenses (including relating to any strategic initiatives and accruals and reserves in connection with such gains, losses, charges or expenses); restructuring costs, charges, accruals or reserves (including restructuring and integration costs related to acquisitions and adjustments to existing reserves, and in each case, whether or not classified as such under GAAP); costs and expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of facilities and fixed assets for alternative uses; Public Company Costs; costs and expenses related to the integration, consolidation, opening, pre-opening and closing of facilities and fixed assets; severance and relocation costs and expenses, one-time compensation costs and expenses, consulting fees, signing, retention or completion bonuses, and executive recruiting costs; costs and expenses incurred in connection with strategic initiatives; transition costs and duplicative running costs; costs and expenses incurred in connection with non-ordinary course product and intellectual property development; costs incurred in connection with acquisitions (or purchases of assets) prior to or after the Issue Date (including integration costs); business optimization expenses (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs, new systems design, retention charges, system establishment costs and implementation costs and project start-up costs), accruals and reserves; operating expenses attributable to the implementation of cost-savings initiatives; curtailments and modifications to pension and post-employment employee benefit plans (including any settlement of pension liabilities and charges resulting from changes in estimates, valuations and judgments);

(2) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period whether effected through a cumulative effect adjustment or a retroactive application, in each case in accordance with GAAP;

(3) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary and, solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.08(a)(3)(A), the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of a Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents), to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

 

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(4) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.08(a)(3)(A), the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived (or the Company reasonably believes such restriction could be waived and is using commercially reasonable efforts to pursue such waiver); provided that Consolidated Net Income of a Person will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into cash or Cash Equivalents), or the amount that could have been paid in cash or Cash Equivalents without violating any such restriction or requiring any such approval, to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(5) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) related to the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting (including in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, intangible assets, in process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items);

(6) income (loss) from the early extinguishment or conversion of (a) Indebtedness, (b) Hedging Obligations or (c) other derivative instruments;

(7) (a) any impairment charges or asset write-off or write-down, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP; and (b) any impairment charges, asset write-off or write-down, including ceiling test write-downs on Oil and Gas Properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines;

(8) (a) any equity or phantom equity based or non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from grants of stock appreciation rights, equity incentive programs or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights to, and any cash charges associated with the rollover, acceleration, or payout of, Equity Interests by management of such Person or of a Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Company, (b) noncash compensation expense resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation or Accounting Standards Codification Topic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees and (c) any income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts;

(9) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted in connection with an Investment or an acquisition that are required to be established or adjusted as a result of such Investment or such acquisition, in each case in accordance with GAAP;

 

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(10) any expenses, charges or losses to the extent covered by insurance that are, directly or indirectly, reimbursed or reimbursable by a third party, and any expenses, charges or losses that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any acquisition, Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture;

(11) any non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by the applicable standard under GAAP and related interpretations;

(12) without duplication, an amount equal to the amount of distributions actually made to any parent or equity holder of such Person in respect of income taxes for such period in accordance with Sections 4.08(b)(13)(B) or (13)(C) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such person for such period;

(13) non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances shall be excluded (except to the extent reversing a previously recognized increase to net income);

(14) the following items shall be excluded:

(i) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with the entry into or termination of any Hedge Agreements; and

(ii) any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 460, Guarantees, or any comparable regulation;

(15) any non-cash rent expense; and

(16) earn-out and contingent consideration obligations (including to the extent accounted for as bonuses or otherwise) and adjustments thereof and purchase price adjustments.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received or receivable from business interruption insurance, the amount of any expenses or charges incurred by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are, directly or indirectly, reimbursed or reimbursable by a third party, and amounts that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any acquisition, Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.08 only (other than clause (a)(3)(D) thereof), there will be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchases and redemptions of Restricted Investments from such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayments of loans and advances which constitute Restricted Investments by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary, any sale of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case only to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 4.08(a)(3)(D).

 

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Consolidated Second Lien Secured Debt Ratio” as of any date of determination means, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that constitutes Second Lien Obligations as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur; provided that any such Indebtedness constituting Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1) shall not be included in such calculation; to (2) Consolidated EBITDAX of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Indebtedness, Cash Equivalents and Consolidated EBITDAX as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other monetary obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

  (1)

to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

(2) to advance or supply funds

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or (3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person, other than any Investor, which directly or indirectly is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person controlling such Person) primarily for making direct or indirect equity or debt investments in the Company and/or other companies.

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders and the Company.

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

De Minimis Amount” means Indebtedness that does not exceed $10.0 million in aggregate principal amount.

 

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Debt Facilities” means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more debt facilities, including the Revolving Credit Facility or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, note issuances, letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes, capital markets financings, private placements, receivables financings (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purposes entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables), mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and other agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof, in whole or in part, and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund, supplement, extend, renew, restate, amend, modify or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such exchange, replacement, refunding, supplemental, extended, renewed, restated, amended, modified or refinancing facility, arrangement or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed or issued thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings or issuances is permitted by Section 4.09) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, trustee, lender or group of lenders or holders.

Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note or Additional Note (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 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 provision of this Indenture.

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale, redemption or repurchase of, or collection or payment on, such Designated Non-Cash Consideration.

Designated Revolving Commitments” means any commitments to make loans or extend credit on a revolving basis to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary by any Person other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that have been designated in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee as “Designated Revolving Commitments” until such time as the Company subsequently delivers an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee to the effect that such commitments will no longer constitute “Designated Revolving Commitments”; provided that such Designated Revolving Commitments will be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness on such date and during such time will be deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and the availability of any baskets hereunder.

 

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Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than (i) for any Qualified Equity Interests or (ii) solely as a result of a change of control, asset sale, casualty, condemnation or eminent domain) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than for any Qualified Equity Interests or solely as a result of a change of control, asset sale, casualty, condemnation or eminent domain), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided, however, that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided, further, that if such Capital Stock is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of future, current or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any Parent Company or by any such plan to such employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof), such Capital Stock will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s, consultant’s or independent contractor’s termination, death or disability; provided, further that any Capital Stock held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any Parent Company, or any other entity in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the Board of Directors (or the compensation committee thereof), in each case pursuant to any equity subscription or equity holders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s, director’s, officer’s, management member’s, consultant’s or independent contractor’s termination, death or disability. For the purposes hereof, the aggregate principal amount of Disqualified Stock will be deemed to be equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and maximum fixed repurchase price, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Series A Preferred Stock be considered Disqualified Stock.

Dollar-Denominated Production Payments” means production payment obligations recorded as liabilities in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.

Domestic Restricted Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that was formed under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

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Domestic Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

EMU” means the economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, the Capital Stock of such Person and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock of such Person, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock of such Person.

Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of common equity or Preferred Stock of the Company or any Parent Company (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or any Parent Company’s common equity registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(2) issuances to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

Escrowed Proceeds” means the proceeds from the offering of any debt securities or other Indebtedness paid into an escrow account with an independent escrow agent on the date of the applicable offering or incurrence pursuant to escrow arrangements that permit the release of amounts on deposit in such escrow account upon satisfaction of certain conditions or the occurrence of certain events. The term “Escrowed Proceeds” shall include any interest earned on the amounts held in escrow.

Euros” means the single currency of participating member states of the EMU.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, the fair market value of marketable securities or the fair market value of Qualified Proceeds received by the Company from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital;

(2) dividends, distributions, fees and other payments from any joint ventures that are not Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(3) the sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

 

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in each case, designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate or that are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.08(a)(3).

Excluded Property” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

fair market value” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Company in good faith.

Farm-In Agreement” means an agreement whereby a Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of one or more exploratory or development wells (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interests therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well or wells as all or a part of the consideration provided in exchange for an ownership interest in an Oil and Gas Property.

Farm-Out Agreement” means a Farm-In Agreement, viewed from the standpoint of the party that transfers an ownership interest to another.

Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, accounting officer, treasurer, controller or other senior financial or accounting officer of the Company, as appropriate.

First Lien Collateral” means any collateral or other assets with respect to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted pursuant to any First Lien Documents or any Security Documents, as applicable, as security for any First Lien Obligations.

First Lien Collateral Agent” means the agent from time to time under the Revolving Credit Facility and Intercreditor Agreement who has authority to act for the holders of related First Lien Obligations.

First Lien Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Credit Facility and all agreements, documents and instruments at any time executed and/or delivered by the Issuers or any Guarantor or any other Person to, with or in favor of any First Lien Secured Party in connection therewith or related thereto, as all of the foregoing now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, restated, Refinanced, replaced or restructured (in whole or in part and including any agreements with, to or in favor of any other lender or group of lenders that at any time refinances or succeeds to all or any portion of the First Lien Obligations on the terms set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement).

First Lien Lenders” shall mean, collectively, any Person party to the First Lien Documents as a lender (and including any other Person that at any time refinances, replaces or succeeds to all or any portion of the First Lien Obligations or is otherwise party to the First Lien Documents).

First Lien Obligations” means all obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility and any other obligations which are secured by a Lien on First Lien Collateral ranking in parity with the obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility or would have ranked pari passu if the obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement were outstanding; provided that the First Lien Obligations shall be limited to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1).

 

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First Lien Secured Parties” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Credit Agreement, collectively, the First Lien Collateral Agent, the lenders thereunder and their Affiliates, any supplemental First Lien Collateral Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by any such First Lien Collateral Agent from time to time and (b) with respect to any other First Lien Document, all lenders, holders or agents thereunder to which any First Lien Obligations are owing.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (1) Consolidated EBITDAX of the Company for such Test Period to (2) the Fixed Charges of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period.

In the event that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility or line of credit unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and not replaced) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock or establishes or eliminates any Designated Revolving Commitments, in each case, subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the most recently ended Test Period (and for all purposes, as if Indebtedness in the full amount of any undrawn Designated Revolving Commitments had been incurred thereunder throughout such period).

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, any Specified Transaction that has been consummated by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary during any Test Period or subsequent to such Test Period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date will be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated EBITDAX resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the Test Period. If since the beginning of such Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such Test Period will have made any Specified Transaction that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such Test Period as if such Specified Transaction had occurred at the beginning of the most recently ended Test Period.

For purposes of this definition in this Indenture, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any Specified Transaction, the pro forma calculations will be made in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Company and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of “run-rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies projected by the Company in

 

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good faith to result from or relating to any Specified Transaction (including acquisitions occurring prior to the Issue Date) which is being given pro forma effect that have been realized or are expected to be realized and for which the actions necessary to realize such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies are taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (in the good faith determination of the Company) no later than 18 months after the date of any such Specified Transaction (in each case as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies had been realized on the first day of the applicable period and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies were realized for the entirety of such period) and that are set forth in an Officer’s Certificate signed by the chief financial or accounting officer of such Person that states (a) the amount of each such adjustment, (b) that such adjustments are based on the good faith of the Officer executed such Officer’s Certificate at the time of execution and (c) the factual basis on which such good faith belief is made. For the purposes of this Indenture, “run-rate” means the full recurring benefit for a period that is associated with any action taken or with respect to which substantial steps have been taken or are expected to be taken (including any savings expected to result from the elimination of a public target’s compliance costs with public company requirements), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on Indebtedness 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, will be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate. Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, 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.

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

(2) all cash dividends or other cash distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person during such period; and

(3) all cash dividends or other cash distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock during such period.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

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GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America 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 or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, as in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (i) the amount of any Indebtedness under GAAP with respect to Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness shall be determined in accordance with the definition of Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness, respectively and (ii) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries at “fair value,” as defined therein.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state, local, or otherwise, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Government Securities” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States.

that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and will also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; 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 depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations. The amount of any guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such person in good faith.

 

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Guarantee” means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Issuers’ Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

Guarantor” means (1) the Company and (2) each Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than the Issuers) if any (each, a “Subsidiary Guarantor”), that Guarantees the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (excluding any Parent Company that guarantees the Notes).

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, commodity option, forward commodity contract, basis differential swap, fixed-price physical delivery contract or other similar agreement or arrangement in respect of Hydrocarbons, foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency collar agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer, modification or mitigation of interest rate, currency, commodity risks or equity risks either generally or under specific contingencies.

Holder” at anytime, means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar’s books at such time.

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 products refined or processed therefrom.

Immediate Family Members” means with respect to any individual, such individual’s child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, qualified domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including, in each case, adoptive relationships) and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor-advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.

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

(1) any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(a) in respect of borrowed money;

(b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

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(c) representing the deferred and unpaid balance of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) due more than 12 months after such property is acquired, except (i) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation is reflected as a liability on the balance sheet (excluding any footnotes thereto) of such Person in accordance with GAAP and is not paid within 60 days after becoming due and payable, (iii) obligations arising under any firm transportation or take-or-pay contract and (iv) accruals for payroll and other liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business; or

(d) representing the net obligations under any Hedging Obligations;

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than obligations in respect of letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that Indebtedness of any Parent Company appearing upon the balance sheet of the Company solely by reason of pushdown accounting under GAAP will be excluded;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of this definition of a third Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice; and

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of this definition of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (i) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include (a) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (b) reimbursement obligations under commercial letters of credit (provided that unreimbursed amounts under commercial letters of credit will be counted as Indebtedness three Business Days after such amount is drawn), (c) accrued expenses, (d) deferred or prepaid revenues, (e) asset retirement obligations and obligations in respect of reclamation and workers compensation, early retirement or termination obligations (including pensions and retiree medical care) or social security or wage taxes, (f) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, (g) Production Payments and Reserve Sales, (h) 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 a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in

 

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exchange for an ownership interest in an oil or natural gas property, (i) Hedging Obligations; provided that such agreements are entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Company or its 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 any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option contract or other similar agreement, such agreements are related to business transactions of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and, in the case of any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate futures agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement, such agreements substantially correspond in terms of notional amount, duration and interest rates, as applicable, to Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred without violation of this Indenture, (j) obligations in respect of surety and bonding requirements of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (k) in-kind obligations relating to net oil, natural gas liquids or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business, (l) trade and other ordinary course payables, accrued expenses and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (m) in the case of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business and (y) intercompany liabilities in connection with cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (n) obligations under or in respect of operating leases or Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (except any resulting Capitalized Lease Obligations), (o) any lease, concession or license of property (or Guarantee thereof) which would be considered an operating lease under GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date, any prepayments of deposits received from clients or customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (p) obligations under any license, permit or other approval (or Guarantees given in respect of such obligations) incurred prior to the Issue Date or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (q) in connection with the purchase by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any business, any post-closing payment adjustments to which the seller may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the performance of such business after the closing; provided, however, that, at the time of closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid in a timely manner and (r) Capital Stock; provided, further that Indebtedness will be calculated without giving effect to the effects of Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any time in the case of a revolving credit or similar facility shall be the total amount of funds borrowed and then outstanding. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (a) the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (b) the principal amount of Indebtedness, or liquidation preference thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

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Independent Assets or Operations” means, with respect to any Parent Company, that Parent Company’s total assets, revenues, income from continuing operations before income taxes and cash flows from operating activities (excluding in each case amounts related to its investment in the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries), determined in accordance with GAAP and as shown on the most recent balance sheet of such Parent Company, is, in each case, more than 3% of such Parent Company’s corresponding consolidated amount.

Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

Initial Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement to be dated as of the Issue Date among the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Holders of the Notes, and the First Lien Collateral Agent, for itself and the secured parties under the Revolving Credit Facility, defining the rights of the First Lien Secured Parties in relationship to the Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral, as amended, modified, restated, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Interest Payment Date” means February 15 and August 15 of each year to Stated Maturity of the Notes.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency selected by the Company, in each case, with a stable or better outlook.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

 

  (1)

securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

 

  (2)

debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or debt instruments constituting loans or advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

  (3)

investments in any fund that invests substantially all of its assets in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) of this definition which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution; and

 

  (4)

corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments.

 

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Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, credit card and debit card receivables, trade credit, advances to customers, commission, travel and similar advances to employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants and independent contractors, in each case made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice) or purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person. For purposes of the definitions of “Permitted Investments” and “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.08:

(1) “Investments” will include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; minus

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer.

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time will be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Investor” means any of Bain Capital Credit, LP, Adage Capital Partners, L.P., EIG Global Energy Partners and Shell Offshore Inc. and any of their respective Affiliates and funds or partnerships managed or advised by any of them or any of them or any of their respective Affiliates but not including, however, any portfolio company of any of the foregoing.

IPOCo” means a Person formed to acquire, directly or indirectly, Equity Interests of the Company in order to undertake a Qualified IPO of such Person’s Capital Stock.

IPOCo Transactions” means the transactions in connection with the formation and capitalization of IPOCo prior to and in connection with the Qualified IPO, including, without limitation, (1) the legal formation of IPOCo and one or more Subsidiaries of the Permitted Holders to own interests therein, (2) the contribution, directly or indirectly, of the Equity Interests of the Company and other Subsidiaries of the Company to IPOCo, or the other acquisition by IPOCo thereof, (3) the conversion of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Company into a new class of Equity Interests in the Company, (4) the issuance of Capital Stock of IPOCo or the Company to the public and the use of proceeds therefrom to pay transaction expenses, distribute funds as a reimbursement for capital expenditures, and other purposes approved by a Permitted Holder, (5) the execution, delivery and performance of customary

 

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documentation (and amendments to existing documentation) governing the relations between and among the Company, IPOCo, the Permitted Holders and their respective Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the execution, delivery and performance of a tax receivables agreement among IPOCo, the Company and the Permitted Holders on customary terms for similar transactions and (6) any other transactions and documentation related to the foregoing or necessary or appropriate in the view of the Permitted Holders or the Board of Directors of the Company or any Parent Company in connection with the Qualified IPO.

Issue Date” means February 15, 2018.

Legal Holiday” means Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York or at a place of payment.

Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to (2) the Company’s Consolidated EBITDAX for the most recently ended four-quarter period (or in the case of Section 4.08(a)(2), the Company’s Consolidated EBITDAX for the last fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available calculated on an annualized basis, subject to any limitations set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDAX” (including clauses (j) and (n) thereof)) immediately preceding the date on which such event for which such calculation is being made shall occur, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Indebtedness and Consolidated EBITDAX as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event will an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Management Stockholders” means (a) the directors, managers, executive officers and other members of management (and their Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members and any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company (or a Parent Company) who are holders of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent Company on the Issue Date together with (b) (i) any new directors or managers whose election by such boards of directors or managers or whose nomination for election by the equity holders of the Company or any Parent Company, as applicable, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors or managers of the Company or any Parent Company, as applicable, then still in office who were either directors or managers on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved and (ii) executive officers and other management personnel of the Company or any Parent Company, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors or managers on the Issue Date together with the directors or managers so approved constituted a majority of the directors or managers of the Company or any Parent Company, as applicable.

 

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Modified ACNTA” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets calculated as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the calculation date, on the following basis:

(1) in lieu of commodity pricing based on SEC guidelines, Modified ACNTA Prices shall be used after giving effect to hedging as determined in good faith by the Company;

(2) such calculation shall be based on then current estimates of costs determined in good faith by the Company in light of prevailing market conditions;

(3) any assets or liabilities owned by Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall be disregarded in such calculation; and

(4) Net Working Capital will be calculated without including net cash proceeds of the Notes issued on the Issue Date.

Modified ACNTA Prices” means, as of any date of determination, the five-year (or nearest reasonably available period) strip price for crude oil (WTI Cushing), for natural gas liquids (Mount Belvieu) and natural gas (Henry Hub), with such price held flat for each subsequent year, quoted on the NYMEX (or its successor) as of the calculation date (as referred to in the definition of Modified ACNTA) as published in Platts or if Platts no longer is published or no longer regularly reports each of the definitions specified in this definition, another industry publication that regularly reports each of the prices specified in this definition.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

Mortgages” means the mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents creating Liens securing Second Lien Obligations on the Collateral encumbered by and described in the mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents.

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash and Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash and Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable law, brokerage and sales commissions, title insurance premiums, related search and recording charges, survey costs and mortgage recording tax paid in connection therewith, all dividends, distributions or other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of any such Asset Sale by a Restricted Subsidiary, the amount of any purchase price or similar adjustment claimed by any Person to be owed by the Company

 

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or any Restricted Subsidiary, until such time as such claim will have been settled or otherwise finally resolved, or paid or payable by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in either case in respect of such Asset Sale, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, costs and expenses or other amounts payable in connection with unwinding any Hedging Obligation in connection therewith, other fees and expenses, including title and recordation expenses, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof or any transactions occurring or deemed to occur to effectuate a payment under this Indenture (including the amount of distributions in respect of taxes actually made to any Parent Company and after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related solely to such disposition), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) or amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets and required (other than required by Section 4.15(b)(1)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, amounts paid in connection with the termination of Hedging Obligations related to Indebtedness repaid with such proceeds or hedging oil, natural gas and natural gas liquid production in notional volumes corresponding to the Oil and Gas Properties subject to such Asset Sale, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

Net Working Capital” of any Person as of any date of determination means the amount (shown on the balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of such Person for which internal financial statements are available) by which (a) all current assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries other than current assets from Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts, exceeds (b) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than (i) current liabilities included in Indebtedness, (ii) current liabilities associated with asset retirement obligations relating to oil and gas properties and (iii) any current liabilities from Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Contracts, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP (excluding any adjustments made pursuant to FASB ASC 815).

Non-Recourse Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is non-recourse to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Notes” means the Initial Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall also include any Additional Notes that may be issued under a supplemental indenture and Notes to be issued or authenticated upon transfer, replacement or exchange of Notes.

NYMEX” means the New York Mercantile Exchange and any successor to its commodity future exchange business.

 

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Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing on or subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), premium, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum dated February 6, 2018 related to the offer and sale of the Notes.

Offer to Purchase” means an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer.

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President (whether or not designated by a number or numbers or word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), the Treasurer or the Secretary of any Person. Unless otherwise indicated, Officer shall refer to an officer of the Company.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of a Person by an Officer of such Person that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Oil and Gas Business” means:

(1) the business of acquiring, exploring, exploiting, developing, producing, operating and disposing of interests in oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas and other Hydrocarbons and mineral properties or products produced in association with any of the foregoing;

(2) the business of gathering, marketing, distributing, treating, processing, storing, refining, selling and transporting of any production from such interests or properties and products produced in association therewith and the marketing of oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and minerals obtained from unrelated Persons;

(3) any business relating to exploration for or development, production, treatment, processing (but not refining), storage, transportation or marketing of oil, gas and other minerals and products produced in association therewith;

(4) any business relating to oil field sales and service; and

(5) any business or activity relating to, arising from, or necessary, appropriate, incidental or ancillary to the activities described in the foregoing clauses (1) through (4) of this definition.

 

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Oil and Gas Hedging Contracts” means any puts, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, forward contract, commodity swap agreement, commodity option agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement in respect of Hydrocarbons that are designed to protect such Person against or manage exposure to fluctuation in Hydrocarbons prices.

Oil and Gas Properties” means (a) all properties, including equity or other ownership interests therein, owned by a Person which contain or are believed to contain oil and natural gas reserves or other reserves of Hydrocarbons, (b) the properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests, (c) all presently existing or future unitization agreements, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled or unitized units and the units created thereby (including all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any governmental authority) which may affect all or any portion of any Hydrocarbon Interests, (d) all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements, including production sharing contracts and agreements, which relate to any Hydrocarbon Interests or the production, sale, purchase, exchange or processing of Hydrocarbons from or attributable to such Hydrocarbon Interests, (e) all Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced and saved or attributable to Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to Hydrocarbon Interests, (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to Hydrocarbon Interests and (g) all properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all property, real or personal, now owned or hereafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any Hydrocarbon Interests or property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment, rental equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, gas processing plants and pipeline systems and any related infrastructure to any thereof, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Issuer.

ordinary course of business” means activity conducted in the ordinary course of business of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary.

Parent Company” means any Person that is or becomes after the Issue Date a direct or indirect parent (which may be organized as, among other things, a partnership) of the Company.

Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations” means Additional Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture or other Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking pari passu with the Lien on the Collateral securing the Notes and the Guarantees, in either case as permitted by this Indenture, so long as after giving effect to such incurrence and

 

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such Liens the Consolidated Second Lien Secured Debt Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, with the full amount of availability under Debt Facilities constituting Second Lien Obligations being deemed to have been incurred on the date of determination and with letters of credit constituting Second Lien Obligations being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) shall be equal to or less than 1.50 to 1.00 for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such Lien is incurred; provided, however, that (i) the representative of such other Indebtedness executes a joinder agreement to the Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, agreeing to be bound thereby and (ii) the Issuer has designated such Indebtedness as “Second Lien Debt” under the Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.

Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and another Person; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a Permitted Asset Swap that constitutes an Asset Sale must be applied in accordance with Section 4.15.

Permitted Business Investment” means any Investment and/or expenditure of a nature that is or shall have become customary in the Oil and Gas Business generally or in the geographic region in which such activities occur, including investments or expenditures for actively exploiting, exploring for, acquiring, developing, producing, processing, gathering, marketing, distributing, storing or transporting oil, natural gas or other Hydrocarbons and minerals (including with respect to plugging and abandonment) through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements which permit one to share risks or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including:

(1) Investments in ownership interests (including equity, joint venture or other ownership interests or other project sharing or participation agreements) in oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and minerals properties, liquefied natural gas facilities, processing facilities, gathering systems, pipelines, storage facilities or related systems or ancillary real property interests;

(2) Investments in the form of or pursuant to operating agreements, working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, processing agreements, Farm-In Agreements, Farm-Out Agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and minerals, production sharing agreements, participation agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling agreements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements (whether general or limited), subscription agreements, stock purchase agreements, stockholder agreements and other similar agreements (including for limited liability companies) with third parties; and

(3) Investments in direct or indirect ownership interests (including joint venture ownership) in drilling rigs and related equipment, including, without limitation, transportation equipment; and

 

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(4) Investments in Persons formed for the purpose of owning or operating floating production systems, floating production storage and offloading vessels, spars, platforms, drilling rigs, drilling vessels and/ or other equipment or facilities designed for offshore exploration and production activities.

Permitted Holder” means (1) any of the Investors and Management Stockholders, (2) any Person that directly or indirectly holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the Permitted Holders, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof (such Person, a “Permitted Parent”), (3) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of which any of the Permitted Holders are members; provided that in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, the Investors and Management Stockholders, collectively, have, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any Permitted Parent and (4) any Person acting in the capacity of an underwriter (solely to the extent that and for so long as such Person is acting in such capacity) in connection with a public or private offering of Capital Stock of the Company or any Parent Company. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which any required Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture (or would have required a Change of Control Offer in the absence of the waiver of such requirement by Holders or otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture) will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (including guarantees of obligations of the Restricted Subsidiaries);

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and Investments that were Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities when made;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Person that is engaged (directly or through entities that will be Restricted Subsidiaries) in the Oil and Gas Business, or in a business unit, line of business or division of such Person, or in a Similar Business, if as a result of such Investment:

(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or

(b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is amalgamated, merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets or assets constituting such business unit, line of business or division in which such Investment was made, as applicable, to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer or conveyance;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 4.15 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale; provided that such Investments shall be pledged as Collateral to the extent the assets subject to the Asset Sale constituted Collateral to the extent required under this Indenture and the Security Documents;

(5) any Investment existing on the Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification, replacement, renewal or reinvestment of any Investment or binding commitment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment or binding commitment may be increased only (a) as required by the terms of such Investment or binding commitment as in existence on the Issue Date (including as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities) or (b) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(6) any Investment acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary:

(a) in exchange for any other Investment, accounts receivable or indorsements for collection or deposit held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable (including any trade creditor or customer);

(b) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons;

(c) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(d) as a result of the settlement, compromise or resolution of (A) litigation, arbitration or other disputes or (B) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or

(e) consisting of extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(7) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.09(b)(10);

 

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(8) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any Parent Company; provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.08(a)(3);

(9) (a) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09 and Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (b) the creation of Liens on the assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 4.10 and (c) guarantees of performance or other obligations (other than Indebtedness) arising in the ordinary course in the Oil and Gas Business, including obligations under Hydrocarbon exploration, development, joint operating and related agreements and licenses, concessions or operating leases related to the Oil and Gas Business;

(10) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, services, equipment or similar assets or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(11) Investments, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (11) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed (as of the date such Investment is made) the greater of (a) $50.0 million and (b) 5.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such Investment; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (11) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (11) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(12) loans and advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors, employees, consultants, members of management and independent contractors not in excess of $2.5 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

(13) loans and advances to employees, directors, officers, members of management, independent contractors and consultants for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses, payroll advances and other similar expenses or payroll expenses, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or consistent with industry practice or to future, present and former employees, directors, officers, members of management, independent contractors and consultants (and their Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members) to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent Company;

(14) advances, loans or extensions of trade credit or prepayments to suppliers or loans or advances made to distributors, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or on customary trade terms of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiary or consistent with industry practice by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(15) any Investment in any Subsidiary or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(16) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of assets or services in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(17) Investments made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contracts and loans or advances made to distributors;

(18) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers compensation, performance and similar deposits entered into as a result of the operations of the business in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(19) Investments in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;

(20) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(21) pledges or deposits with respect to leases or utilities provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or Liens otherwise described in the definition of “Permitted Liens” or made in connection with Liens permitted under Section 4.10;

(22) Investments of assets relating to non-qualified deferred payment plans in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(23) intercompany current liabilities owed to Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(24) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(25) loans and advances to any Parent Company in lieu of and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other loans, advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof) Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made in cash to such Parent Company in accordance with Section 4.08 at such time, such Investment being treated for purposes of the applicable clause of Section 4.08, including any limitations, as if a Restricted Payment were made pursuant to such applicable clause;

 

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(26) Investments consisting of any earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement or other acquisitions to the extent not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;

(27) Investments constituting promissory notes or other non-cash proceeds of dispositions of assets to the extent permitted under Section 4.15;

(28) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization, recapitalization or similar arrangement of the Company;

(29) Guarantees of performance or other obligations arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice in a Similar Business, including obligations under oil and natural gas exploration, development, joint operating and related agreements and licenses, concessions or operating leases related to a Similar Business;

(30) loans or grants in respect of community development projects made in the ordinary course of business customary in a Similar Business as appropriate for the Issuer’s regions of operations and consistent with past practice or counterparty requirement; and

(31) Permitted Business Investments.

For purposes of determining compliance with this definition, (A) an Investment need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Investments described in this definition but is permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption and (B) in the event that an Investment (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Investments, the Company will, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify such Investment (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this definition and Section 4.08.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) Liens securing Obligations in respect of the Notes issued on the Issue Date (but excluding Additional Notes), the related Guarantees and other Obligations in respect thereof;

(2) Liens securing First Lien Obligations or Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations in respect of (i) Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under any Debt Facility, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, that was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1); provided that in the case of Liens securing Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations in respect of Section 4.09(b)(1), the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be required to comply with the Consolidated Second Lien Secured Debt Ratio contained in the definition of Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations and (ii) (A) Hedging Obligations and (B) Obligations in respect of Cash Management Services;

 

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(3) Liens, pledges or deposits by such Person made in connection with (A) workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance, health, disability or employee benefits or other social security laws or similar legislation or regulations, (B) insurance-related obligations (including, in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar documents or instruments for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or otherwise supporting the payment of items set forth in the foregoing clause (A), (C) bids, tenders, contracts, statutory obligations, surety, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds, or with regard to other regulatory requirements, completion guarantees, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds, bankers’ acceptance facilities, and other obligations of like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) (other than for the payment of Indebtedness), or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash, Cash Equivalents or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for the payment of rent, contested taxes or import duties and obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments that have been posted to support the same, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or (D) deposits to secure plugging and abandonment obligations or public or statutory obligations of such Person;

(4) Liens imposed by law, such as landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction and mechanics’ Liens and other similar Liens, or similar landlord Liens specifically created by contract, and (i) for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 60 days or, if more than 60 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Liens or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or other Liens arising out of or securing judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person will then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if such Liens are adequately bonded or adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(5) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or not yet payable or not subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(6) Liens (A) in favor of issuers of performance, surety, bid, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds, instruments or obligations or with respect to regulatory requirements or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptance issued, and completion guarantees provided, in each case, pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business or consistent with past practice or industry practice and (B) securing other obligations in respect of surety and bonding requirements;

 

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(7) survey exceptions, encumbrances, ground leases, subleases, easements, restrictions, protrusions, encroachments or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, sublicences, rights-of-way, servitudes, sewers, electric lines, drains, telegraph, telephone and cable television lines, pipelines, transportation lines, distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil or other minerals and other similar purposes or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(8) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Sections 4.09(b)(4), (b)(6) or (b)(13) or, with respect to assumed Indebtedness not incurred in contemplation of the relevant acquisition, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock only, Section 4.09(b)(14); provided that:

(a) Liens securing obligations relating to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to clause (13) relate only to obligations relating to Refinancing Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on the same assets as the assets securing the Refinanced Debt (as defined in the definition of Refinancing Indebtedness), plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof and after-acquired property, or serves to refund, refinance, extend, replace, renew or defease Indebtedness incurred under Sections 4.09(b)(4) or (b)(13); provided that in each case the priority of such Lien securing the Obligations incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(13), is equal to or junior to the Lien securing the Obligations being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased;

(b) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(4) extend only to the assets so purchased, replaced, leased or improved and proceeds and products thereof; provided, further that individual financings of assets provided by a counterparty may be cross-collateralized to other financings of assets provided by such counterparty; and

(c) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be assumed pursuant to such Section 4.09(b)(14) are solely on acquired property or the assets of the acquired entity (other than after acquired property that is (A) affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, (B) after acquired property subject to a Lien securing such Indebtedness, the terms of which Indebtedness require or include a pledge of after acquired property (it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition) and (C) the proceeds and products thereof);

 

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(9) Liens existing, or provided for under binding contracts existing, on the Issue Date (but excluding Liens in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility);

(10) Liens on property or shares of stock or other assets of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; Liens on property or other assets at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property or such other assets, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, amalgamation, merger or consolidation) and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien (to the extent the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Liens are permitted by this Indenture); provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Liens do not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Liens prior to such replacement, extension or renewal (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof and after-acquired property);

(11) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09;

(12) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s accounts payable or similar obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(13) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (or other agreement under which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has granted rights to end users to access and use the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s products, technologies or services) that do not either (a) materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) secure any Indebtedness;

(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) financing statement filings regarding operating leases, consignments or accounts entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) financing statements or similar public filings;

(15) Liens in favor of the Issuers or any Guarantor;

(16) Liens on equipment or vehicles of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(17) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 4.09(b)(14) or (b)(28);

 

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(18) Liens to secure any modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive modification, refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock secured by any Lien referred to in clauses (8), (9), (10), (11), (17) or this clause (18) of this definition; provided that (a) such new Lien will be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof and after-acquired property) and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described in clauses (8), (9), (10), (11) or this clause (18) of this definition at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (iii) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness;

(19) pledges and deposits made or other security provided to secure liability to insurance brokers, carriers, underwriters or self-insurance arrangements, including Liens or insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(20) other Liens securing obligations in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed (as of the date any such Lien is incurred) the greater of (i) $50.0 million and (ii) 5.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of incurrence;

(21) (a) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods and (b) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(22) (i) the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, (ii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangements for the sale of goods in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and (iii) Liens arising by operation of law under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code;

(23) Liens securing judgments, attachments or awards for the payment of money, notices of lis pendens not constituting an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a)(6);

 

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(24) Liens (a) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 or 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (b) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, and (c) in favor of banking or other institutions or other electronic payment service providers arising as a matter of law or under general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or margin deposits or other funds maintained with such institution (including the right of set off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(25) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (a) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other deposit-taking financial institutions or other electronic payment service providers and not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (b) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (c) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(26) Liens on cash proceeds (as defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) of assets sold that were subject to a Lien permitted hereunder;

(27) (a) any encumbrance, restriction or other Lien (including put, call arrangements, tag, drag, right of first refusal and similar rights) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture agreement or similar agreement; and

(b) Liens on cash advances or cash earnest money deposits in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Indenture to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment;

(28) Liens securing Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant Section 4.09 (including, without limitation, Indebtedness incurred under one or more Debt Facilities);

(29) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(27);

(30) Liens on Capital Stock or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(31) any (a) interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease, liens reserved in oil, natural gas or other Hydrocarbons, minerals, leases for bonus, royalty or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases; (b) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessor’s, sublessor’s, licensor’s or sublicensor’s interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice; (c) restriction or encumbrance that the interest or title of such lessor or sublessor may be subject to (including, without limitation, ground leases or other prior leases of the demised premises, mortgages, mechanics’ liens, tax liens and easements); or (d) subordination of the interest of the lessee or sublessee under such lease to any restrictions or encumbrance referred to in the preceding clause (c);

 

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(32) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice of the Company and such Subsidiary to secure the performance of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;

(33) Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness; provided that such satisfaction or discharge is permitted under this Indenture;

(34) receipt of progress payments and advances from customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice to the extent the same creates a Lien on the related inventory and proceeds thereof and Liens on property or assets under construction arising from progress or partial payments by a third party relating to such property or assets;

(35) agreements to subordinate any interest of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any accounts receivable or other proceeds arising from inventory consigned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(36) Liens securing Guarantees of any Indebtedness or other obligations otherwise permitted to be secured by a Lien under this Indenture;

(37) Liens arising pursuant to Section 107(l) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or other environmental law; Liens disclosed by the title insurance reports or policies delivered on or prior to the Issue Date and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien (to the extent the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Liens are permitted by this Indenture); provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Liens do not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Liens prior to such replacement, extension or renewal;

(38) rights reserved or vested in any Person by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit held by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by a statutory provision, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;

(39) security given to a public utility or any municipality or governmental authority when required by such utility or authority in connection with the operations of that Person in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

 

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(40) Liens on Escrowed Proceeds for the benefit of the related holders of debt securities or other Indebtedness (or the underwriters, trustee, escrow agent or arrangers thereof) or on cash set aside at the time of the incurrence of any Indebtedness or government securities purchased with such cash, in either case to the extent such cash or government securities prefund the payment of interest on such Indebtedness and are held in an escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose;

(41) Liens securing obligations in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

(42) Liens arising under oil and gas leases or subleases, assignments, Farm-Out Agreements, Farm-In Agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering or processing of Hydrocarbons, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, operating agreements, royalties, royalty trusts, master limited partnerships, working interests, net profits interests, joint interest billing arrangements, participation agreements, production sales contracts, area of mutual interest agreements, natural 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 or shall have become customary in the Oil and Gas Business;

(43) Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business and incident to the exploration, development, operation and maintenance of Oil and Gas Properties;

(44) (a) mortgages, liens, security interests, restrictions, encumbrances or any other matters of record (in each case not securing Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) that have been placed by any government, statutory or regulatory authority, developer, landlord or other third party on property over which the Company or any Subsidiary has easement rights or on any leased property and subordination or similar arrangements relating thereto and (b) any condemnation or eminent domain proceedings affecting any real property;

(45) Liens on the assets of non-guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of such non-guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries that were permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

(46) Liens on property or assets under construction (and related rights) in favor of a contractor or developer or arising from progress or partial payments by a third party relating to such property or assets;

(47) Liens on assets or securities deemed to arise in connection with and solely as a result of the execution, delivery or performance of contracts to sell such assets or securities if such sale is otherwise not prohibited by this Indenture;

(48) 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; 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; and

 

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(49) Liens by operation of law (and all rights vested with any Governmental Authorities) in connection with the control and/or regulation of any Oil and Gas Property.

If any Liens securing obligations are incurred to refinance Liens securing obligations initially incurred in reliance on a basket measured by reference to a percentage of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, and such refinancing would cause the percentage of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets to be exceeded if calculated based on the Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets will not be deemed to be exceeded to the extent the principal amount of such obligations secured by such newly incurred Lien does not exceed the principal amount of such obligations secured by such Liens being refinanced, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness (and with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, including an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness) plus the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness. In addition, for purposes of determining compliance with clause (2) of this definition in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, such compliance shall be determined on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with such paragraph or clause.

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” will be deemed to include interest and other obligations payable on and with respect to such Indebtedness.

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

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interests with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Production Payments and Reserve Sales” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to any Person of a 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

 

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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, including 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 any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Proved Reserves” means crude oil and natural gas reserves constituting “proved oil and gas reserves” as defined in Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act. For the avoidance of doubt, “proved oil and gas reserves” shall include any reserves attributable to natural gas liquids.

Proved Reserve Asset Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a)Modified ACNTA to (2) Consolidated Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Indebtedness as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Public Company Costs” means the initial costs relating to establishing compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and other expenses arising out of or incidental to the Company’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries’ initial establishment of compliance with the obligations of a reporting company, including costs, fees and expenses (including legal, accounting and other professional fees) relating to compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

Purchase Money Obligations” means any Indebtedness incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, leasing, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or assets (other than Capital Stock), and whether acquired through the direct acquisition of such property or assets, or otherwise.

Qualified Equity Interests” means Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock.

Qualified IPO” means an initial offer and sale of Equity Interests of the Company, IPOCo or other Parent Company in an underwritten public offering, for cash, pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or otherwise relating to Equity Interests of IPOCo or such other parent issuable under any employee benefit plan).

Qualified Proceeds” means the fair market value of assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, the Oil and Gas Business.

Rating Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P or if Moody’s or S&P or if both do not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company which will be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.

 

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Record Date” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means the February 1 or August 1 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Refinance” has the meaning assigned in the definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness” and “Refinancing” and “Refinanced” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Refinanced Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness.”

Refinancing Indebtedness” means (x) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (y) Disqualified Stock issued by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (z) Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary which, in each case, serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease (“Refinance”) any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including Refinancing Indebtedness, so long as:

(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness, the amount of such new Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed (a) the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable) the Indebtedness, the amount of the Preferred Stock or the liquidation preference of the Disqualified Stock being so extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the “Refinanced Debt”), plus (b) any accrued and unpaid interest on, or any accrued and unpaid dividends on, such Refinanced Debt, plus (c) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such Refinanced Debt and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or to Refinance such Refinanced Debt (such amounts in clause (b) and (c), the “Incremental Amounts”);

(2) such Refinancing Indebtedness has a:

(a) Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the applicable Refinanced Debt (or, if less, greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Notes);

(b) final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Refinanced Debt (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes); and (3) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness Refinances (i) Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness assumed or acquired in an acquisition and not created in contemplation thereof), unless such Refinancing constitutes a Restricted Payment

 

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permitted by Section 4.08, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee thereof at least to the same extent as the applicable Refinanced Debt or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively.

Refinancing Indebtedness will not include:

(a) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor or an Issuer that refinances Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company;

(b) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor or an Issuer that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor or an Issuer; or

(c) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

and, provided, further that (x) clause (2) of this definition will not apply to any Refinancing of any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness incurred under Section 4.09(b)(2), any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness assumed or acquired in an Investment or acquisition and not created in contemplation thereof), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock and (y) Refinancing Indebtedness may be incurred in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be Refinanced with long-term indebtedness (and such bridge or other interim credit facility shall be deemed to satisfy clause (2) of this definition so long as (x) such credit facility includes customary “rollover” provisions and (y) assuming such credit facility were to be extended pursuant to such “rollover” provisions, such extended credit facility would comply with clause (2) of this definition).

Related Business Assets” means assets (other than Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that any assets received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary will not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person is or would become a Restricted Subsidiary.

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, or any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Subsidiary” means, at anytime, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (including any Foreign Subsidiary and the Issuers) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary will be included in the definition of “Restricted

 

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Subsidiary.” Wherever the term “Restricted Subsidiary” is used herein with respect to any Subsidiary of a referenced Person that is not the Company, then it will be construed to mean a Person that would be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company on a pro forma basis following consummation of one or a series of related transactions involving such referenced Person and the Company (unless such transactions would include a designation of a Subsidiary of such Person as an Unrestricted Subsidiary on a pro forma basis in accordance with this Indenture).

Revolving Credit Facility” means, the senior secured revolving facility under that Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 30, 2016, by and among the Company, Bank of Montreal, as the administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders and other entities party thereto, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings, refinancings or replacements thereof and any one or more indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders, or investors, whether or not secured, that replace, refund, supplement or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted by Section 4.09 above) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, trustee, lender or group of lenders or holders.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings or any successor to its rating agency business.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing. The net proceeds of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction will be determined giving effect to transaction expenses and the tax effect of such transactions (including taxes paid or payable and tax attributes used as a result of such transactions).”

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Second Lien Collateral” means any collateral or other assets with respect to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted pursuant to this Indenture or any Security Documents, as applicable, as security for any Second Lien Obligations.

Second Lien Obligations” means (a) the Notes and the other Obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under the Notes and this Indenture and (b) any Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations.

Second Lien Secured Parties” means (a) with respect to this Indenture, collectively, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the holders of the Notes from time to time and (b) with respect to any other Second Lien Obligation, all lenders, holders or agents thereunder to which Second Lien Obligations are owing.

 

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Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary secured by a Lien.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Security Agreement” means the security agreement to be dated as of the Issue Date among the Collateral Agent, the Issuers and the Guarantors granting, among other things, a second-priority Lien on the Collateral, subject to Permitted Liens, in favor of the Collateral Agent for its benefit and for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and the holders of any Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations, as amended, modified, restated, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Security Documents” means the Intercreditor Agreement and the agreements pursuant to which security interests in the Collateral are granted to secure the Notes and the Guarantees from time to time, including the Security Agreement.

Senior Indebtedness” means:

(1) all Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and the Notes and related Guarantees (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or similar proceeding or for reorganization of the Company or any Guarantor (at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, regardless of whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings)), and any and all other fees, expense reimbursement obligations, indemnification amounts, penalties, and other amounts (whether existing on the Issue Date or thereafter created or incurred) and all obligations of the Company or any Guarantor to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under letters of credit, acceptances or other similar instruments;

(2) all (a) Hedging Obligations (and guarantees thereof) and (b) obligations in respect of Cash Management Services (and guarantees thereof), in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), owing to a lender under the Revolving Credit Facility or any Affiliate of such lender (or any Person that was a lender or an Affiliate of such lender at the time the applicable agreement giving rise to such Hedging Obligation or Cash Management Obligations was entered into); provided that such Hedging Obligations and obligations in respect of Cash Management Services, as the case may be, are permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture;

(3) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any related Guarantee; and

 

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(4) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1), (2) and (3); provided that Senior Indebtedness will not include:

(a) any obligation of such Person to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(b) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;

(c) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(d) any Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person which is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person; or

(e) that portion of any Indebtedness which at the time of incurrence is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

Series A Preferred Stock” means the Company’s Series A convertible perpetual preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, issued by the Company on December 30, 2016 and any such preferred stock paid-in-kind thereon.

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.

Similar Business” means (1) any business, conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date or (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, incidental, complementary or related to (including non-core incidental businesses acquired in connection with any Permitted Investment), or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries conduct or propose to conduct on the Issue Date.

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in the agreement governing or certificate relating to such Indebtedness as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but not including any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

Specified Transaction” means (i) solely for the purposes of determining the applicable cash balance, any contribution of capital, including as a result of an Equity Offering, to the Company, in each case, in connection with an acquisition or Investment, (ii) any designation of operations or assets of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as discontinued operations (as defined under GAAP), (iii) any Investment that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with this Indenture, (v) any purchase or other acquisition of a business of any Person, or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of any Person or material Oil and Gas Properties (as determined in good faith by the Company), (vi) any Asset Sale (without regard to any de minimis thresholds set forth therein) (a) that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Company or (b) of a business,

 

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business unit, line of business or division of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or material Oil and Gas Properties (as determined in good faith by the Company), in each case whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise, (vii) any operational changes identified by the Company that have been made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary during the Test Period or (viii) any Restricted Payment or other transaction that by the terms of this Indenture requires a financial ratio to be calculated on a pro forma basis.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Notes,

(1) any Indebtedness of the Issuers that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and

(2) any Indebtedness of any Guarantor that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such entity of the Notes.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and

(2) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which:

(a) more than 50% of the Voting Stock are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, or

(b) such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.

Tax Distributions” means for any taxable period or portion thereof ending after the Issue Date during which the Company is a pass-through entity (including a disregarded entity or partnership) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an amount sufficient to allow the Company to make payments and distributions to the members or partners of the Company (or payments on their behalf in connection with any composite tax return filing), on or prior to each estimated tax payment date as well as each other applicable due date, on a pro rata basis such that each such member or partner receives, in the aggregate for such period, payments or distributions not to exceed the sum of (a) an amount equal to the product of (i) the U.S. federal taxable income allocated by the Company to such member or partner during the relevant period less the sum of any U.S. federal taxable loss allocated by the Company to such member or partner during the relevant period and any loss carryforwards available from losses allocated to such member or

 

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partner by the Company in prior periods to the extent not taken into account in prior periods (in both cases, subject to any applicable limitations on the use of such losses), multiplied by (ii) the highest combined marginal U.S. federal, state and local income tax rates (including any tax rate imposed on “net investment income” by Section 1411 of the Code) applicable to an individual, or, if higher, a corporation, resident in New York, New York, determined by taking into account (A) the character of the income and loss allocable to the members or partners as it affects the applicable tax rate, (B) the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and any limitations thereon), and (C) any application of the alternative minimum tax, and (b) in the case of a Parent Company or IPOCo, as applicable, such amounts as are needed by it (after taking into account any amount received by it pursuant to clause (a) of this definition during the relevant period in excess of the amount that will enable it to satisfy all of its U.S. federal, state and local and foreign tax liabilities for such taxable period or portion thereof) to pay any amounts owed by it under any tax receivable agreement; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, taxable income allocated by the Company for any period shall include any increases thereto as a result of any tax examination, audit or adjustment, whether for taxable periods ending prior to or after the Issue Date.

Tax Receivable Agreement” means the Tax Receivable Agreement by and among the Company, the Issuer, EnVen Equity Holdings LLC, and other members of the Issuer from time to time party thereto dated November 6, 2015, as it may be amended or supplemented.

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).

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Investors, the Company or any of its (or their) Subsidiaries or Parent Companies in connection with the Transactions (including expenses in connection with hedging transactions related to Debt Facilities and any original issue discount or upfront fees), this Indenture, the Security Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transactions” means the issuance of the Notes, the repayment and refinancing of certain Indebtedness on the Issue Date and other transactions as described in the Offering Memorandum, the payment of Transaction Expenses and the other transactions in connection therewith or incidental thereto.

Transfer Restricted Notes” means Definitive Notes and any other Notes that bear or are required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the weekly average rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percentage point (for the most recently completed week for which such information is available as of the date that is two business days prior to the Redemption Date) of the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 with respect to each applicable day during such week (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to February 15, 2020; provided, however, that if the period

 

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from the Redemption Date to February 15, 2020 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury Security for which such 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 for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the Redemption Date to such date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-777bbbb).

Trustee” means (a) Wilmington Trust, National Association as of the Issue Date and (b) a successor replacing it in accordance with this Indenture.

Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of the Company (other than the Issuers) which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Company, as provided below); and

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary (but other than the Issuers)) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that:

(A) such designation complies with Section 4.08; and

(B) each of (a) the Subsidiary to be so designated and (b) its Subsidiaries has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness (other than Equity Interests in an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing and the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a);

 

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Any such designation by the Company will be notified by the Company to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes, in the case of the Issuers, or the Guarantees, in the case of any Guarantor (without giving effect to collateral arrangements), that is unsecured.

Volumetric Production Payments” means production payment obligations recorded as deferred revenue in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertaking and obligations in connection therewith.

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person; provided that with respect to a limited partnership or other entity that does not have a Board of Directors, Voting Stock means the Capital Stock of the general partner of such limited partnership or other business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products of the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twenty-fifth) from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, multiplied by the amount of such payment; by

(2) the sum of all such payments;

provided that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness that is being Refinanced (the “Applicable Indebtedness”), the effects of any amortization or prepayments made on such Applicable Indebtedness prior to the date of the applicable Refinancing will be disregarded.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries issued to foreign nationals as required under applicable law) is at the time owned by such Person and/or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary” is any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in Section

Advance Offer

   4.15(d)

Advance Portion

   4.15(d)

Agent Members

   2.1(c) of Appendix A

Affiliate Transaction

   4.12

Applicable Premium Deficit

   8.04(a)

Applicable Procedures

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

Asset Sale Offer

   4.15(c)

Asset Sale Offer Amount

   4.15(f)

Asset Sale Offer Period

   4.15(f)

Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period

   4.15(b)

Asset Sale Purchase Date

   4.15(f)

Authentication Order

   2.02(c)

Change of Control Offer

   4.14(a)

Change of Control Payment

   4.14(a)

Change of Control Payment Date

   4.14(a)(2)

Clearstream

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

Covenant Defeasance

   8.03

Definitive Notes Legend

   2.2(e) of Appendix A

Designation

   4.13(a)

Distribution Compliance Period

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

ERISA Legend

   2.2(e) of Appendix A

Euroclear

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

Event of Default

   6.01(a)

Excess Proceeds

   4.15(c)

Expiration Date

   1.04(j)

Foreign Disposition

   4.15(e)

Global Note

   2.1(b) of Appendix A

Global Notes Legend

   2.2(e) of Appendix A

Guaranteed Obligations

   10.01(a)

IAI

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

IAI Global Note

   2.1(b) of Appendix A

incur

   4.09(a)

Legal Defeasance

   8.02(a)

Limited Condition Transaction

   12.19(a)

Mortgaged Property

   4.16

Note Register

   2.03(a)

Paying Agent

   2.03(a)

Pari Passu Indebtedness

   4.15(c)

Predecessor Lien

   4.10

Qualified Reporting Subsidiary

   4.06(d)

“QIB

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

Redemption Date

   3.07(b)

Refunding Capital Stock

   4.08(b)

Registrar

   2.03(a)

Regulation S

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

 

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Term

  

Defined in Section

Regulation S Global Note

   2.1(b) of Appendix A

Regulation S Notes

   2.1(a) of Appendix A

Restricted Payment

   4.08(a)

Restricted Notes Legend

   2.2(e) of Appendix A

Revocation

   4.13(b)

Rule 144

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

Rule 144A

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

Rule 144A Global Note

   2.1(b) of Appendix A

Rule 144A Notes

   2.1(a) of Appendix A

Successor Issuer

   5.01(a)

Successor Person

   5.01(c)

Suspended Covenants

   4.17(a)

Suspension Date

   4.17(a)

Suspension Period

   4.17(b)

Tax Group

   4.08(b)

Treasury Capital Stock

   4.08(b)

Unrestricted Global Note

   1.1(a) of Appendix A

SECTION 1.03 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) a term defined in Section 1.01 or 1.02 has the meaning assigned to it therein;

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

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

(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(6) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Appendix,” “Article,” “Section,” “clause,” “Schedule” or “Exhibit” refers to an Appendix, Article, Section, clause, Schedule or Exhibit, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

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

(8) “including” means including without limitation;

 

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

(10) unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements or instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture; and

(11) in the event that a transaction meets the criteria of more than one category of permitted transactions or listed exceptions, the Issuers may classify such transaction as it, in its sole discretion, determines.

SECTION 1.04 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuers and the Guarantors. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Issuers and the Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.04. For purposes of this Indenture, any action by the Holders that may be taken in writing may be taken by electronic means or other means reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved (1) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof or (2) in any other manner deemed reasonably sufficient by the Trustee. Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same. 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 that the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee, the Issuers or the Guarantors in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

 

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(e) The Issuers may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, or to vote on or consent to any action authorized or permitted to be taken by Holders; provided that the Issuers may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in Section 1.04(f). Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuers prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or vote or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation or vote. If any record date is set pursuant to this clause (e), the Holders on such record date, and only such Holders, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action (including revocation of any action), whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes, or each affected Holder, as applicable, on such record date. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Issuers, at their own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 12.02.

(f) The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to join in the giving or making of (1) any notice of default under Section 6.01(a), (2) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 6.02, (3) any direction referred to in Section 6.05 or (4) any request to pursue a remedy as permitted in Section 6.06. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes or each affected Holder, as applicable, on such record date. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Issuers’ expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to Issuers and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 12.02.

(g) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so 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. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

(h) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

 

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(i) The Issuers may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by a Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary, if any, to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders; provided that if such a record date is fixed, only the beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such beneficial owners remain beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date.

(j) With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.04, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 12.02, on or prior to both the existing and the new Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.04, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 90th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this clause (j).

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01 Form and Dating; Terms.

(a) Provisions relating to the Initial Notes, Additional Notes and any other Notes issued under this Indenture are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, rules or agreements with national securities exchanges to which either of the Issuers or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuers). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(b) The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

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The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and the Issuers, the 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.

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Issuers pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer as provided in Section 4.15 or a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.14, and otherwise as not prohibited by this Indenture. The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article 3.

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued from time to time by the Issuers without notice to or consent of the Holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes; provided, however, a separate CUSIP or ISIN will be issued for Additional Notes, if the Notes and Additional Notes are not treated as fungible for U.S. federal income tax or other purposes; provided, further that the Issuers’ ability to issue Additional Notes shall be subject to the Issuers’ compliance with Sections 4.09 and 4.10. Additional Notes that differ with respect to maturity date, interest rate, optional redemption provisions from the Initial Notes will constitute a different series from the Initial Notes. Additional Notes that have the same maturity date, interest rate, optional redemption provisions or other provisions as the Initial Notes will be treated as the same series as the Initial Notes unless otherwise designated by the Issuers. Any Additional Notes shall be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.

SECTION 2.02 Execution and Authentication

(a) At least one Officer of each Issuer shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Issuers by manual or facsimile signature. 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.

(b) A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

(c) On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a written order of the Issuers signed by an Officer of each Issuer (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes. In addition, at any time and from time to time, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued hereunder.

(d) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuers 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, the Issuers or an Affiliate of the Issuers.

 

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(e) The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon receipt of an Authentication Order (a) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $325,000,000, (b) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes and (c) any Unrestricted Global Notes issued in exchange for any of the foregoing in accordance with this Indenture. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which such Notes are to be authenticated and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes, Additional Notes or other Unrestricted Global Notes.

SECTION 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

(a) The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and at least one office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (“Note Register”) and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers 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 Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(b) The Issuers initially appoint The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee to act as Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

SECTION 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

The Issuers shall, no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on any of the Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held in trust for the Holders entitled to the same, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers 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 Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money. If either Issuer, the Company or a Subsidiary 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 Issuers, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes. To the extent the Paying Agent receives any amounts pursuant to this Section 2.04 and such amounts are remitted to the Holders, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have no further obligation with respect thereto.

 

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SECTION 2.05 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 Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee at least two 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 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A.

(b) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 or at the Registrar’s request.

(c) No service charge shall be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange (other than pursuant to Section 2.07), but the Holders shall be required to pay any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 4.14, 4.15 and 9.04).

(d) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuers, 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.

(e) Neither the Issuers nor the Registrar shall be required (1) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note 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, (2) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption, or tendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in connection with a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part or (3) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

(f) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuers may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, and (subject to the Record Date provisions of the Notes) interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuers shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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(g) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuers designated pursuant to Section 4.02, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

(h) At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at the Corporate Trust Office of the Registrar or such other agency or office specified by the Issuers. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Appendix A.

(i) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by mail or by facsimile or electronic transmission.

SECTION 2.07 Replacement Notes.

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or if a Holder claims that its Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and loss, destruction or theft of such Note, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are otherwise met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be provided by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers may charge the Holder for the expenses of the Issuers and the Trustee in replacing a Note. Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuers and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, in case any mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

SECTION 2.08 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, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because either of the Issuers or an Affiliate of the Issuers holds the Note; provided that Notes held by either Issuer, the Company or a Subsidiary of either Issuer or the Company will not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(b).

 

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(b) If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser, as such term is defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York.

(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 from and after the date of such payment.

(d) If a Paying Agent (other than the Issuers, the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on the maturity date, any Redemption Date or any date of purchase pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, money sufficient to pay Notes payable or to be redeemed or purchased 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 2.09 Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes beneficially owned by either Issuer or the Company, or by any Affiliate of any of them, 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 a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuer, the Co-Issuer, the Company or any obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of any of them or of such other obligor.

SECTION 2.10 Temporary Notes.

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders, or beneficial holders, respectively, of Notes under this Indenture.

SECTION 2.11 Cancellation.

The Issuers 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 or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy cancelled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the cancellation of all cancelled Notes shall, upon the written request of the Issuers, be delivered to the Issuers. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

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SECTION 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

(a) If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, they 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 a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01. The Issuers 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, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12. The Issuers 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 ten days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee of such special record date. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) shall mail or deliver by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, or cause to be mailed or delivered by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and for greater certainty, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue interest, which were carried by such other Note.

SECTION 2.13 CUSIP and ISIN Numbers

The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP or ISIN numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP or ISIN numbers in notices of redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase 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 redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or exchange or Offer to Purchase shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers shall as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN numbers.

 

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ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

If the Issuers elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07, it shall furnish to the Trustee, Registrar and Paying Agent at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be given or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee) but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (1) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (2) the Redemption Date, (3) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (4) the redemption price, if then ascertainable.

SECTION 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

(a) If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.07 or purchased in an Offer to Purchase at any time, the Trustee shall, upon prior written request of the Issuers, select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed or (2) if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems to be fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than ten nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the then outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase (or, in the case of Global Notes, the Notes represented thereby will be selected in accordance with the Depositary’s prescribed method), and in any case in accordance with the Depositary procedures to the extent applicable.

(b) The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000; provided that no Notes of $2,000 in principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

(c) After the redemption date or purchase date, upon surrender of a Note to be redeemed or purchased in part only, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the original Note, representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or not purchased, shall be issued in the name of the Holder of the Notes upon cancellation of the original Note (or appropriate book entries shall be made to reflect such partial redemption.

SECTION 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

(a) Subject to Section 3.07, the Issuers shall mail by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or deliver by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, or cause to be mailed (or delivered by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) notices of redemption of Notes at least ten but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed

 

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pursuant to this Article at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11. Except as set forth under Section 3.07(g), notices of redemption may not be conditional.

(b) The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including CUSIP and ISIN number, if applicable) and shall state:

(1) the redemption date;

(2) the redemption price, including the portion thereof representing any accrued and unpaid interest; provided that in connection with a redemption under Section 3.07(a), the notice need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation thereof;

(3) if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that is to be redeemed;

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

(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(6) that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date;

(7) the paragraph or subparagraph of the Notes or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

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

(9) if applicable, any condition to such redemption.

(c) At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuers’ names and at the Issuers’ expense; provided that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least two Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be sent or caused to be sent to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s 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(b).

 

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SECTION 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is given in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price (except as provided for in Section 3.07(g)). The notice, if mailed or delivered by electronic transmission in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Section 3.05, on and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

SECTION 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

(a) No later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the redemption or purchase date (or such later time as such date to which the Trustee may reasonably agree), the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Holder of record on such Record Date. The Paying Agent shall promptly send to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed or repurchased the applicable redemption or purchase price thereof and accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

(b) If the Issuers comply with the provisions of Section 3.05(a), on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date in respect of such Note will be paid on such redemption or purchase date to the Person in whose name such Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with Section 3.05(a), interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date 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 or Purchased in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to the Holder (or cause to be transferred by book entry) at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or purchased; provided that each new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

 

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SECTION 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) Except pursuant to clause (b), (c) or (e) of this Section 3.07, the Notes shall not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to February 15, 2020.

(b) At any time prior to February 15, 2020, the Issuers may, at their option and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes and Additional Notes issued under this Indenture with an amount equal to or less than the net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings to the extent such net cash proceeds are received by, or contributed to the Company at a redemption price (as calculated by the Issuer) equal to the sum of (1) 111.000% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus (2) accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (the “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; provided that (a) at least 65% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption and (b) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of the applicable Equity Offering or contribution.

(c) At any time prior to February 15, 2020, the Issuers may at their option on one or more occasions redeem all or a portion of the Notes, upon notice as described in Section 3.03, at a redemption price (as calculated by the Issuers) equal to the sum of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus (2) the Applicable Premium, plus (3) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the 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) On and after February 15, 2020, the Issuers may at their option redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, on one or more occasions, upon notice as described in Section 3.03, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the 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, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on February 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2020

     108.250

2021

     104.125

2022 and thereafter

     100.000

(e) In connection with any Change of Control Offer, if Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes validly tender and do not validly withdraw such Notes in such Change of Control Offer and the Issuers purchase, or any third party making such Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuers purchases, all of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuers or such third party will have the right upon notice, given not more than 60 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at the Change of Control Payment, plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

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(f) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06.

(g) Any notice of redemption made in connection with a related transaction or event (including an Equity Offering, contribution, Change of Control, Asset Sale or other transaction) may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be given prior to the completion or the occurrence thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the completion or occurrence of the related transaction or event, as the case may be. The Issuers may redeem Notes pursuant to one or more of the relevant provisions in this Indenture, and a single notice of redemption may be delivered with respect to redemptions made pursuant to different provisions. Any such notice may provide that redemptions made pursuant to different provisions will have different Redemption Dates. In addition, if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice will describe each such condition, and if applicable, will state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice of redemption was mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any or all such conditions are satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions are not satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion) by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed, or that such notice may be rescinded at any time in the Issuers’ discretion if in the good faith judgment of the Issuers any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person. If any Notes are listed on an exchange, and the rules of the exchange so require, the Issuers will notify the exchange of any such redemption and the principal amount of any Notes outstanding following any partial redemption of such Notes.

(h) In no event will the Trustee be responsible for monitoring, or charged with knowledge of, the maximum aggregate amount of Notes eligible under this Indenture to be redeemed. Notes will remain outstanding until redeemed, notwithstanding that they have been called for redemption or are subject to a notice of redemption.

SECTION 3.08 Mandatory Redemption.

The Issuers will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

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ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01 Payment of Notes.

(a) The Issuers will pay, or cause to be paid, the principal, 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 Issuers, the Company or a Subsidiary of any of them, holds as of 11:00 a.m. (New York City) time, on the due date money deposited by the Issuers or the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

(b) The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; they 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.

SECTION 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate 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 Issuers and the Guarantors in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers 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 Issuers 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 at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee; provided, however, the Trustee shall not be deemed an agent of the Issuers for service of process.

The Issuers may also from time to time designate additional 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 Issuers 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.

The Issuers hereby designate the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.03.

SECTION 4.03 Taxes.

The Issuers shall pay, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments and governmental levies except (a) such as are being contested in good faith and by appropriate negotiations or proceedings or (b) where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

 

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SECTION 4.04 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

Each Issuer and each Guarantor covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it 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 each Issuer and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that it 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.

SECTION 4.05 Corporate Existence.

Subject to Article 5, each Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (1) its corporate or limited liability company existence, as applicable, and the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of each of their Restricted Subsidiaries and the Company, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuers, any such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company and (2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of each of the Issuers, any of their Restricted Subsidiaries and the Company; provided that the Issuers shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of any of their Restricted Subsidiaries or the Company, if the Issuers in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuers, any of their Restricted Subsidiaries and the Company, taken as a whole.

SECTION 4.06 Reports and Other Information.

(a) So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders:

(1) within (x) 150 days of the year ending December 31, 2017 and (y) 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company commencing with the year ending December 31, 2018, all annual financial statements of the Company substantially in the form that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Form 10-K (but only to the extent similar information is included in the Offering Memorandum), in accordance with the requirements of such Form 10-K as of the Issue Date, if the Company were required to file such form, together with a report thereon by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and data and information relating to Hydrocarbon proved reserves that is substantially consistent with the presentation thereof included in the Offering Memorandum, excluding information included in the annexes hereto;

(2) within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company ending after the Issue Date (solely with respect to the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year), all quarterly financial statements of the Company substantially in the form that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Form 10-Q (but only to the extent similar information is included in the Offering Memorandum), in accordance with the requirements of such Form 10-Q as of the Issue Date, if the Company were required to file such form, and a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations;” and

 

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(3) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other information containing substantially the same information that would be required to be contained in filings with the SEC on Form 8-K, in accordance with the requirements of such Form 8-K as of the Issue Date, under Items:

 

   

1.01(Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement);

 

   

1.03 (Bankruptcy or Receivership);

 

   

2.01 (Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets);

 

   

2.03 (Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant);

 

   

2.04 (Triggering Events that Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement);

 

   

4.02 (Non-Reliance on Previously Issued Financial Statements or a Related Audit Report or Completed Interim Review);

 

   

5.01 (Changes in Control of Registrant);

 

   

5.02(a)(1) (Resignation of Director due to Disagreement with Registrant);

 

   

5.02(c)(1) (Name and Position of Newly Appointed Officer and Date of Appointment); and

 

   

5.03(b) (Changes in Fiscal Year),

if the Company were required to file such reports.

(b) With respect to the reports required to be furnished pursuant to Section 4.06(a):

(1) no such reports referenced under clause (a)(3) above will be required to include as an exhibit or summary of terms of, any employment or compensatory arrangement agreement, plan or understanding between the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Company) and any director, manager or executive officer, of the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Company);

(2) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Section 302, Section 404 or Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or related Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC;

(3) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Item 302 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC;

 

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(4) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or contain separate financial statements for the Company, the Issuers, the Guarantors or other Subsidiaries the shares of which may be pledged to secure the Notes or any Guarantee that would be required under (i) Section 3-09 of Regulation S-X or (ii) Section 3-16 of Regulation S-X, respectively, promulgated by the SEC;

(5) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC with respect to any non-GAAP financial measures contained therein;

(6) no such reports referenced under clause (a)(3) above will be required to be furnished if the Company determines in its good faith judgment that such event is not material to the Holders or the business, assets, operations or financial position of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(7) in no event will such reports be required to comply with Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC (with respect to exhibits) or, with respect to reports referenced in clause (a)(3) above, to include as an exhibit copies of any agreements, financial statements or other items that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K;

(8) trade secrets and other confidential information that is competitively sensitive in the good faith and reasonable determination of the Company may be excluded from any disclosures;

(9) such information will not be required to include information that is not otherwise similar to information contained in the Offering Memorandum;

(10) such information will not be required to contain any “segment reporting”;

(11) to the extent that the Company (or a Parent Company pursuant to the immediately following paragraph) is not a reporting company under the Exchange Act, in no event will such reports be required to be presented in compliance with the requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; and

(12) in no event will such reports will contain compensation or beneficial ownership information.

(c) The Company may satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.06 with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating to any Parent Company; provided that if and so long as such Parent Company has Independent Assets or Operations, the same is accompanied by consolidating information (which need not be audited) that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent Company, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand.

 

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(d) In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, the financial statements, information, auditors’ reports and other documents and information required to be provided pursuant to Section 4.06(a) may be, rather than those of the Company, those of (a) any predecessor or successor of the Company, (b) any Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that, together with its consolidated Subsidiaries, constitutes substantially all of the assets of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (“Qualified Reporting Subsidiary”) or (c) any Parent Company; provided that, if the financial information required to be provided pursuant to Section 4.06(a) relates to such Qualified Reporting Subsidiary of the Company or such Parent Company, such financial information will be accompanied by consolidating information (which need not be audited). that explains in reasonable detail (in the good faith judgment of the Company) the differences between the information relating to such Qualified Reporting Subsidiary or such Parent Company (as the case may be), on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand

(e) If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries and such Unrestricted Subsidiaries, either individually or collectively, would otherwise have been a Significant Subsidiary, then the annual and quarterly financial information required by the preceding paragraphs shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, as determined in good faith by senior management of the Company, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements and in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

(f) During any period that the Company or any Parent Company has not filed the corresponding reports referred to in the first paragraph of this covenant with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor system), the Company will make available such information and such reports to any Holder and, upon request, to any beneficial owner of the Notes, in each case by posting such information on its website, on Intralinks, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any comparable password-protected online data system that will require a confidentiality acknowledgment, and will make such information readily available to any Holder, any bona fide prospective investor in the Notes (which prospective investors will be limited to “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act that certify their status as such to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company), any bona fide securities analyst (to the extent providing analysis of investment in the Notes to investors and prospective investors therein) or any bona fide market maker in the Notes who agrees to treat such information as confidential or accesses such information on Intralinks SyndTrak, ClearPar or any comparable password-protected online data system that will require a confidentiality acknowledgment; provided that the Company may deny access to any competitively-sensitive information otherwise to be provided pursuant to this paragraph to any such Holder, prospective investor, security analyst or market maker that is a competitor of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or an affiliate of such a competitor (other than any affiliate that is a bona fide bank debt fund, distressed asset fund, hedge fund, mutual fund, insurance company, financial institution or investment vehicle engaged in the business of investing in, acquiring or trading commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course (and not organized primarily for the purpose of making equity investments)) to the extent that the Company determines in

 

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good faith that the provision of such information to such Person would be competitively harmful to the Company and its Subsidiaries; and provided further that such Holders, prospective investors, security analysts or market makers will agree to (1) treat all such reports (and the information contained therein) and information as confidential, (2) not use such reports and the information contained therein for any purpose other than their investment or potential investment in the Notes and (3) not publicly disclose or distribute any such reports (and the information contained therein).

(g) In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the reports required by this Section 4.06 or otherwise made publicly available by the Company, the Company shall furnish to Holders and prospective investors in the Notes, upon their request, the information, if any, required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act.

(h) The Company will be deemed to have furnished the reports referred to in Section 4.06(a) if the Company or any Parent Company has filed the corresponding reports containing such information with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor system).

(i) To the extent any information is not provided within the time periods specified in this Section 4.06 and such information is subsequently provided, the Company will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto will be deemed to have been cured.

(j) The Company shall participate in quarterly conference calls after the delivery of the information referred to in Sections 4.06(a)(1) or (a)(2) (which may be a single conference call together with investors and lenders holding other securities or Indebtedness of the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries and/or any Parent Company of the Company) to discuss operating results and related matters. The Company shall issue a press release or otherwise provide notice of such conference call in the same manner in which information was delivered pursuant to Sections 4.06(a)(1) and (a)(2) which will provide the date and time of any such call and will direct Holders, prospective investors and securities analysts to contact the investor relations office of the Company to obtain access to the conference call.

(k) It is understood that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been posted on the Company’s website or filed with the SEC.

(l) The posting or delivery of any such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of the covenants under this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).

(m) During registration with respect to a Qualified IPO, the Company or other Person that may provide the information required by this Section 4.06 will not be required to disclose any information or take any actions that, in the view of the Company, would violate the applicable securities laws or the SEC’s “gun jumping” rules or otherwise have an adverse effect on the Qualified IPO.

 

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SECTION 4.07 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Issuers will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, a certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer 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 Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuers have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge, the Issuers have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto).

(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary gives any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Issuers will promptly (which shall be within 30 calendar days following the date on which the Issuers become aware of such Default, receive notice of such Default or become aware of such action, as applicable,) send to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event, its status and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereof.

SECTION 4.08 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:

(A) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests (in each case, solely in such Person’s capacity as holder of such Equity Interests), including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, other than:

(1) dividends, payments or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or a Parent Company or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests; or

(2) dividends, payments or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend, payment or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend, payment or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities or such other amount to which it is entitled pursuant to the terms of such Equity Interest;

 

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(B) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent Company, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, in each case held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(C) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or final maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness, other than:

(1) any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(2) the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement; or

(D) make any Restricted Investment;

all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (A) through (D) of Section 4.08(a) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments” unless, at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) immediately after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment made utilizing clause (3)(A) below on a pro forma basis, (i) the Leverage Ratio would be no greater than 1.25 to 1.00 and (ii) the Proved Reserve Asset Coverage Ratio would be no less than 2.50 to 1.00; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments (including the fair market value of any non-cash amount) made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.08(b) other than clauses (1), (4), (8), (10) and (11) thereof), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the Company’s fiscal quarter in which the Notes are originally issued to the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available (as determined in good faith by the Company) preceding such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit; plus

 

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(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(28)) from the issue or sale of:

(i) (a) Equity Interests of the Company, including Treasury Capital Stock, but excluding cash proceeds received from the sale of Equity Interests to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any Parent Company after the Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.08(b)(4); and (b) Equity Interests of Parent Companies, to the extent the proceeds of any such issuance or consideration for any such sale are contributed to the Company (excluding contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.08(b)(4)); or

(ii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, that has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent Company;

provided that this clause (B) will not include the proceeds from (W) Refunding Capital Stock applied in accordance with Section 4.08(b)(2), (X) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Company sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, (Y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities or Indebtedness that have been converted into Disqualified Stock or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of cash, Cash Equivalents and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Company (other than in the form of Disqualified Stock) since the Issue Date (including the fair market value of any Indebtedness contributed to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries for cancellation) or that becomes part of the capital of the Company through consolidation, amalgamation or merger following the Issue Date, in each case not involving cash consideration payable by the Company in connection with such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (other than (x) cash, Cash Equivalents and marketable securities that are contributed by a Restricted Subsidiary, (y) Excluded Contributions or (z) net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(28); plus

 

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(D) 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property (including Capital Stock of a Person, other than the Company or its Subsidiaries, engaged primarily in the Oil and Gas Business or assets used in the Oil and Gas Business) received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on Investments from, Restricted Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (including cash distributions and cash interest received in respect of Restricted Investments) and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Issue Date (excluding any Excluded Contributions); or

(ii) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary constituted a Permitted Investment, but including such cash or fair market value to the extent exceeding the amount of such Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date (excluding any Excluded Contributions); or

(iii) any returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received on account of any Permitted Investment subject to a dollar-denominated or ratio-based basket (to the extent in excess of the original amount of such Investment); plus

(E) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the assets transferred) at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, amalgamation, consolidation or transfer of assets, other than to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary constituted a Permitted Investment, but, to the extent exceeding the amount of such Permitted Investment, including such excess amounts of cash or fair market value.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.08(a) will not prohibit:

 

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(1) the payment of any dividend or other distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or other distribution or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend or other distribution or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) (a) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, discharge, retirement or other acquisition of (i) any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Company, including any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or (ii) Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness, in each case, made (x) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, a sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent Company (in the case of proceeds, to the extent any such proceeds therefrom are contributed to the Company), in each case, other than Disqualified Stock (“Refunding Capital Stock”) and (y) within 120 days of such sale or issuance and (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of a sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) of Refunding Capital Stock made within 120 days of such sale or issuance;

(3) the principal payment on, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of (a) Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness of an Issuer or a Guarantor made (i) by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale, issuance or incurrence of, new Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable, of an Issuer or a Guarantor or Disqualified Stock of an Issuer or a Guarantor and (ii) within 120 days of such sale, issuance or incurrence, (b) Disqualified Stock of an Issuer or a Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale, issuance or incurrence of, Disqualified Stock or Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable, of an Issuer or a Guarantor, made within 120 days of such sale, issuance or incurrence, (c) Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale or issuance of, Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor made within 120 days of such sale or issuance that, in each case, is Refinancing Indebtedness incurred or issued, as applicable, in compliance with Section 4.09 and (d) any Subordinated Indebtedness, Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock that constitutes Acquired Indebtedness;

(4) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) of the Company or any Parent Company held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Company pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, or any equity subscription or equity holder

 

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agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any Notes issued by the Company or any Parent Company in connection with any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition); provided that, the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) does not exceed $10.0 million in any calendar year with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $20.0 million in any calendar year; provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year under this clause (4) may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and, to the extent contributed to the Company, the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of any Parent Company, in each case to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Company that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of Section 4.08(a)(3); plus the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to members of management, employees, directors, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Company that are forgone in exchange for the receipt of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent Company pursuant to any compensation arrangement, including any deferred compensation plan; plus

(B) the cash proceeds of life insurance policies received by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (or by any Parent Company to the extent contributed to the Company (other than in the form of Disqualified Stock)) after the Issue Date; minus

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (4);

provided that the Company may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A), (B) and (C) above in any calendar year; provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company, any Parent Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent Company will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of this Indenture;

 

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(5) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 4.09 to the extent such dividends or distributions are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(6) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or used to fund amounts owed to Affiliates (including dividends to any direct or indirect Parent Company of the Company to permit payment by such Parent Company of such amounts) in connection with the Transactions;

(7) (a) payments made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or permitted transferees) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Company, (b) any repurchases or withholdings of Equity Interests in connection with the exercise of stock options, warrants or similar rights if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of, or withholding obligations with respect to, such options, warrants or similar rights or required withholding or similar taxes and (c) loans or advances to officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants and independent contractors of the Company or any Parent Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent Company; provided that no cash is actually advanced pursuant to this clause (c) other than to pay taxes due in connection with such purchase, unless immediately repaid;

(8) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Company’s common equity (including the Series A Preferred Stock) (or the payment of dividends to any Parent Company to fund a payment of dividends on such Parent Company’s common equity), following the first Qualified IPO after the Issue Date, in an amount not to exceed 6% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Company in or from any such Qualified IPO;

(9) Restricted Payments in an amount that does not exceed the aggregate amount of Excluded Contributions;

(10) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (10) not to exceed (as of the date any such Restricted Payment is made) the greater of (a) $25.0 million and (b) 2.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such Restricted Payment; provided that if this clause (10) is utilized to make a Restricted Investment, the amount deemed to be utilized under this clause (10) will be the amount of such Restricted Investment at any time outstanding (with the fair market value of such Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, but subject to adjustment as set forth in the definition of “Investment”);

 

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(11) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends or distributions on, and the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of, the Series A Preferred Stock outstanding on the Issue Date (including any pay-in-kind dividends paid thereon); provided that after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Leverage Ratio would be no greater than 1.25 to 1.00;

(12) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.14 and Section 4.15; provided that (i) at or prior to such repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement, the Issuers (or a third person permitted by this Indenture) have made any required Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, to purchase the Notes on the terms provided in this Indenture applicable to Change of Control Offers or Asset Sale Offers, respectively, and (ii) all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by Holders in any such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired for value;

(13) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to, or the making of loans or advances to any Parent Company in amounts required for any Parent Company to pay, in each case without duplication:

(A) franchise, excise and similar taxes and other fees and expenses required to maintain their corporate or other legal existence;

(B) for any taxable period (or portion thereof) for which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are members of a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar income tax group for U.S. federal or applicable foreign, state or local income tax purposes of which a Parent Company is the common parent (a “Tax Group”) or for which the Company is a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal or applicable foreign, state or local income tax purposes in any applicable taxing jurisdiction that is Wholly-Owned (directly or indirectly) by an entity that is taxable as a corporation for such income tax purposes, to pay the portion of any U.S. federal, foreign, state or local income taxes (as applicable) of such Tax Group or such Parent Company for such taxable period that are attributable to the net taxable income of the Company and/or the applicable Restricted Subsidiaries (and, to the extent permitted below, the applicable Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided that for each taxable period, (A) the amount of such payments made in respect of such taxable period in the aggregate will not exceed the amount that the Company and the applicable Restricted Subsidiaries (and, to the extent permitted below, the applicable Unrestricted Subsidiaries), as applicable, would have been required to pay in respect of such net taxable income as stand-alone taxpayers or a stand-alone Tax Group and (B) the amount of such payments made in respect of an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be permitted only to the extent that cash distributions were made by such Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for such purpose;

 

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(C) without duplication of any amounts that are paid under the foregoing clause (13)(B) for the relevant period, Tax Distributions;

(D) salary, bonus, severance and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants and independent contractors of any Parent Company and any payroll, social security or similar taxes thereof;

(E) general corporate or other operating, administrative, compliance and overhead costs and expenses (including expenses relating to auditing and other accounting matters) of any Parent Company;

(F) reasonable and customary fees and expenses (including ongoing compliance costs and listing expenses) related to any equity or debt offering of a Parent Company (whether or not consummated);

(G) amounts that would be permitted to be paid directly by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries under Section 4.12(b) (other than clauses 2(A), 3(B), (13), (19) and (25) thereof);

(H) interest or principal on Indebtedness (including AHYDO “catch up payments”) the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred in accordance with Section 4.09; and

(I) to finance Investments or other acquisitions or investments otherwise permitted to be made pursuant to this covenant if made by the Company; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment must be made within 120 days of the closing of such Investment, acquisition or investment, (B) such Parent Company must, promptly following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the capital of the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the merger, amalgamation, consolidation, or sale of the Person formed or acquired into the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent not prohibited by Section 5.01) in order to consummate such Investment, acquisition or investment, (C) such Parent Company and its Affiliates (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) receives no consideration or other payment in connection with such transaction except to the extent the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary could have given such consideration or made such payment in compliance with this Indenture, (D) any property received by the Company may not increase amounts available for Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 4.08(a)(3) and (E) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment will be deemed to be made by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to another provision of this Section 4.08 or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

 

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(14) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, or other transfer or disposition of shares of Capital Stock of, Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, substantially all the assets of which are cash and Cash Equivalents);

(15) cash payments, or loans, advances, dividends or distributions to any Parent Company to make payments, in lieu of issuing fractional shares in connection with share dividends, share splits, reverse share splits, mergers, consolidations, amalgamations or other business combinations and in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Company;

(16) repurchases or redemptions of shares of common Equity Interests of the Company from any holder of less than 100 shares of such common Equity Interests; provided that the aggregate amount paid for all such repurchases or redemptions shall not exceed $1.0 million in any fiscal year;

(17) loans, advances, dividends, distributions or other payments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, including any lump sum amount payable upon an early termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement;

(18) payments and distributions to dissenting stockholders of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, reorganization, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that complies with the terms of this Indenture or any other transaction that complies with the terms of this Indenture;

(19) the refinancing of any Subordinated Indebtedness or Unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness with the Net Proceeds of, or in exchange for, any Refinancing Indebtedness; and

(20) payments made in connection with the IPOCo Transactions, the Qualified IPO and the transactions relating thereto, and the payment of all reasonable and customary fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith or owed by the Company, a Parent Company or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to Affiliates, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 4.12.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.08, in the event that any Restricted Payment or Investment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in Section 4.08(a) or clauses (1) through (20) of Section 4.08(b) and/or one or more of the clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” the Company will, in its sole discretion, be entitled to divide or classify

 

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(or later divide, classify or reclassify), in whole or in part, such Restricted Payment or Investment (or any portion thereof) among Section 4.08(a) or clauses (1) through (20) of Section 4.08(b) and/or one or more clauses contained in the definition of “Permitted Investments,” in a manner that otherwise complies with this Section 4.08.

(d) The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date the Restricted Payment is made, or at the Company’s election, the date a commitment is made to make such Restricted Payment, of the assets or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined in the case of amounts of $25.0 million or more, by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose resolution with respect thereto will be delivered to the Trustee.

(e) The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time pursuant to this Section 4.08 or if an Investment would be permitted at such time, pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture.

SECTION 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly, liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Company will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company for the Company’s most recently ended Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.25 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such Test Period.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) will not apply to:

 

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(1) the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to Debt Facilities by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greatest of (a) $300.0 million, (b) 35.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of incurrence and (c) the Borrowing Base at the time of incurrence; provided that any Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) may be extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (including through successive extensions, replacements, refundings, refinancings, renewals and defeasances) with new Indebtedness so long as the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the sum of (x) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness being so extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased (and with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, including an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness), plus (y) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness being refinanced, plus (z) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the incurrence of such new Indebtedness or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness;

(2) the incurrence by the Issuers and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and related Guarantees (but excluding any Additional Notes issued after the Issue Date);

(3) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary in existence on the Issue Date (excluding Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2));

(4) (a) the incurrence of Attributable Indebtedness and (b) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Obligations) and Disqualified Stock incurred or issued by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary to finance the purchase, lease, expansion, construction, installation, replacement, repair or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or other assets, including assets that are used or useful in a Similar Business, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets in an aggregate principal amount, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts) and all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock incurred or issued and outstanding under this clause (4) at such time, not to exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained) the greater of (i) $50.0 million and (ii) 5.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of incurrence;

 

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(5) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, banker’s acceptances, warehouse receipts, or similar instruments issued or entered into, or relating to obligations or liabilities incurred, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, including in respect of workers’ compensation claims, performance, completion or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, unemployment insurance or other social security legislation, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, performance, completion or surety bonds, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or (b) as an account party in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments in favor of suppliers, trade creditors or other Persons issued or incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(6) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnouts or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with any Investment or any acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(7) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company and owing to a Restricted Subsidiary or the issuance of Disqualified Stock of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary (or to any Parent Company which is substantially contemporaneously transferred to any Restricted Subsidiary); provided that any such Indebtedness for borrowed money owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or the Issuers is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes to the extent permitted by applicable law and it does not result in adverse tax consequences; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock constituting a Permitted Lien) will be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness is then outstanding) or issuance of such Disqualified Stock (to the extent such Disqualified Stock is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) the incurrence of Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary (or to any Parent Company which is substantially contemporaneously transferred to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided that any such Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by a Guarantor or an Issuer and owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or an Issuer is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of the Notes of such Guarantor or the Obligations under the Notes of the relevant Issuer to the extent permitted by applicable law and it does not result in adverse tax consequences; provided

 

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further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any such subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) will be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (8);

(9) the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary (or to any Parent Company which is substantially contemporaneously transferred to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary that holds such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock constituting a Permitted Lien) will be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (to the extent such Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock is then outstanding) not permitted by this clause (9);

(10) the incurrence of Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes);

(11) the incurrence of obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance, banker’s acceptance facilities and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations;

(12) the incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock of the Company and the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (12), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts), does not exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained) (i) the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of incurrence; plus, without duplication, (ii) in the event of any extension, replacement, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, an amount equal to (x) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock, and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (y) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or

 

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premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

(13) the incurrence or issuance by the Company of Refinancing Indebtedness or the incurrence or issuance by a Restricted Subsidiary of Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to refund, refinance, extend, replace, renew or defease (collectively, “refinance” with “refinances,” “refinanced,” and “refinancing” having a correlative meaning) any Indebtedness (including any Designated Revolving Commitments) (other than intercompany Indebtedness) incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.09(a), clauses (2), (3), (4), (14) (28) of this Section 4.09(b) and this clause (13) of this Section 4.09(b), or any successive Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to any of the foregoing;

(14) the incurrence or issuance of:

(A) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or investment (or other purchase of assets) or that is assumed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such acquisition or investment (or other purchase of assets); and

(B) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into, amalgamated or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

provided that, in each case,

(i) after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, amalgamation, consolidation or merger, the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a); or

(ii) after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, amalgamation, consolidation or merger, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company for the Test Period preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would be no less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, in each case, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such Test Period;

 

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(15) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(16) (a) the incurrence of any guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligation incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture, or (b) any co-issuance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness or other obligations by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary was permitted under the terms of this Indenture;

(17) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice from customers for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(18) the incurrence of (a) Indebtedness owed to banks and other financial institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) Indebtedness in respect of Cash Management Services, including Cash Management Obligations;

(19) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange or the discounting or factoring of receivables for credit management purposes, in each case incurred or undertaken in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice on arm’s length commercial terms;

(20) the incurrence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (a) the financing of insurance premiums or (b) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(21) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations relating to net Hydrocarbon balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business;

(22) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary undertaken in connection with cash management (including netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, employee credit card programs and related or similar services or activities) with respect to the Company, any Subsidiaries or any joint venture in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice, including with respect to financial accommodations of the type described in the definition of Cash Management Services;

 

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(23) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited with the Trustee to satisfy and discharge the Notes in accordance with this Indenture;

(24) guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors, licensees, sub-licensees, and distribution partners and guarantees required by Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business;

(25) the incurrence of Indebtedness attributable to (but not incurred to finance) the exercise of appraisal rights or the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect to any acquisition (by merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(26) the incurrence of Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of any Parent Company, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including Indebtedness consisting of obligations under deferred compensation or any other similar arrangements incurred in connection with any Investment or any acquisition (by merger, consolidation or amalgamation or otherwise) permitted under this Indenture;

(27) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising out of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice in an aggregate principal amount, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (excluding any Incremental Amounts) and all other Indebtedness incurred and outstanding under this clause (27) at such time, not to exceed (as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred or otherwise obtained) the greater of (i) $35.0 million and (ii) 3.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of incurrence;

(28) the incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference up to 100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or cash contributed to the capital of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (in each case, other than Excluded Contributions, proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to Section 4.08(b) or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof);

(29) Indebtedness associated with bonds or surety obligations required by requirements of law or by governmental authorities in connection with the operation of Oil and Gas Properties in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(30) Indebtedness consisting of the undischarged balance of any Production Payments and Reserve Sales; and

(31) Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or guarantee obligations in respect of the Indebtedness of, Unrestricted Subsidiaries or any joint ventures (regardless of the form of legal entity) that are not Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount, when aggregated with the outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness then outstanding incurred pursuant to this clause (31), not to exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 5.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of incurrence.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09:

(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) at anytime, whether at the time of incurrence or upon the application of all or a portion of the proceeds thereof or subsequently, meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (31) of Section 4.09(b) or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Company, in its sole discretion, may divide and classify and may subsequently re-divide and reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or a portion thereof) in this Section 4.09(b) or under Section 4.09(a); provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility on the Issue Date will, at all times, be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1) of the second paragraph above and may not be reclassified;

(2) the Company is entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in more than one of the types of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in the first and second paragraphs above, subject to the proviso to Section 4.09(c)(1);

(3) the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under any clause of this Section 4.09 will be determined after giving effect to the application of proceeds of any such Indebtedness to refinance any such other Indebtedness;

(4) guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness that are otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness will not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was incurred in compliance with this caption; and

(5) for purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.09(a) or clause (1), (12) or (14)(A) of Section 4.09(b) in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, such compliance shall be determined on the date such Designated Revolving Commitments are established after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of Indebtedness thereunder, in which case such committed amount under such Designated Revolving Commitments may thereafter be borrowed and reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with such paragraph or clause.

 

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(d) Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the reclassification of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock as Indebtedness due to change in accounting principles and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, will, in each case, not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09. Any Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, to refinance Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, pursuant to Section 4.09(a) or pursuant to clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (12), (13), (14) and (28) of Section 4.09(b) will be permitted to include additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay (I) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased and (II) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (and, with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, will be permitted to include an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness).

(e) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness, liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock or amount of Preferred Stock denominated in a foreign currency will be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock was incurred or issued (or, in the case of revolving credit debt, the date such Indebtedness was first committed or first incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent)); provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued to refinance other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, 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 will be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock does not exceed (1) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock or the amount of such Preferred Stock (as applicable) being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (2) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock and any accrued and

 

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unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (3) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (and, with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, will be permitted to include an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness).

(f) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to refinance other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, if incurred or issued in a different currency from the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, being refinanced, will be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date will be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Company dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

(g) The Issuers will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Issuers or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee to the extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is contractually subordinated to other Indebtedness of the Issuers or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

(h) This Indenture will not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured, (2) Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other Indebtedness merely because it is issued or guaranteed by other obligors or (3) Secured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other Secured Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority lien with respect to the same collateral.

(i) If any Indebtedness is incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, in reliance on a basket measured by reference to a percentage of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, and any refinancing thereof would cause the percentage of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets to be exceeded if calculated based on the Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets will not be deemed to be exceeded to the extent the principal amount of such newly incurred Indebtedness, the liquidation preference of such newly issued Disqualified Stock or the amount of such newly issued Preferred Stock does not exceed the sum of (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock or the amount of such Preferred Stock being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded,

 

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renewed or defeased plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness, any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock and any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Disqualified Stock being so refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased plus (iii) the amount of any tender premium or penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and any defeasance costs and any fees and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock or the extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of such refinanced Indebtedness, Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock (and, with respect to Indebtedness under Designated Revolving Commitments, will be permitted to include an amount equal to any unutilized Designated Revolving Commitments being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased to the extent permanently terminated at the time of incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness).

SECTION 4.10 Limitation on Liens.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur or assume any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures Obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee of Indebtedness, on any asset or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom.

(b) If the Company, the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, directly or indirectly, creates, incurs or assumes any Lien securing the First Lien Obligations or any other Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations (in each case, a “Predecessor Lien”), the Company, the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor shall, as promptly as practicable following the creation, incurrence or assumption of the Predecessor Lien, grant at least a second-priority Lien, subject to Permitted Liens, upon such property or assets as security for the Notes and the Guarantees for so long as such Predecessor Lien remains outstanding.

(c) Any First Lien Obligations may only be secured by a first-priority Lien, and any Permitted Additional Pari Passu Obligations may only be secured by a second-priority Lien. The Company, the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors may not, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien on the Collateral securing Indebtedness which Lien ranks senior or pari passu with the Liens securing the Notes other than a first-priority Lien or a second-priority Lien.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.10, (A) a Lien need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens described in the definition thereof but is permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption and (B) in the event that a Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Liens, the Company will, in its sole discretion, be entitled to divide, classify or reclassify, in whole or in part, any such Lien (or any portion thereof) among one or more of such categories or clauses in any manner.

(e) The expansion of Liens by virtue of accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of dividends or interest in the form of Indebtedness and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Liens for purposes of this Section 4.10.

 

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SECTION 4.11 Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) The Issuers will cause each Domestic Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than the Issuers) that incurs or guarantees (or otherwise becomes liable for) (i) Obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility or (ii) Indebtedness under any Debt Facility in excess of the De Minimis Amount to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit C, within 30 days of the date on which it is required to become a Guarantor, pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary will irrevocably and unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest in respect of the Notes on a senior basis and all other Obligations under this Indenture and grant Liens on its assets constituting Collateral as set forth under Section 13.13 herein, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Issuers or any Guarantor, if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, any such guarantee by such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness will be subordinated in right of payment to such guarantee substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes..

(b) The Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor, in which case such Subsidiary will not be required to comply with clause (1) or (2) of this Section 4.11 and such Guarantee may be released at any time in the Company’s sole discretion

(c) Each Guarantee shall be released in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06.

SECTION 4.12 Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $5.0 million, unless:

(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms, taken as a whole, that are not materially less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would have been obtained at such time in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with a Person other than an Affiliate of the Company on an arm’s-length basis or, if in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

 

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(A) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions requiring aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $20.0 million, an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions complies with this Section 4.12 as determined in good faith by an Officer of the Company disinterested with respect to such Affiliate Transaction; and

(B) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions requiring aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $40.0 million, an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions complies with this Section 4.12 and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company, if any.

(b) Section 4.12(a) will not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Company and one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or between or among Restricted Subsidiaries or, in any case, any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;

(2) (a) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.08 (including any transaction specifically excluded from the definition of the term “Restricted Payments,” including pursuant to the exceptions contained in the definition thereof and the parenthetical exclusions of such definition) and (b) any Permitted Investments;

(3) (a) the payment of indemnification and similar amounts to, and reimbursement of reasonable and customary expenses to, the Investors and their officers, directors, employees and Affiliates, in each case, approved by, or pursuant to arrangements approved by, the Board of Directors, (b) payments, loans, advances or guarantees (or cancellation of loans, advances or guarantees) to future, present or former employees, officers, directors, managers, consultants or independent contractors or guarantees in respect thereof for bona fide business purposes or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and (c) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to putt call rights or similar rights with current, former or future officers, directors, employees, managers, consultants and independent contractors of the Company or any Parent Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(4) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements, employment and severance arrangements, stock option plans and other compensatory arrangements (and any successor plan thereto) provided to, or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, present, future or former employees, directors, officers, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company, any Parent Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(5) transactions in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms, when taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company on an arm’s-length basis;

(6) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date, or any amendment thereto or replacement thereof (so long as any such amendment or replacement is not materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date);

(7) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any equity holder agreement or the equivalent (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any amendment thereto and similar agreements or arrangements that it may enter into thereafter; provided that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or arrangement or under any similar agreement or arrangement entered into after the Issue Date will only be permitted by this clause (7) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement or arrangement are not otherwise materially disadvantageous in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors to the Company when taken as a whole (as compared to the original agreement or arrangement in effect on the Issue Date);

(8) contracts for exploring for, producing, marketing, storing or otherwise handling Hydrocarbons, or activities or services reasonably related or ancillary thereto, or other operational contracts, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that are fair to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably might have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(9) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that are fair to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

 

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(10) the issuance, sale or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any Parent Company to any Person and the granting and performing of customary rights (including registration rights) in connection therewith, and any contribution to the capital of the Company;

(11) payments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary made for any financial advisory, consulting, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are approved by, or made pursuant to arrangements approved by, a majority of the Board of Directors in good faith;

(12) (a) investments by Affiliates in securities or Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (and payment of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Affiliates in connection therewith) so long as the investment is being offered by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary generally to other unaffiliated investors on the same or more favorable terms and (b) payments to Affiliates in respect of securities or Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary contemplated in the foregoing subclause (a) or that were acquired from Persons other than the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in accordance with the terms of such securities or Indebtedness;

(13) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice (including any cash management activities related thereto);

(14) (a) payments by the Company (and any Parent Company) and its Subsidiaries pursuant to, and the entry into, tax sharing agreements, including pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement or any early termination thereof, among the Company (and any Parent Company) and its Subsidiaries; provided that in each case the amount of such payments by the Company and its Subsidiaries are permitted under clauses (13) or (17) of Section 4.08(b) and (b) the formation and maintenance of any consolidated group or subgroup for tax, accounting or cash pooling or management purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(15) any lease (other than any lease of Oil and Gas Properties) entered into between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, and any Affiliate of the Company, as lessor, and transactions pursuant to that lease which lease is approved by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Company in good faith;

(16) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(17) the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses relating to registration rights and indemnities provided to equity holders of the Company or any Parent Company pursuant to any equity holders agreement or registration rights agreement entered into on or after the Issue Date;

 

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(18) transactions permitted by, and complying with, Section 5.01 solely for the purpose of (a) reorganizing to facilitate any Qualified IPO, (b) forming a holding company or (c) reincorporating the Company, the Issuer or the Co-Issuer or (d) consummating the IPOCo Transactions;

(19) (a) transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Company (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) solely because the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owns Equity Interests in such Person and (b) transactions with any Person that is an Affiliate solely because a director of such Person is a director of the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Company; provided that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Company on any matter involving such other Person;

(20) (a) pledges and other transfers of Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (b) any transactions with an Affiliate in which the consideration paid consists solely of Equity Interests of the Company or a Parent Company;

(21) the sale, issuance or transfer of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(22) the issuance of the Notes and the use of proceeds therefrom as contemplated by the Offering Memorandum and the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, including Transaction Expenses;

(23) payments on the Notes in accordance with this Indenture and payments of Obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility and payments in respect of Obligations under other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company and its Subsidiaries held by Affiliates; provided that such Obligations were acquired by an Affiliate of the Company in compliance with this Indenture;

(24) transactions undertaken in the ordinary course of business pursuant to membership in a purchasing consortium; and

(25) any transactions with or among the Company, IPOCo, their respective Restricted Subsidiaries and the Permitted Holders in connection with the IPOCo Transactions and the Qualified IPO, the transactions relating thereto, and the payment of all fees and expenses related thereto, including fees to the Investors.

SECTION 4.13 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries that are Not Guarantors.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (other than the Issuers) to, create or otherwise cause to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

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(1) (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company, the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or

(b) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company, the Issuers or to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor;

(2) make loans or advances to the Company, the Issuers or to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor; or

(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company, the Issuers or to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor;

provided that dividend or liquidation priority between or among classes or series of Capital Stock, and the subordination of any obligation (including the application of any remedy bars thereto) to any other obligation will not be deemed to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction.

(b) The preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Revolving Credit Facility and the Security Documents and the related documentation and Hedging Obligations and the related documentation;

(2) this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees thereof;

(3) Purchase Money Obligations and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in Section 4.13(a)(3) on the property so acquired;

(4) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(5) any agreement or other instrument of a Person, or relating to Indebtedness or Equity Interests of a Person, acquired by or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with and into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, or any other transaction entered into in connection with any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation in existence at the time of such acquisition or at the time it merges, amalgamates or consolidates with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person (but, in any such case, not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person so acquired and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person so acquired or designated and its Subsidiaries or the property or assets so acquired or designated;

 

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(6) contracts or agreements for the sale or disposition of assets, including any restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of any of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(7) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 and Section 4.10 that limits the right of the debtor to dispose of assets or incur Liens;

(8) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice or arising in connection with any Permitted Liens;

(9) provisions in agreements governing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09;

(10) provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements (including equity holder agreements) relating to such joint venture or its members or entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses, Equity Interests or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property and other agreements;

(12) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreement to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary that are subject to such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary;

(13) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(14) any customary encumbrances or restrictions imposed pursuant to any agreement of the type described in the definition of Permitted Business Investment;

(15) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement;

(16) restrictions arising in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Section 4.10;

 

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(17) any other agreement or instrument governing any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.09 entered into after the Issue Date that contains encumbrances and restrictions that either (i) are no more restrictive in any material respect, taken as a whole, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary than (A) the restrictions contained in this Indenture or the Revolving Credit Facility as of the Issue Date or (B) those encumbrances and other restrictions that are in effect on the Issue Date with respect to the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to agreements in effect on the Issue Date, (ii) are not materially more disadvantageous, taken as a whole, to the Holders than is customary in comparable financings for similarly situated issuers or (iii) will not materially impair the Issuers’ ability to make payments on the Notes when due, in each case in the good faith judgment of the Company;

(18) under terms of Indebtedness and Liens in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(4) and any permitted refinancing in respect of the foregoing and (ii) agreements entered into in connection with a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice;

(19) customary restrictions and conditions contained in documents relating to any Lien so long as (i) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien and (ii) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 4.13;

(20) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary that was previously an Unrestricted Subsidiary which encumbrance or restriction exists pursuant to or by reason of an agreement that such Subsidiary is a party to or entered into before the date on which such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such agreement was not entered into in anticipation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and any such encumbrance or restriction does not extend to any assets or property of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(21) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order in any jurisdiction where Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.09 is incurred or issued;

(22) any encumbrance or restriction contained in agreements governing or relating to reserves that are the subject of any Production Payment or Reserve Sale; and

(23) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (22) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the

 

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good faith judgment of the Company, no more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions, taken as a whole, than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing; any encumbrance or restriction existing under, by reason of or with respect to Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, further, that the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the agreements governing that Refinancing Indebtedness are, in the good faith judgment of the Company, not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced.

In each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets or property that may be subject to such encumbrance or restriction, an encumbrance or restriction on a specified asset or property or group or type of assets or property may also apply to all improvements, additions, repairs, attachments and accessions thereto, construction thereon, assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto, parts, replacements and substitutions therefor and all products and proceeds thereof, including dividends, distributions, interest and increases in respect thereof.

SECTION 4.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

(a) If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently electronically delivered or mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described in Section 3.07 or Section 11.01, the Issuers will make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date prior to such repurchase. Within 60 days following any Change of Control, the Issuers will send notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, with the following information:

(1) a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to Section 4.14 and all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuers;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 20 Business Days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), subject to extension (in the case where such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered prior to the occurrence of the Change of Control) in the event that the occurrence of the Change of Control is delayed;

(3) any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

 

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(4) unless the Issuers default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5) Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice or otherwise in accordance with Depositary procedures, prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6) Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuers to purchase such Notes; provided that the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day prior to the expiration date of the Change of Control Offer, a facsimile transmission or letter or other notice in accordance with Depositary procedures setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;

(7) Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered; provided that the unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to at least $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;

(8) if such notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, stating that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control and describing each such condition, and, if applicable, stating that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice was mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any or all such conditions are satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion), or such purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions are not satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion) by the Change of Control Payment Date, or by the Change of Control Payment Date as so delayed, or such notice may be rescinded at any time in the Company’s discretion if in the good faith judgment of the Issuers any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the purchase price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such purchase may be performed by another Person; and

(9) the other instructions, as determined by the Issuers, consistent with this Section 4.14, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes repurchased.

(b) The Issuers will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes by the Issuers pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached their obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

 

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(c) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuers will, to the extent permitted by law:

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof validly tendered and not validly withdrawn; and

(3) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee (a) an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuers and (b) at the Issuers’ option, the Notes so accepted for cancellation.

(d) The Issuers will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control 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 Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(e) A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control and conditional upon such Change of Control if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(f) A Change of Control Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, Notes and/or Guarantees (but the Change of Control Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).

SECTION 4.15 Asset Sales.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate an Asset Sale, unless:

(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, in connection with such Asset Sale) at least equal to the fair market value (measured at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration for such Asset Sale, together with all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date (on a cumulative basis), received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that each of the following will be deemed to be cash or Cash Equivalents for purposes of this clause (2):

 

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(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the Notes thereto or, if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on the Company’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s consolidated balance sheet or in the Notes thereto if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Company) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Guarantor’s Guarantee of the Notes, that are (i) assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or a third party in connection with such transfer) or (ii) otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction with such transferee (other than intercompany debt owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary);

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee or in connection with such Asset Sale (including earnouts and similar obligations) that are converted by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents, or by their terms are required to be satisfied for cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale;

(C) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed 5.0% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured, at the Company’s option, either at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale or at the time received and, in either case, without giving effect to subsequent changes in value;

(D) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Sale (other than intercompany debt owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), to the extent that the Company and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any guarantee of payment of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale;

(E) any Investment, Capital Stock, assets, property or capital or other expenditure of the kind referred to in Section 4.15(b)(2); and

 

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(F) with respect to any Asset Sale of Oil and Gas Properties disposed of by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary retains an interest, the costs and expenses related to the exploration, development, completion or production of such Oil and Gas Properties and activities related thereto agreed to be assumed by the transferee (or an Affiliate thereof).

(b) Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale (as may be extended pursuant to clause (2) below, the “Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period”), the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale:

(1) (a) if the Asset Sale is a disposition of Collateral, to repay, prepay, redeem or repurchase First Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations (provided that with respect to Second Lien Obligations, such repayment, prepayment, redemption or repurchase must be made either by a pro rata redemption or repayment of outstanding Second Lien Obligations (including the Notes) or by an offer to purchase on a pro rata basis made to all holders of Second Lien Obligations (including Holders of the Notes)); (b) if the Asset Sale is not a disposition of Collateral, to repay, prepay, redeem or repurchase Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (c) to repay, prepay, redeem or repurchase Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that does not Guarantee the Notes, so long as the relevant assets were assets of such Subsidiary;

(2) to make (a) capital expenditures, (b) other expenditures made with respect to Oil and Gas Properties, (c) acquisitions by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of properties (including fee and leasehold interests) or Capital Stock of businesses or entities or (d) acquisitions by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of other assets, other than securities and other than assets classified as current assets under GAAP, in the case of clause (c) and this clause (d), either (i) that are or will be used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business or (ii) that replace, in whole or in part, the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale; provided that in the case of this clause (2), a binding commitment will be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (or, if later, 365 days after the receipt of such Net Proceeds); provided, further, that if any such commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds will constitute Excess Proceeds; provided, further, that the assets acquired (including Equity Interests) with the Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale of Collateral are pledged as Collateral to the extent required under the Security Documents and in accordance with this Indenture substantially simultaneously with such acquisition and perfected within the time frames required by the applicable Security Documents; or

(3) any combination of the foregoing.

 

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(c) The amount equal to the Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.15(b) will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million, the Issuers will make an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders and (i) in respect of Excess Proceeds of an Asset Sale of Collateral, if required by the terms of any Second Lien Obligations, to the holders of such Second Lien Obligations, and (ii) in respect of other Excess Proceeds, at the option of the Issuers, to any holders of any Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes (“Pari Passu Indebtedness”), in each case to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such other Indebtedness that is in an amount equal to at least $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price, in the case of the Notes, in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or accreted value thereof, if less), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any (or, in respect of such other Indebtedness, such other price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms thereof), to, but excluding, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture (or, in respect of such other Indebtedness, the agreement or instrument governing the terms thereof).

(d) The Issuers will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 30 days after the date that the amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million by mailing or electronically delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee, or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. The Issuers may satisfy the foregoing obligation with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an offer to purchase Notes with respect to the amount of all or part of the available Net Proceeds (the “Advance Portion”) prior to the expiration of the Asset Sale Proceeds Application Period with respect to the amount of all or a part of the available Net Proceeds in advance of being required to do so by this Indenture (the “Advance Offer”).

To the extent that the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes, such Second Lien Obligations and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds (or in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use any remaining Excess Proceeds (or in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes, Second Lien Obligations and/or the Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered in an Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds (or in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described in Section 3.02 and the Issuers will select such Second Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased pursuant to the terms of such Second Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness; provided that as between the Notes, any Second Lien Obligations and any Pari Passu Indebtedness, such purchases will be made on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes, such Second Lien Obligations or such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered with adjustments as necessary so that no Notes, Second Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness will be repurchased in part in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, for purposes of this provision the amount of Excess Proceeds (or in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) that resulted in the Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer will be reset to zero (regardless of whether there are any remaining Excess Proceeds (or Advance Portion) upon such completion). An Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, Notes and/or Guarantees (but the Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).

 

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To the extent that any portion of Net Proceeds payable in respect of the Notes is denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, the amount thereof payable in respect of the Notes shall not exceed the net amount of funds in U.S. dollars that is actually received by the Issuer upon converting such portion into U.S. dollars.

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.15, the holder of such Net Proceeds may apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4.15, (i) to the extent that any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sales by a Foreign Subsidiary after the Issue Date (a “Foreign Disposition”) is prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States, the portion of such Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this Section 4.15, and such amounts may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation to the United States (the Issuers hereby agreeing to use reasonable efforts (as determined in the Issuer’s reasonable business judgment) to otherwise cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law, applicable organizational impediments or other impediment to permit such repatriation), and if such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds is permitted under the applicable local law, such repatriation will be promptly effected and such repatriated Net Proceeds will be promptly (and in any event not later than five Business Days after such repatriation could be made) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) (whether or not repatriation actually occurs) in compliance with this Section 4.15 and (ii) to the extent that the Issuers have determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition would have a material adverse tax cost consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Proceeds (which for the avoidance of doubt, includes, but is not limited to, any prepayment whereby doing so the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their respective affiliates and/or equity partners would incur a tax liability, including as a result of a dividend or a deemed dividend pursuant to Code Section 956, or a withholding tax), the Net Proceeds so affected may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary; provided that when the Issuers determine in good faith that repatriation of any of such Net Proceeds would no longer have a material adverse tax cost consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation), such amount at such time shall no longer be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary. The non-application of any prepayment amounts as a consequence of the foregoing provisions will not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

(f) The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Asset Sale Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Sale Offer Period (the “Asset Sale Purchase Date”), the Issuers will apply all Excess

 

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Proceeds to the purchase of the aggregate principal amount of Notes and, if applicable, Pari Passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) required to be purchased pursuant to this Section 4.15 (the “Asset Sale Offer Amount”), or, if less than the Asset Sale Offer Amount of Notes (and, if applicable, Pari Passu Indebtedness) has been so validly tendered, all Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness validly tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments on the Notes are made.

(g) If the Asset Sale Purchase Date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest up to but excluding the Asset Sale Purchase Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date.

(h) The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer or Advance Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.16 Real Estate Mortgages and Filings.

With respect to any fee interest in any real property that constitutes Second Lien Collateral (the “Mortgaged Property”), the Issuers and/or the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Collateral Agent each of the following items, within 60 days of the Issue Date or, with respect to any Mortgaged Property acquired by the Issuers or any Guarantors after the Issuer Date, within 60 days of the date of acquisition thereof:

(1) fully executed counterparts of Mortgages, each dated within 60 days after the Issue Date or the date of acquisition of such property, as the case may be, duly executed by the applicable Issuer or Guarantor, together with evidence of the completion (or satisfactory arrangements for the completion), of all recordings and filings of such Mortgage as may be necessary to create a valid, perfected Lien, with the priority required by this Indenture and the Security Documents, subject to Permitted Liens, against the properties purported to be covered thereby; and

(2) such further information, opinions, certificates, instruments and documents evidencing or relating to the Mortgaged Property or required to effect the foregoing including, without limitation, any information, certificates, opinions, instruments and documents substantially similar in form and substance to those delivered to the administrative agent under the Revolving Credit Facility in connection with such Mortgaged Property.

 

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SECTION 4.17 Effectiveness of Covenants.

(a) During any period of time that (i) the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating from both Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event” and the date thereof being referred to as the “Suspension Date”), the Guarantees will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged (subject to reinstatement as described in Section 4.17(f)) and the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to Sections 4.08, 4.09, 4.11 (but only with respect to any Person that is required to become a Guarantor after the date of the commencement of the applicable Suspension Date) 4.12, 4.13 and 4.15 and 5.01 (but only with respect to clause (1)(D) of Section 5.01(a) and (c))(collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”).

(b) In the event that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) the Notes no longer have an Investment Grade Rating, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to future events. The period of time between the Suspension Date and the Reversion Date is referred to in this Indenture as the “Suspension Period.”

(c) During a Suspension Period, the Company may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

(d) The Guarantees of the Guarantors other than the Company will be suspended during the Suspension Period; provided that if any Restricted Subsidiary guarantees the payment of any Indebtedness of an Issuer or any Guarantor incurred subsequent to the Suspension Date, then the Company will cause such Restricted Subsidiary to become a Guarantor in accordance with Section 4.09 to the extent required by the terms of such covenant if it were then in effect. Additionally, upon the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event, the amount of Excess Proceeds from Net Proceeds will be reset to zero for purposes of Section 4.15.

(e) In the event a Reversion Date occurs, no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or events occurring prior to the Reversion Date with respect to any of the Suspended Covenants will give rise to a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture with respect to the Notes; provided that

(1) with respect to Restricted Payments made after the Reversion Date, the amount of Restricted Payments made will be calculated as though the Section 4.08 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period; accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will not reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.08(a);

(2) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(3);

(3) any Affiliate Transaction entered into after the Reversion Date pursuant to an agreement entered into during any Suspension Period will be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 4.12(b)(6);

 

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(4) any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to take any action described in Section 4.13(a) that becomes effective during any Suspension Period will be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 4.13(b)(1);

(5) no Subsidiary of the Company will be required to comply with Section 4.11 after the Reversion Date with respect to any guarantee entered into by such Subsidiary during any Suspension Period;

(6) all Liens permitted to be created, incurred or assumed during the Suspension Period will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that they are classified as permitted under clause (9) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; and

(7) all Investments made during the Suspension Period will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that they are classified as Permitted Investments permitted under clause (5) of the definition of “Permitted Investments.”

(f) Notwithstanding that the Suspended Covenants may be reinstated after the Reversion Date, (1) no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind will be deemed to exist under this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees with respect to the Suspended Covenants, and none of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will bear any liability for any actions taken or events occurring during the Suspension Period, or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation arising during a Suspension Period, in each case, as a result of a failure to comply with the Suspended Covenants during the Suspension Period (or, upon termination of the Suspension Period or after that time, based on any action taken or event that occurred during the Suspension Period) and (2) following a Reversion Date, the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary will be permitted, without causing a Default or Event of Default, to honor, comply with or otherwise perform any contractual commitments or obligations arising during any Suspension Period that were permitted to be entered into at such time and to consummate any transactions contemplated thereby.

(g) During the Suspension Period, the Guarantees of the Guarantors other than the Company will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged and the obligation to grant further Guarantees will be suspended. Upon the Reversion Date, the obligation to grant Guarantees pursuant to the Section 4.11 will be reinstated (and the Reversion Date will be deemed to be the date on which any guaranteed Indebtedness was incurred for purposes of Section 4.11).

(h) The Trustee shall have no duty to (i) monitor the ratings of the Notes, (ii) determine whether a Covenant Suspension Event or Reversion Date has occurred or (iii) notify Holders of any of the foregoing.

(i) The Company shall send written notice to the Trustee upon the commencement of any Suspension Period or the occurrence of any Reversion Date; provided, however, that the failure to so notify the Trustee shall not be a default under this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 4.18 Limitation on Activities of Co-Issuer.

The Co-Issuer may not hold any material assets, become liable for any material obligations, engage in any trade or business, or conduct any business activity, other than (1) the issuance of its Capital Stock to the Company or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (2) the incurrence of Indebtedness as a co-obligor or guarantor, as the case may be, of the Notes, any Debt Facility and any other Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 and (3) activities incidental thereto.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

SECTION 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.

(a) Neither the Issuer nor the Co-Issuer may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer or the Co-Issuer is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) (A) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made, is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Issuer”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

(B) the Successor Issuer, if other than the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, under the Notes and the Security Documents pursuant to supplemental indentures or other customary documents or instruments;

(C) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists;

(D) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the most recently ended Test Period, either:

(1) the Issuer (or Successor Issuer, as applicable) would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a)” or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such transaction;

 

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(E) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (b) above will apply, will have by supplemental indenture or otherwise confirmed that its Guarantee applies to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Notes;

(F) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable (or the Successor Issuer, as applicable), will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent under this Indenture have been satisfied and such Opinion of Counsel shall also state that such supplemental indentures, if any, are authorized or permitted by this Indenture and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person; and

(G) any Collateral owned by or transferred to the Successor Issuer formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made continues to constitute Collateral under this Indenture and the Security Documents, subject to the Liens on the Collateral securing First Lien Obligations or Additional Pari Passu Obligations, except as permitted by this Indenture or the Security Documents; or

(2) in the case of assets comprised of Equity Interests of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, such Equity Interests are sold, assigned, transferred, leased, conveyed or otherwise disposed of to one or more Restricted Subsidiaries.

The Successor Issuer will succeed to, and be substituted for the Issuer or Co-Issuer, as applicable, under this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Security Documents and the Notes, as applicable, and in such event the Issuer or Co-Issuer, as applicable, will automatically be released from its obligations thereunder (other than in connection with any lease).

(b) Notwithstanding the immediately preceding clauses (a)(1)(C) through (a)(1)(F),

(1) any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Issuers) may consolidate with, amalgamate with or merge with or into or wind up into or sell, assign, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Issuers),

(2) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer may consolidate with, amalgamate with or merge with or into, or wind up into an Affiliate of the Company or the Co-Issuer for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer or the Co-Issuer in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby,

 

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(3) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer may convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer or the laws of a jurisdiction in the United States (and, if such entity is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation organized or existing under such laws), and

(4) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor may change its name.

(c) Subject to certain limitations described in this Indenture governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale, disposition or transfer of Equity Interests of a Guarantor, no Guarantor will, and the Company will not permit any Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) (A) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Person”);

(B) the Successor Person, if other than such Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture, such Guarantor’s related Guarantee and the Security Documents pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(C) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(D) the Issuer will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent under this Indenture have been satisfied and such Opinion of Counsel shall also state that such supplemental indentures, if any, are authorized or permitted by this Indenture and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person; or

(2) the transaction is made in compliance with, if applicable, Section 4.15; or

(3) in the case of assets comprised of Equity Interests of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, such Equity Interests are sold, assigned, transferred, leased, conveyed or otherwise disposed of to one or more Restricted Subsidiaries.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, compliance with this Section 5.01 will not be required with respect to (1) any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of properties or assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) the IPOCo Transactions.

 

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SECTION 5.02 Successor Entity Substituted.

Subject to certain limitations described in this Indenture, the Successor Person (if other than such Guarantor) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture, such Guarantor’s Guarantee and the Security Documents and such Guarantor will be automatically released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture, such Guarantor’s Guarantee and the Security Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may (1) merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into, wind up into or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Issuer; provided that, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, a Guarantor will not be released from its obligations under its Guarantee, (2) merge with an Affiliate of the Company for the purpose of reincorporating the Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (3) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor or the laws of a jurisdiction in the United States, (4) liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Issuer determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Issuer and is not materially disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes or (5) change its name.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01 Events of Default.

(a) Each of the following is an “Event of Default”:

(1) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(2) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes;

(3) failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clause (1) or (2) above) contained in this Indenture or the Notes;

(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company, the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company, the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company, the Issuers or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

 

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(A) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its Stated Maturity; and

(B) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $25.0 million or more at any one time outstanding;

(5) failure by the Company, the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $25.0 million (net of amounts covered by insurance policies), which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged, unwaived and unstayed for a period of more than 90 days after such judgment becomes final;

(6) (i) the Company, the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(B) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking an arrangement of debt, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Law;

(C) consents to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

 

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(ii) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A) is for relief against the Company, the Issuers, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, in a proceeding in which the Company, the Issuers, any such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(B) appoints a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company, the Issuers, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, the Issuers, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

(C) orders the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Issuers, or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

(7) the Guarantee of the Company or of any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) will for any reason cease to be in full force and effect except as contemplated by the terms of this Indenture or be declared null and void in a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or any Financial Officer of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or the responsible officers of any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together (as of the latest consolidated financial statements of the Company made available to the Holders) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), as the case may be, denies in writing that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives written notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture; or

(8) (a) any Security Document ceases to be in full force and effect (except as permitted by the terms of this Indenture or the Security Documents) for a period of 30 days after the Issuers or any Guarantor receives notice thereof, (b) any of the Security Documents ceases to give the Holders a valid, perfected security interest (except

 

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as permitted by the terms of this Indenture or the Security Documents) for a period of 30 days after the Issuers or any Guarantor receives notice thereof or (c) the Issuers or any Guarantor fails to grant and perfect any security interest required by the Security Documents to be so granted and perfected, in each case with respect to Collateral having a fair market value in excess of $25.0 million in the aggregate with respect to clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 6.01(a)(8).

SECTION 6.02 Acceleration.

(a) If any Event of Default (other than of a type specified in Section 6.01(a)(6) with respect to either Issuer) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee by written notice to the Issuers or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes by written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal of and premium, if any, and interest will be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under Section 6.01(a)(6) with respect to the Issuer, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. The Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding the notice is in their interest. The Trustee will have no obligation to accelerate the Notes.

SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies.

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, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

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 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 of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Trustee, may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences under this Indenture (except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(4), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) will be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if:

 

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(1) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged;

(2) the requisite holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

(3) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, waived or is no longer continuing.

SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

SECTION 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

In case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to Section 6.07, and except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes have requested in writing the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) Holders of the Notes have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such written request within such 60-day period.

SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on its Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Note (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer), 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(a)(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers and any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes, together with interest on overdue principal 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 and its agents and counsel.

SECTION 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

SECTION 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy are, to the extent permitted by law, cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 6.12 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee may file proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee

 

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and the Collateral Agent, their agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes, including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and is entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims. 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 or the Collateral Agent for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or the Collateral Agent under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or the Collateral Agent 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 6.13 Priorities.

If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(1) to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their agents and attorneys for amounts due under this Indenture including Section 7.07 and the Security Documents including payment of all reasonable compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

(2) to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and 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

(3) to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.13. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this Section 6.13, the Trustee shall cause notice of such record date and payment date to be given to the Company and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 12.02.

 

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SECTION 6.14 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 such 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, 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 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(1) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) 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. 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 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).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

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

 

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(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Notes and the Guarantees at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuers. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the 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 in good faith to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, 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.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both subject to the other provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. 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.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees or the Security Documents.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuers or a Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the such Issuer or Guarantor.

 

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(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture or the Security Documents shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, 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 indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Default or 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 existence of a Default or Event of Default, the Notes and this Indenture.

(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for punitive special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(k) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

(l) The Trustee and any of its Affiliates, directors, officers, managers, employees, advisors, counsel, agents or attorneys-in-fact shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into or verify (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with this Indenture or any Security Document, or any certificate, financial statement or other document furnished at any time under or in connection with this Indenture or the Security Documents (ii) the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or agreements of the Issuers and the Guarantors or any Person in this Indenture or the Security Documents (iii) the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, value, enforceability or sufficiency of the Collateral or any other Security Document, or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection herewith or therewith, in respect of the Issuers or the Guarantors or (iv) the attachment, perfection or priority of any security interest created or purported to be created under or in connection with any Security Document. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee or any of its Affiliates, directors, officers, managers, employees, advisors, counsel, agents or attorneys-in-fact shall not be responsible to any Person for any mistake, omission or error of judgment with respect to the value or valuation, genuineness, enforceability, existence, perfection or priority of any of the Collateral, the determination of the fair market value of any Collateral, or any other matters determined hereunder or under the other Security Documents.

 

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(m) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.

(n) The right of the Trustee to perform any discretionary or permissive act enumerated in this Indenture or any Security Document shall not be construed as a duty, and the Trustee shall not be answerable for other than its negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of such act.

SECTION 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee or any Agent in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee or such Agent. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04 Trustees Disclaimer.

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes, the Security Documents or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication on the Notes.

SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee will send to each Holder a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it obtains actual knowledge thereof. Except in the case of an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.01(a), the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if the Trustee determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders.

The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is a Default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.

 

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SECTION 7.06 Compensation and Indemnity.

(a) The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee and the Collateral Agent promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s agents and counsel. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall provide the Issuers reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary course of business.

(b) The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and the Collateral Agent for, and hold each of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and any predecessor harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents against the Issuers or any Guarantor (including this Section 7.06)) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuers or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuers need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent through the Trustee’s and the Collateral Agent’s own willful misconduct, negligence as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable decision.

(c) The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

(d) To secure the payment obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(e) When the Trustee and the Collateral Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(6) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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SECTION 7.07 Replacement of Trustee.

(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee may resign in writing at any time by giving 30 days’ prior notice of such resignation to the Issuers and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuers in writing. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(3) a receiver or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the successor Trustee to replace it with another successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

(c) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Issuers’ expense), the Issuers or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(d) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and such transfer shall be subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

(f) As used in this Section 7.08, the term “Trustee” shall also include each Agent.

 

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SECTION 7.08 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the successor corporation or national banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee, subject to Section 7.10.

SECTION 7.09 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Issuers may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

SECTION 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

(a) Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to this Indenture, all outstanding Notes and Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, 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 (1) through (4) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture, including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04;

(2) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

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(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(4) this Section 8.02.

Following the Issuers exercise of its Legal Defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

(b) Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03.

SECTION 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.05, 4.06, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.18 and clause (1)(D) of Section 5.01(a), with respect to the outstanding Notes, and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Guarantees, and the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes shall be released, on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of 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 this Indenture and the outstanding Notes, the Issuers 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 Issuers’ 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, an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(3) (only with respect to covenants that are released as a result of such Covenant Defeasance), 6.01(a)(4), 6.01(a)(5), 6.01(a)(6) and 6.01(a)(7) (solely with respect to Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), in each case, shall not constitute an Event of Default.

SECTION 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

(a) The following shall be the conditions to the exercise of either the Legal Defeasance option under Section 8.02 or the Covenant Defeasance option under Section 8.03 with respect to the Notes:

 

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(1) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor to the extent such amounts consist of U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes on the stated maturity date or on the applicable Redemption Dates, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited will be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Paying Agent equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of redemption (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Paying Agent on or prior to the date of redemption. Any Applicable Premium Deficit will be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and the Paying Agent simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit will be applied toward such redemption;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers will have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions:

(A) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(B) since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers will have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to such 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;

(4) no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens and the consummation of other transactions in connection therewith) will have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

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(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Revolving Credit Facility or any other material agreement, instrument or documents (other than this Indenture) to which, the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make the deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness to be redeemed, and, in each case, the granting of Liens and the consummation of other transactions in connection therewith);

(6) the Issuers will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuers or any Guarantor or others; and

(7) the Issuers will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Opinion of Counsel required by clause (2) of Section 8.04(a) with respect to legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable or (ii) will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers.

SECTION 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) Subject to Section 8.06, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Paying Agent pursuant to Section 8.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Paying Agent, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(b) The Issuers will pay and indemnify the Trustee and the Paying Agent against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities 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.

 

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(c) Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Paying Agent will deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee and the Paying Agent (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 Issuers.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on its request or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuers 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 Issuers.

SECTION 8.07 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or Government Securities 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 Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees 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 that, if the Issuers make any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of Holders.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 9.02, the Issuers, any Guarantor (with respect to a Guarantee to which it is a party) and the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Guarantee, the Notes or the Security Documents without the consent of any Holder:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

 

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(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3) to comply with Section 5.01 and Section 4.15;

(4) to provide for the assumption of the Issuers’ or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not materially adversely affect (as determined in good faith by the Company) the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

(6) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuers or any Guarantor;

(7) at the Issuer’s election, to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable (it being agreed that this Indenture need not be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act);

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee or under the Security Documents of a successor Collateral Agent thereunder, pursuant to the requirements thereof;

(9) to add a Guarantor or co-obligor under this Indenture or to release a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(10) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Security Documents, Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” contained in the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in this “Description of the Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Guarantees or the Notes, as provided to the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate;

(11) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided that (a) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (b) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

(12) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(13) to secure the Notes and/or the related Guarantees or to confirm and evidence the release, termination, discharge or retaking of any guarantee or Lien with respect to or securing the Notes when such release, termination, discharge or retaking is provided for under this Indenture or the Security Documents; or

 

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(14) to provide for the accession of any parties to the Security Documents (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature) in connection with an incurrence of additional First Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations permitted by this Indenture and to provide for an intercreditor agreement with creditors for whom a junior lien on the Collateral is to be granted.

(b) Upon the request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent of the documents described in Section 12.04, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture or amendment to the Notes or the Security Documents authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to enter into such amendment that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 9.02 With Consent of Holders.

(a) Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, this Indenture, the Security Documents, any Guarantee and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or its Affiliates, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Notes issued thereunder may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or its Affiliates (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer or offer to purchase with respect to the Notes); provided that (x) if any such amendment or waiver will only affect one series of Notes (or less than all series of Notes) then outstanding under this Indenture, then only the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding (including, in each case, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Notes) shall be required and (y) if any such amendment or waiver by its terms will affect a series of Notes in a manner different and materially adverse relative to the manner such amendment or waiver affects other series of Notes, then the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or its Affiliates, of such adversely affected series then outstanding (including, in each case, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Notes) shall be required.

(b) Upon the request of the Company, and upon the filing with the Trustee or the Collateral Agent of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent of the documents described in Section 7.02 and Section 12.04, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture or amendment to the Notes or Security Documents unless such amendment directly affects the Trustee’s or the Collateral Agent’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amendment.

 

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(c) The consent of the Holders is not necessary under this Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

(d) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will give to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, supplement or waiver. However, the failure of the Company to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.

(e) Without the consent of each affected Holder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Notes held by Affiliates), an amendment or waiver may not, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:

(1) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of such Notes on any date (other than provisions relating Section 4.14 and Section 4.15); provided that any amendment to the notice requirements may be made with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes;

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(4) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture, the Security Documents or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all affected Holders;

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults; make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions that is materially adverse to the Holders;

(7) modify the contractual right under this Indenture of any Holder to institute suit for the payment of principal, interest or premium (if any) on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes on or after the respective due dates;

(8) make any change to or modify the ranking of the Notes that would adversely affect the Holders; or

(9) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Guarantor in any manner materially adverse to the Holders.

 

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(f) Without the consent of the Holders of at least 66 and 2/3% in principal amount of Notes then outstanding, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or its Affiliates, no amendment, supplement or waiver may modify any Security Document or the provisions in this Indenture dealing with the Collateral or the Security Documents that would have the impact of releasing all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents (except as permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents) or change or alter the priority of the security interests in the Collateral

(g) The Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to sign any amendment that affects the rights, duties, immunities or liabilities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent. In signing any amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and entitled to rely upon an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to such amendment have been satisfied and such Opinion of Counsel shall also state that the amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company.

SECTION 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

(a) Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the 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 waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

(b) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date pursuant to Section 1.04 for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

(a) The Issuers may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers 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 or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, immunities or liabilities of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01)

 

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shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to such amendment have been satisfied and such Opinion of Counsel shall also state that the amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and the Security Documents and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuers and Guarantors, as applicable.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01 Guarantee.

(a) Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, on a senior basis, to each Holder 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 Issuers hereunder or thereunder, that: (1) the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall 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 collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”. Failing payment by the Issuers 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 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 with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuers, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuers, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture, or pursuant to Section 10.06.

(c) Each of the Guarantors also agrees, jointly and severally, to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.

 

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(d) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

(e) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders 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, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

(f) Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuers for liquidation or reorganization, should the Issuers become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuers’ assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or the Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

(g) In case any provision of any Guarantee 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.

(h) Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

SECTION 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent conveyance or a fraudulent transfer 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 each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments

 

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made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee will be entitled upon payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment, determined in accordance with GAAP.

SECTION 10.03 Execution and Delivery.

(a) To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer or person holding an equivalent title.

(b) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

(c) If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Guarantees shall be valid nevertheless.

(d) 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 the Guarantors.

SECTION 10.04 Subrogation.

Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

SECTION 10.05 Benefits Acknowledged.

Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

SECTION 10.06 Release of Guarantees

(a) Each Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged without future action of the Issuers, the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee upon:

 

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(1) any sale, exchange, issuance, disposition or transfer (including by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor, after which the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, if such sale, exchange, issuance, disposition or transfer does not violate Section 4.15 and the Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of the sale, exchange, issuance, disposition or transfer;

(2) any sale, exchange, issuance, disposition or transfer (including by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor (including to any of the Issuers or another Guarantor), if such sale, exchange, issuance, disposition or transfer does not violate Section 4.15;

(3) the release or discharge of the guarantee that resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, except, in each case, a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee or direct obligation (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement is still a release);

(4) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(5) (a) the exercise by the Issuers of their legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under Article 8 or (b) the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(6) such Guarantor consolidating with, merging into or transferring all of its assets to the Company or another Guarantor, and as a result of, or in connection with, such transaction such Guarantor dissolves or otherwise ceases to exist;

(7) as described under Article 9; or

(8) the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantee by a Parent Company, if any, may be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged for any reason.

(b) In the event that any released Subsidiary Guarantor (in the case of clauses (3) and (4) of Section 10.06(a)) thereafter incurs or guarantees (or otherwise becomes liable for) (i) Obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility or (ii) Indebtedness under any Debt Facility in excess of the De Minimis Amount, such former Subsidiary Guarantor will again provide a Guarantee.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Subsidiary Guarantor be released from its Guarantee under this Indenture solely as a result of the termination of the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

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ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.

(a) This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes, when either:

(1) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(2) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of one or more notices of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or may be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers, and the Issuers or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient (without consideration of any reinvestment of interest), in the opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor to the extent such amounts consist of U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; provided that (i) upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited will be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption and (ii) any Applicable Premium Deficit will be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit will be applied toward such redemption;

(A) the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by them under this Indenture; and

(B) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

(b) In addition, the Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

 

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SECTION 11.02 Application of Trust Money.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 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 Issuers acting as their own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, 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.

(b) If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers’ and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of 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 or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent, as the case may be.

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 12.01 [Reserved].

SECTION 12.02 Notices.

(a) Any notice or communication to the Issuers, the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee is duly given if in writing and (1) delivered in person, (2) mailed by first-class mail (certified or registered, return receipt requested), postage prepaid, or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or (3) sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, to its address:

if to the Issuers, the Company or any Guarantor:

c/o EnVen Ventures GoM LLC

333 Clay Street

Suite 4200

Houston, Texas 77002

Fax No.: (713)335-7500

Email: jwilkirson@enven.com

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

with a copy to:

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP,

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Fax No: (212) 701 -5800

Email: richard.truesdell@davispolk.com;

 

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        byron.rooney@davispolk.com

Attention: Richard D. Truesdell, Jr.;

            Byron B. Rooney

if to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

15950 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 550

Dallas, Texas 75248

Fax No.: (888) 316-6238

Email: sgoffinet@wilmingtontrust.com

Attention: EnVen Energy, Account Manager

The Issuers, the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by like notice, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(b) All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; on the first date of which publication is made or electronic delivery is made, if by publication or electronic delivery; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if mailed by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; when receipt acknowledged, if sent by facsimile; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof and any notice given in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary will be deemed given on the date sent to the Depositary.

(c) 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 Note Register or by such other delivery system as the Trustee agrees to accept. 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.

(d) 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 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.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to any Holder of an interest in a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee), according to the applicable procedures of such Depositary, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

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(f) The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon notice, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured facsimile or electronic transmission; provided, however, that (1) the party providing such written notice, instructions or directions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee in a timely manner, and (2) such originally executed notice, instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such notice, instructions or directions. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reasonable reliance upon and compliance with such notice, instructions or directions notwithstanding such notice, instructions or directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent notice, instructions or directions.

(g) If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

(h) If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

SECTION 12.03 [Reserved].

SECTION 12.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Issuers or any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture or the Security Documents, such Issuer or Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signer(s), all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.05) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with; provided that no Opinion of Counsel pursuant to this Section shall be required in connection with the issuance of Notes on the Issue Date.

SECTION 12.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(2) 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;

 

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(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 12.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

SECTION 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members, Partners and Stockholders.

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of either Issuer or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of either Issuer or any Guarantor (other than the Company in respect of the Notes and each Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee) under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture 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.

SECTION 12.08 Governing Law THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 12.09 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY 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, THE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

SECTION 12.10 Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee or the Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

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SECTION 12.11 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 its Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

SECTION 12.12 Successors.

All agreements of the Issuers 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 10.06.

SECTION 12.13 Severability.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in 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 12.14 Counterpart Originals.

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.

SECTION 12.15 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 12.16 Facsimile and PDF Delivery of Signature Pages.

The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or portable document format (“PDF”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

SECTION 12.17 U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, Wilmington Trust, National Association (in each of its capacities hereunder) is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with Wilmington Trust, National Association (in

 

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each of its capacities hereunder). The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide Wilmington Trust, National Association (in each of its capacities hereunder) with such information as it may request in order for Wilmington Trust, National Association (in each of its capacities hereunder) to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 12.18 Payments Due on Non-Business Days.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or repurchase date or the Stated Maturity of the Notes shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Notes) payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or repurchase date, or at the Stated Maturity of the Notes, provided that no interest will accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, repurchase date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

SECTION 12.19 Limited condition transactions; measuring compliance.

(a) With respect to any (x) Investment or acquisition, in each case, the consummation by the Company or any Subsidiary of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing for such Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise) as applicable and (y) redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment (any transaction described in clauses (x) or (y), a “Limited Condition Transaction”), in each case for purposes of determining:

(1) whether any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that is being incurred or issued in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction is permitted to be incurred in compliance with Section 4.09;

(2) whether any Lien being incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction or to secure any such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.10 or the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(3) whether any other transaction undertaken or proposed to be undertaken in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction complies with the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes; and

(4) any calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Second Lien Secured Debt Ratio, Net Income, Consolidated Net Income, and/or Consolidated EBITDAX and/or Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets and, whether a Default or Event of Default exists in connection with the foregoing,

 

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at the option of the Issuer, the date that the definitive agreement (or other relevant definitive documentation) for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into (the “Transaction Agreement Date”) may be used as the applicable date of determination, as the case may be, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” or “Consolidated Second Lien Secured Debt Ratio,” or “Consolidated EBITDAX” and if the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries could have taken such action on the relevant Transaction Agreement Date in compliance with the applicable ratios or other provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer elects to use the Transaction Agreement Date as the applicable date of determination in accordance with the foregoing, (a) such election may not be revoked, (b) any fluctuation or change in the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Second Lien Secured Debt Ratio, Net Income, Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated EBITDAX or Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company, the target business, or assets to be acquired subsequent to the Transaction Agreement Date and prior to the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, will not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, Preferred Stock or Lien that is being incurred or issued in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction is permitted to be incurred or issued or in connection with compliance by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries with any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes or any other action or transaction undertaken in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction and (c) until such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the definitive agreements related thereto are terminated, such Limited Condition Transaction and all transactions proposed to be undertaken in connection therewith (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens) will be given pro forma effect when determining compliance of other transactions (including the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, Preferred Stock and Liens unrelated to such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness) that are consummated after the Transaction Agreement Date and on or prior to the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction and any such transactions (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock and the use of proceeds thereof) will be deemed to have occurred on the Transaction Agreement Date and outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any baskets or ratios under this Indenture after the date of such agreement and before the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction; provided that for purposes of any such calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Expense will be calculated using an assumed interest rate for the Indebtedness to be incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction 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 Issuer in good faith.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) incurs Indebtedness, issues Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, creates Liens, makes Asset Sales, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments, designates any Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction under a ratio-based basket and (y) incurs Indebtedness, issues Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, creates Liens, makes Asset Sales, Investments or Restricted Payments,

 

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designates any as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary or repays any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction under a non-ratio-based basket (which shall occur within five Business Days of the events in clause (x) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based basket without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based basket made in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction.

Compliance with any requirement relating to absence of Default or Event of Default may be determined as of the Transaction Agreement Date and not as of any later date as would otherwise be required under this Indenture.

In the event an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken on the same date that any other item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any other Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated with respect to such incurrence, issuance or other transaction without regard to any other incurrence, issuance or transaction. Each item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that is incurred or issued, each Lien incurred and each other transaction undertaken will be deemed to have been incurred, issued or taken first, to the extent available, pursuant to the relevant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test.

ARTICLE 13

SECURITY

SECTION 13.01 Security Interest.

(a) The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest, if any, on the Notes and amounts due hereunder and under the Guarantees when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an Interest Payment Date, by acceleration, purchase, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest (to the extent permitted by law), if any, on the Notes and the performance of all other Obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors to the Holders or the Trustee under this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Guarantees and the Notes shall be secured as provided in the Security Documents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Second Lien Collateral shall consist of any Excluded Property.

(b) Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of each Security Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with its respective terms, and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to (i) enter into this Indenture and the Security Documents, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, (ii) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Security Documents, (iii) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Security Documents and (iv) perform and observe its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. The Company shall, and shall cause each of the Issuers and any of the Guarantors to, do or cause to be done, at its sole cost and expense, all such actions and things as may be required by the provisions of the Security

 

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Documents and applicable law, to assure and confirm to the Collateral Agent the security interests in the Collateral contemplated by the Security Documents, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes and Guarantees secured hereby, according to the intent and purpose herein and therein expressed and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, including taking all commercially reasonable actions (including filing of Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements and Uniform Commercial Code amendments) required to cause the Security Documents to create and maintain, as security for the Obligations contained in this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents and the Guarantees valid and enforceable, perfected (to the extent required therein) security interests in and on all the Collateral, in favor of the Collateral Agent, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons other than as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, and subject to no other Liens, in each case, except as expressly provided herein or therein. If required for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of any jurisdiction in which any of the Second Lien Collateral may at the time be located, the Issuers shall have the power to appoint, and shall take all reasonable action to appoint, one or more Persons to act as co-Collateral Agent with respect to any such Collateral, with such rights and powers limited to those deemed necessary for the Issuers, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to comply with any such legal requirements with respect to such Collateral, and which rights and powers shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture.

SECTION 13.02 [Reserved].

SECTION 13.03 Officers Certificate.

The Issuers shall deliver to the Collateral Agent annually on or before April 30 in each calendar year, beginning April 30, 2019, an Officer’s Certificate certifying that, as of the date of such certificate, the Second Lien Collateral includes Oil and Gas Properties constituting not less than 85% of the total PV-10 of Proved Reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as estimated in the reserve report or reports prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year prepared by one or more of the Company’s independent petroleum engineers, after giving effect to any dispositions and production since the date of such reserve report or reports.

SECTION 13.04 Release of Collateral.

(a) The Collateral Agent shall not at any time release Second Lien Collateral from the security interests created by the Security Documents unless such release is in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the applicable Security Documents.

(b) The release of any Second Lien Collateral from the terms of the Security Documents shall not be deemed to impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof if and to the extent the Second Lien Collateral is released pursuant to this Indenture and the Security Documents.

SECTION 13.05 Release of Liens.

(a) The Issuers and the Guarantors will be entitled to releases of Liens included in the Second Lien Collateral under any one or more of the following circumstances, and such Liens shall immediately and automatically, without the need for any further action by any Person, be released, terminated and discharged:

 

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(1) in whole, upon a Legal Defeasance or a Covenant Defeasance of the Notes as set forth under Article 8;

(2) in whole, upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, as set forth under Article 11;

(3) in whole, upon payment in full of principal, interest and all Obligations on the Notes issued under this Indenture;

(4) in whole or in part, with the consent of the requisite holders of the Notes in accordance with the provisions under Article 9, including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, Notes; and

(5) in part, as to any asset constituting Second Lien Collateral to the extent it becomes Excluded Property; and

(6) in part, as to any asset constituting Second Lien Collateral (A) that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Issuers or any of the Guarantors (other than to the Issuers or Guarantor) in a transaction permitted by this Indenture (to the extent of the interest sold or disposed of); (B) to the extent such Second Collateral is comprised of property leased to the Issuers or the Guarantors, upon termination or expiration of such lease; or (C) that is otherwise released in accordance with this Indenture or the Security Documents.

In addition, Liens securing the Guarantee of any Guarantor will be automatically released when such Guarantor’s Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of Section 10.06.

(b) Upon receipt of such Officer’s Certificate and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Issuers, the Collateral Agent (at the expense of the Company) shall execute, deliver or acknowledge such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Second Lien Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents.

SECTION 13.06 Form and Sufficiency of Release.

In the event that the Issuers or any Guarantor has sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of or proposes to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any portion of the Second Lien Collateral that may be sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of by such Issuer or such Guarantor (other than to an Issuer or any Guarantor), and such Issuer or such Guarantor requests in writing the Collateral Agent to furnish a written disclaimer, release or quit-claim of any interest in such property under this Indenture and the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall execute, acknowledge and deliver (at the expense of the Company) to the Issuers or such Guarantor (in proper form prepared by the Issuers or such Guarantor) such an instrument promptly after satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein for delivery of any such release. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, all purchasers and grantees of any property or

 

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rights purporting to be released herefrom shall be entitled to rely upon any release executed by the Collateral Agent hereunder as sufficient for the purpose of this Indenture and as constituting a good and valid release of the property therein described from the Lien of this Indenture or of the Security Documents.

SECTION 13.07 Purchaser Protected.

No purchaser or grantee of any property or rights purporting to be released herefrom shall be bound to ascertain the authority of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent to execute the release or to inquire as to the existence of any conditions herein prescribed for the exercise of such authority; nor shall any purchaser or grantee of any property or rights permitted by this Indenture to be sold or otherwise disposed of by the Issuers be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Issuers to make such sale or other disposition.

SECTION 13.08 The Collateral Agent.

(a) The Issuers and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby designates and appoints the Collateral Agent as its agent under this Indenture and the Security Documents and the Issuers and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents, and consents and agrees to the terms of each Security Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Collateral Agent agrees to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Section 13.08. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents, and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture and the Security Documents, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder or any Issuer or Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture and the Security Documents or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture or the Security Documents by or through receivers, agents, employees, attorneys-in-fact or with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates, and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and attorneys-in-fact of such Person and its Affiliates (a “Related

 

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Person”), and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in taking action in reliance upon, any advice or opinion given by legal counsel. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any receiver, agent, employee, attorney-in-fact or Related Person that it selects as long as such selection was made in good faith and with due care, but such receiver, agent, employee, attorney-in-fact or Related Person shall be liable to the Issuers for any losses caused by their negligence or misconduct.

(c) None of the Collateral Agent or any of its respective Related Persons shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or under or in connection with any Security Document or the transactions contemplated thereby (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own gross negligence or willful misconduct), (ii) be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuers (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law) and or (iii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Trustee or any Holder for any recital, statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Issuers or any Guarantor or Affiliate of any Issuer or Guarantor, or any Officer or Related Person thereof, contained in this Indenture or the Security Documents, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture or the Security Documents, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Indenture or the Security Documents, or for any failure of any Issuer or Guarantor or any other party to this Indenture or the Security Documents to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. None of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any of its respective Related Persons shall be under any obligation to the Trustee or any Holder to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Indenture or the Security Documents or to inspect the properties, books, or records of the Issuer or Guarantor or any Affiliates of them.

(d) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, certification, telephone message, statement, or other communication, document or conversation (including those by telephone or e-mail) believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Issuers or any Guarantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent 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, or other paper or document. The Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture or the Security Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes, or as otherwise provided in the Indenture or the Security Documents, as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may

 

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be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Except as otherwise provided in the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture or the Security Documents in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, or as otherwise provided in the Indenture or the Security Documents, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.

(e) The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Issuers referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee in accordance with Article 6 or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (subject to this Section 13.08), subject to the terms of the Security Documents.

(f) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by notice to the Trustee and the Issuers, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, the Issuers shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of the Collateral Agent (as stated in the notice of resignation, which date shall not be earlier than ten Business Days following the date on which such notice is delivered to the Issuers), the Trustee, at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, may appoint a successor collateral agent, subject to the consent of the Issuers (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing payment or bankruptcy Event of Default). If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by the Issuers pursuant to the preceding sentence within thirty (30) days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation) the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor, at the expense of the Issuers. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 13.08 (and Section 7.06) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(g) The Trustee shall initially act as Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Security Documents, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents or other Related Persons shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers.

 

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(h) The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of securing and perfecting the assets subject to the Security Documents. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon request from the Issuers, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.

(i) In no event shall the Collateral Agent have any obligation whatsoever to the Trustee or any of the Holders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by any Issuer or Guarantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all of the Issuers’ or Guarantors’ property constituting collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Security Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the genuineness, validity, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture or any Security Document other than pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes or as otherwise provided in the Security Documents or the Indenture.

(j) If the Issuers or any Guarantor (i) incurs at any time when no applicable intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness entitled to the benefit of an existing Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the applicable Intercreditor Agreement) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the obligations so incurred, together with an Opinion of Counsel, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuers, including legal fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

(k) No provision of this Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement shall require the Collateral Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or to take or omit to take any action hereunder or thereunder or take any action at the request or direction of Holders unless it shall have received indemnity satisfactory to the Collateral Agent against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Collateral Agent relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or the Security Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuers or the Holders to be sufficient.

 

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(l) In no event shall the Collateral Agent be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages (included but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if it has been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action.

(m) The Collateral Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by the Issuers or any Guarantor under this Indenture and the Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to the Holders or any other Person for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in this Indenture, the Security Documents or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture or any Security Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any Security Documents of any other party thereto; the genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, effectiveness, enforceability, sufficiency, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectability of any Obligations; the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any obligor; or for any failure of any obligor to perform its Obligations under this Indenture and the Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Holder or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any obligor of any terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture and any Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture and the Security Documents unless expressly set forth hereunder or thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions from the Holders with respect to the administration of this Indenture and the Security Documents.

(n) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the Security Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture and the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent or the Trustee may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Collateral Agent or the Trustee shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral. In the event that the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial

 

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action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. §9601, et seq., or otherwise cause the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to incur liability under CERCLA or any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, to either resign as the Collateral Agent or the Trustee or arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court-appointed receiver. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to the Issuers, the Company, the Guarantors or any other Person for any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to the discharge, release or threatened release of hazardous materials into the environment. If at any time it is necessary or advisable for property to be possessed, owned, operated or managed by any Person (including the Collateral Agent or the Trustee) other than the Issuers or the Guarantors, subject to the terms of the Security Documents, a majority in interest of Holders, or as otherwise provided in the Indenture or Security Documents, shall direct the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to appoint an appropriately qualified Person (excluding the Collateral Agent or the Trustee) who they shall designate to possess, own, operate or manage, as the case may be, the property.

(o) Subject to the provisions of the applicable Security Documents, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, agrees that the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the Security Documents to which it is a party and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, except as otherwise provided in the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall have no discretion under this Indenture or the Security Documents and shall not be required to make or give any determination, consent, approval, request or direction without the written direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, or as otherwise provided in the Indenture or Security Documents, or the Trustee, as applicable.

(p) After the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee, acting at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, or as otherwise provided in the Indenture or Security Documents, may direct the Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture or the Security Documents.

(q) The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Security Documents and to the extent not prohibited under the Security Documents, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.13 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(r) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or in any Security Document, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this

 

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Indenture or the Security Documents (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any Uniform Commercial Code financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Security Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

(s) Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to effect or maintain insurance or to renew any policies of insurance or to inquire as to the sufficiency of any policies of insurance carried by the Issuers or any Guarantor, to report, or make or file claims or proof of loss for, any loss or damage insured against or that may occur, or to keep itself informed or advised as to the payment of any taxes or assessments, or to require any such payment to be made.

(t) Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuers or the Guarantors, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of this Section 13.08 and Section 12.05. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.

(u) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein but subject to the Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, or as otherwise provided in the Indenture or Security Documents, solely with respect to the Security Documents and the Collateral.

(v) The Collateral Agent, in executing and performing its duties under the Security Documents, shall be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities granted to it hereunder.

SECTION 13.09 Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents.

The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Security Documents and to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreement, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

SECTION 13.10 Amendments to Security Documents.

The Trustee and the Collateral Agent, at the direction of the Issuers and without the consent of the Holders, may from time to time enter into one or more amendments to the Security Documents to (i) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency therein (which may include a release of Collateral), (ii) add to the Second Lien Collateral or (iii) make any other change thereto that does not adversely affect the Holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

 

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SECTION 13.11 Impairment of security interest.

None of the Issuers or any of the Guarantors will (i) take or omit to take any action which would materially adversely affect or impair the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent and the Holders of Notes with respect to the Collateral, (ii) grant any Person, or permit any Person to retain (other than the First Lien Collateral Agent and the Collateral Agent), any Liens on the Second Lien Collateral, other than Permitted Liens or (iii) enter into any agreement that requires the proceeds received from any sale of Collateral to be applied to repay, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire any Indebtedness of any Person in a manner that conflicts with this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents.

The Issuers and each Guarantor will, at its sole cost and expense, execute and deliver all such agreements and instruments as necessary, or as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent reasonably requests, to more fully or accurately describe the assets and property intended to be Second Lien Collateral or the obligations intended to be secured by the Security Documents.

SECTION 13.12 After-Acquired Property.

If either of the Issuers or any Guarantor acquires property that is not automatically subject to a perfected security interest or Lien under the Security Documents and such property would be of the type that is required to be pledged as Collateral under this Indenture and the Security Documents, or a Restricted Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor, then such Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, will reasonably promptly provide security interests in and Liens on such property (or, in the case of a new Guarantor, all of its assets constituting Collateral under this Indenture and the Security Documents), subject to Permitted Liens, in favor of the Collateral Agent for its benefit and the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and deliver Mortgages, certain joinder agreements and/or certificates in respect thereof as required by this Indenture and the Security Documents and take all actions required by the Security Documents to perfect the Liens created.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuers and Guarantors are not required to pledge property as Second Lien Collateral in favor of the Trustee and Collateral Agent for its benefit and the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, to the extent such property does not constitute First Lien Collateral.

SECTION 13.13 Intercreditor Agreement.

(a) This Article 13 and the Security Documents are subject to the terms, limitations and conditions set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the lien and security interest granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture and the Security Documents and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent hereunder and thereunder are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and this Indenture with respect to lien priority or rights and remedies in connection with the Collateral, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern.

 

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(b) If Indebtedness is incurred under Section 4.09 and such Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis by any Collateral held by the First Lien Collateral Agent and the Notes and the Guarantees are secured by any such asset that qualifies as Collateral, then the Collateral Agent, at the request of the Issuers and upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate confirming that such intercreditor agreement or amendment or supplement is authorized or permitted hereunder and that all conditions precedent to such execution have been satisfied, upon which the Collateral Agent can conclusively rely,, will enter into an intercreditor agreement with customary terms and provisions (as determined by the Issuers) or an amendment or supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement, with the representative of holders of such Indebtedness and the First Lien Collateral Agent.

(c) If Indebtedness is incurred under Section 4.09 and such Indebtedness is secured on a junior-priority basis by any Collateral, then the Collateral Agent, at the request of the Issuers and upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate confirming that such intercreditor agreement or amendment or supplement is authorized or permitted hereunder and that all conditions precedent to such execution have been satisfied, upon which the Collateral Agent can conclusively rely, will enter into an intercreditor agreement with customary terms and provisions (as determined by the Issuers) or an amendment or supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement, with the representative of the holders of such Indebtedness and the First Lien Collateral Agent.

[Signatures on following page]

 

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ENERGY VENTURES GOM LLC
By:  

/s/ John P. Wilkirson

  Name: John P. Wilkirson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
ENVEN FINANCE CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ John P. Wilkirson

  Name: John P. Wilkirson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
ENVEN ENERGY CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ John P. Wilkirson

  Name: John P. Wilkirson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
ENVEN ENERGY VENTURES HOLDING, LLC
By:  

/s/ John P. Wilkirson

  Name: John P. Wilkirson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
ENVEN ENERGY VENTURES, LLC
By:  

/s/ John P. Wilkirson

  Name: John P. Wilkirson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee and Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Shawn Goffinet

  Name: Shawn Goffinet
  Title: Assistant Vice President


APPENDIX A

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES AND

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Section 1.1 Definitions.

(a) Capitalized Terms.

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Appendix A have the meanings given in this Indenture. The following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Global Note, Euroclear or Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.

Distribution Compliance Period,” with respect to any Note, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Note is first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Company to the Trustee, and (b) the date of issuance with respect to such Note or any predecessor of such Note.

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.Y., as operator of Euroclear systems Clearance System or any successor securities clearing agency.

IAI” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and is not a QIB.

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

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

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

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

Unrestricted Global Note” means any Note in global form that does not bear or is not required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

U.S. person” means a “U.S. person” as defined in Regulation S.

 

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(b) Other Definitions.

 

Term:

  

Defined in Section:

“Agent Members”

  

2.1(c)

“Definitive Notes Legend”

  

2.2(e)

“ERISA Legend”

  

2.2(e)

“Global Note”

  

2.1(b)

“Global Notes Legend”

  

2.2(e)

“IAI Global Note”

  

2.1(b)

“Regulation S Global Note”

  

2.1(b)

“Regulation S Notes”

  

2.1(a)

“Restricted Notes Legend”

  

2.2(e)

“Rule 144A Global Note”

  

2.1(b)

“Rule 144A Notes”

  

2.1(a)

Section 2.1 Form and Dating

(a) The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof shall be (i) offered and sold by the Issuers to the initial purchasers thereof and (ii) resold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Notes”) and (2) Persons other than U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S Notes”). Additional Notes may also be considered to be Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes, as applicable.

(b) Global Notes. Rule 144A Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form, numbered RA-1 upward (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”) and Regulation S Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more global Notes, numbered RS-1 upward (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and Restricted Notes Legend, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in this Indenture. One or more global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and the Restricted Notes Legend, numbered RIAI-1 upward (collectively, the “IAI Global Note”) shall also be issued on the Issue Date, deposited with the Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in this Indenture to accommodate transfers of beneficial interests in the Notes to IAIs subsequent to the initial distribution. The Rule 144A Global Note, the IAI Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note and any Unrestricted Global Note are each referred to herein as a “Global Note” and are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes.” Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of 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 applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect

 

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the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 of this Indenture and Section 2.2(c) of this Appendix A.

(c) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(c) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

The Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(c) and Section 2.02 of this Indenture and pursuant to an order of the Issuers signed by an Officer of each Issuer, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Custodian.

Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) 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 Custodian or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers 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 Agent Members, 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.

(d) Definitive Notes. Except as provided in Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 of this Appendix A, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.

Section 2.2 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request:

(i) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or

(ii) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations,

the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:

(1) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Issuers and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and

 

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(2) in the case of Transfer Restricted Notes, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Section 2.2(b) of this Appendix A or otherwise in accordance with the Restricted Notes Legend, and are accompanied by a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto.

(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Issuers and the Registrar, together with:

(i) a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto; and

(ii) written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase,

the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If the applicable Global Note is not then outstanding, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon an Authentication Order, a new applicable Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.

(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2.2(d) of this Appendix A, if any) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in such Global Note, or another Global Note and such account shall be credited in accordance with such order with a beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.

 

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(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.

(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix A (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.3 of this Appendix A), a Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole and not in part if the transfer is 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.

(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Global Notes; Voluntary Exchange of Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes for Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.

(i) Transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through another Transfer Restricted Global Note shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and only upon receipt by the Trustee of a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto. In addition, in the case of a transfer of a beneficial interest in either a Regulation S Global Note or a Rule 144A Global Note for an interest in an IAI Global Note, the transferee must furnish a signed letter substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Trustee.

(ii) Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, (A) the Regulation S Global Note shall be a temporary global security for purposes of Rules 903 and 904 under the Securities Act, whether or not designated as such on the face of such Note, and (B) interests in the Regulation S Global Note may only be held through Euroclear or Clearstream. During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear or Clearstream in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, the Restricted Notes Legend on such Regulation S Global Note and any applicable securities laws of any state of the U.S. Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note shall be made only in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification from the transferor of the beneficial interest in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers. Such written certification shall no longer be required after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period. Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note shall be transferable in accordance with applicable law and the other terms of this Indenture.

 

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(iii) Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note upon certification in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for an exchange from a Regulation S Global Note to an Unrestricted Global Note.

(iv) Beneficial interests in a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A) and/or upon delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuers or the Trustee may reasonably request.

(v) If no Unrestricted Global Note is outstanding at the time of a transfer contemplated by the preceding clauses (iii) and (iv), the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon an Authentication Order, a new Unrestricted Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

(e) Legends.

(i) Except as permitted by Section 2.2(d), and this Section 2.2(e) of this Appendix A, each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and the Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only) (“Restricted Notes 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, SUCH REGISTRATION. 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, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY),] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S], ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUERS OR

 

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ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS 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 (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A 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, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SECURITIES OF $250,000 OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Definitive Notes Legend”):

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH REGISTRAR MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

Each Global Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Global Notes Legend”):

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE ISSUERS 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 IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS 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.

 

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TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

Each Note shall bear the following additional legend (“ERISA Legend”):

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT (A) EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF (i) AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), (ii) A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT (“IRA”) OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR (iii) AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT (EACH OF THE FOREGOING DESCRIBED IN CLAUSES (I), (II) AND (III) BEING REFERRED TO AS A “PLAN”), OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE OR RESULT IN A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS AND (B) EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN THAT IS, OR IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WITH THE ASSETS OF, A PLAN SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (EACH, AN “ERISA PLAN”) WILL BE DEEMED TO REPRESENT, WARRANT AND ACKNOWLEDGE AS LONG AS IT HOLDS SUCH INVESTMENT. THAT A FIDUCIARY (THE “FIDUCIARY”) INDEPENDENT OF THE ISSUER, THE INITIAL PURCHASERS AND THE GUARANTORS (EACH, A “TRANSACTION PARTY”) ACTING ON THE ERISA PLAN’S BEHALF IS AND AT ALL TIMES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS DECISION TO INVEST IN AND HOLD THIS SECURITY AND ANY INTEREST HEREIN AND THAT SUCH FIDUCIARY (I) IS EITHER A U.S. BANK, A U.S. INSURANCE CARRIER, A U.S. REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISER, A U.S. REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY WITH AT LEAST $50 MILLION OF ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL, IN EACH CASE UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE U.S. CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, 29 C.F.R. SECTION 2510.3-21(C)(1)(I), AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, (II) IN THE CASE OF AN ERISA PLAN THAT IS AN IRA, IS NOT THE IRA

 

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OWNER, BENEFICIARY OF THE IRA OR RELATIVE OF THE IRA OWNER OR BENEFICIARY, (III) IS CAPABLE OF EVALUATING INVESTMENT RISKS INDEPENDENTLY, BOTH IN GENERAL AND WITH REGARD TO THE PROSPECTIVE INVESTMENT IN THIS SECURITY, (IV) IS A FIDUCIARY UNDER ERISA OR THE CODE, OR BOTH, WITH RESPECT TO THE DECISION TO ACQUIRE AND HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, (V) HAS EXERCISED INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT IN EVALUATING WHETHER TO INVEST THE ASSETS OF THE ERISA PLAN IN THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, (VI) UNDERSTANDS AND HAS BEEN FAIRLY INFORMED OF THE EXISTENCE AND THE NATURE OF THE FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF THE TRANSACTION PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ERISA PLAN’S ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, (VII) UNDERSTANDS THAT THE TRANSACTION PARTIES ARE NOT UNDERTAKING TO PROVIDE IMPARTIAL INVESTMENT ADVICE, OR TO GIVE ADVICE IN A FIDUCIARY CAPACITY TO THE ERISA PLAN, IN CONNECTION WITH THE ERISA PLAN’S ACQUISITION OR HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN AND (VIII) CONFIRMS THAT NO FEE OR OTHER COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID DIRECTLY TO ANY OF THE TRANSACTION PARTIES BY THE ERISA PLAN, OR ANY FIDUCIARY, PARTICIPANT OR BENEFICIARY OF THE ERISA PLAN, FOR THE PROVISION OF INVESTMENT ADVICE (AS OPPOSED TO OTHER SERVICES) IN CONNECTION WITH THE ERISA PLAN’S ACQUISITION OF, OR HOLDING OF AN INTEREST IN, THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN.

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and the Definitive Notes Legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A) and provides such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuers or the Trustee may reasonably request.

(iii) Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by the Depositary to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Registrar (if it is then the Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Registrar or the Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

 

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(g) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.

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

(ii) No service charge shall be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 4.14, 4.15 and 9.04 of this Indenture).

(iii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(iv) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(v) In order to effect any transfer or exchange of an interest in any Transfer Restricted Note for an interest in a Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and has not been registered under the Securities Act, 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 no registration under the Securities Act is required in respect of such exchange or transfer or the re-sale of such interest by the beneficial holder thereof, shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar and the Trustee.

(h) No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

 

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(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

Section 2.3 Definitive Notes.

(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 may be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.2 of this Appendix A and (i) the Depositary notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in each case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within 90 days of such notice or after the Issuers becomes aware of such cessation, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depository. In addition, any Affiliate of the Issuers or any Guarantor that is a beneficial owner of all or part of a Global Note may have such Affiliate’s beneficial interest transferred to such Affiliate in the form of a Definitive Note by providing a written request to the Issuers and the Trustee and such Opinions of Counsel, certificates or other information as may be required by this Indenture or the Issuers or Trustee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.3, no Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for a Definitive Note until the end of the Distribution Compliance Period applicable to such Regulation S Global Note and receipt by the Trustee and the Issuers of any certificates required by either of them pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act.

(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.2(e) of this Appendix A, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(c) The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.3(a) of this Appendix A, the Issuers shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in fully registered form without interest coupons.

 

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EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[Insert the Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Global Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Definitive Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the ERISA Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.]

 

A-1


CUSIP [                ]

ISIN [              ]1

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S][IAI][GLOBAL] NOTE

11.000 % Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2023

 

No. [RA-        ] [RS-        ] [RIAI-        ] [U-        ]

  

[Up to]2 [$                    ]

ENERGY VENTURES GOM LLC

ENVEN FINANCE CORPORATION

promises to pay to [CEDE & CO.]3 [                        ] or registered assigns the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto]4 [of $             (             Dollars)]5 on February 15, 2023.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1

 

1

Rule 144A Note CUSIP: 29278M AA3

Rule 144A Note ISIN:    US29278MAA36

Regulation S Note CUSIP: U2927M AA2

Regulation S Note ISIN: USU2927MAA28

IAI Note CUSIP: 29278M AB1

IAI Note ISIN: US29278MAB19

2 

Include in Global Notes.

3 

Include in Global Notes

4 

Include in Global Notes

5 

Include in Definitive Notes

 

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IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuers have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

ENERGY VENTURES GOM LLC,
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ENVEN FINANCE CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

Dated:

 

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[Reverse Side of Note]

11.000% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2023

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. INTEREST. Energy Ventures GoM LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), and EnVen Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (together with the Issuer, the “Issuers”) promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 11.000% per annum until but excluding maturity. The Issuers shall pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including [    ]; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be [    ]. The Issuers 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 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 periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Issuers shall pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding the related 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 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest and premium, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the Note Register; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal, premium, if any, and interest on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Paying Agent at least five Business Days prior to the applicable payment date. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders. The Issuers or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

4. INDENTURE. The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of February 15, 2018 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, EnVen Energy Corporation, the other Guarantors named therein and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuers designated as their 11.000% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2023. The Issuers shall be entitled to issue Additional

 

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Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01, 4.09 and 4.10 of the Indenture. The Notes and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of such terms. Any term used in this Note that is defined in the Indenture shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Indenture. 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.

5. REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE. The Notes are subject to optional redemption, and may be the subject of an Offer to Purchase, as further described in the Indenture. The Issuers shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

6. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral 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 Holders shall be required to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption or tendered for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part.

7. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

8. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

9. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights and obligations of the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

10. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.

11. GOVERNING LAW. THIS NOTE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

12. CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN 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.

 

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The Issuers shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Issuers at the following address:

c/o Energy Venture GoM LLC

333 Clay Street

Suite 4200

Houston, Texas 77002

Fax No.: (713)335-7500

Email: jwilkirson@enven.com

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

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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 Issuers. 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*:                                                                      

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-5


CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR

REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES

This certificate relates to $                     principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)                  book-entry or                 definitive form by the undersigned.

The undersigned (check one box below):

☐ has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with the Indenture; or

☐ has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)       to the Issuers, the Company or subsidiary thereof; or
(2)       to the Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or
(3)       pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); or
(4)       to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or
(5)       pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream); or
(6)       to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or
(7)       pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

A-6


(8)       pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (6), (7) or (8) is checked, the Issuers or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuers or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

  

 

Your Signature

Date:                                            
  

 

Signature of Signature

Guarantor

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuers as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:                                            

 

  

NOTICE:  To be executed by

                  an executive officer

Name:

Title:

Signature Guarantee*: __________________________________

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-7


TO BE COMPLETED IF THE HOLDER REQUIRES AN EXCHANGE FROM A

REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE TO AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE,

PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2(d)(iii) OF APPENDIX A TO THE INDENTURE1

The undersigned represents and warrants that either:

 

the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a non-U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); or

 

the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) who purchased interests in the Notes pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act; or

 

the undersigned is a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and the interest of the undersigned in this Note does not constitute the whole or a part of an unsold allotment to or subscription by such dealer for the Notes.

 

Dated:                                            

 

   Your Signature

 

 

1

Include only for Regulation S Global Notes.

 

A-8


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.14 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

[    ] Section 4.14    [    ] Section 4.15

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.14 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$_______________    (integral multiples of $1,000,
  

provided that the unpurchased

portion must be in a minimum

principal amount of $2,000)

Date: _____________________

 

Your Signature:

 

                                                                                                                   

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Tax Identification No.:                                                             

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                 

  
  

 

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-9


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $__________. 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
   Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee,
Depositary or Custodian

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

*

This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-10


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF

TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION

c/o Energy Venture GoM LLC

333 Clay Street

Suite 4200

Houston, Texas 77002

Fax No.: (713)335-7500

Email: jwilkirson@enven.com

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[                        ] principal amount of the 11.000% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”) of Energy Ventures GoM LLC and EnVen Finance Corporation ( together, the “Issuers”).

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

Name:                                                 

Address:                                              

Taxpayer ID Number:                        

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $250,000 principal amount of the Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes, for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which either Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuers was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only in accordance with the Restricted Notes Legend (as such term is

 

B-1


defined in the Indenture under which the Notes were issued) on the Notes and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (e) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuers and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuers and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Notes with respect to applicable transfers described in the Restricted Notes Legend to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Issuers and the Trustee.

 

TRANSFEREE:                                                              ,

        by:                                                                          

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                  

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

B-2


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of [                    ] [    ], 20[    ], among                                     (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of [Name of Company], a [Delaware] corporation (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, each of the Issuers, the Company and the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of February 15, 2018 providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 11.000% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally Guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. Guarantor. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to be a Guarantor under the Indenture and to be bound by the terms of the Indenture applicable to Guarantors, including Article 10 and Article 13 thereof.

3. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

4. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY, THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY 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 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

C-1


5. 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.

6. Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

7. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. In entering into this Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability or affording protecting to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, whether or not elsewhere herein so provided. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent make no representations as to the validity, execution or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture other than as to the validity of its execution and delivery by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent. Neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent assumes any responsibility for the correctness of the recitals contained herein, which shall be taken as a statement of the Issuers.

 

C-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.

 

[NAME OF GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee and Collateral Agent
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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