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Form 8-K SANDRIDGE ENERGY INC For: Jun 10

June 11, 2015 6:03 AM EDT

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 10, 2015

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

1-33784

 

20-8084793

(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

73102

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (405) 429-5500

 

Not Applicable.

(Former name or former address if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01                   Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

Indenture and Notes

 

On June 10, 2015 (the “Closing Date”), SandRidge Energy, Inc. (the “Company”), completed the issuance and sale of $1.25 billion in aggregate principal amount of its 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2015, by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries named therein (the “Guarantors”) and Barclays Capital Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC, as representatives of the several initial purchasers (the “Representatives”). The Notes were issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act and will not be registered under the Securities Act.

 

On the Closing Date, the Company entered into (i) an indenture (the “Indenture”) by and among the Company, the Guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), with respect to the Notes (the “Indenture”). The principal terms of the Notes are governed by the Indenture. Pursuant to the Indenture, the Notes will mature on June 1, 2020; provided, however, that if on October 15, 2019, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Company’s 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020 that shall not have been cancelled or retired as a result of a redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or shall have not otherwise been discharged or defeased exceeds $100.0 million, the Notes will mature on October 16, 2019.  Interest is payable on the Notes on each June 1 and December 1, commencing December 1, 2015.

 

The Notes are secured by second-priority liens on all of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ assets that secure the Credit Facility (as defined below) on a first-priority basis; provided, however, that pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined below), the security interest in those assets that secure the Notes and the guarantees will be contractually subordinated to liens thereon that secure the Credit Facility and certain other permitted indebtedness. Consequently, the Notes and the guarantees will be effectively subordinated to the Credit Facility and such other indebtedness to the extent of the value of such assets.

 

Prior to June 1, 2017, the Company may redeem all or any portion of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the outstanding Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, plus a “make-whole” premium (as defined in the Indenture). In addition, prior to June 1, 2017, the Company may, at its option, on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate original principal amount of the notes in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 108.750% of the principal amount of the outstanding Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

 

On and after June 1, 2017, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount thereof) equal to 104.375% for the 12-month period beginning June 1, 2017, 102.188% for the 12-month period beginning June 1, 2018, and 100.000% beginning on June 1, 2019 and thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. The Notes are guaranteed by all of the Company’s existing material subsidiaries (other than SandRidge Realty, LLC).

 

The Indenture restricts the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) pay dividends or make other distributions in respect of the Company’s capital stock or make other restricted payments; (ii) incur additional indebtedness; (iii) create liens; (iv) engage in mergers or consolidations or sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; (v) purchase or redeem stock or subordinated or unsecured indebtedness; (vi) make certain dispositions and transfers of assets; (vii) engage in transactions with affiliates; (viii) make investments; and (ix) refinance certain indebtedness. These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications.  If at any time the Notes are rated investment grade by either Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc. and no default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, certain of the covenants and related Events of Default (as defined in the Indenture) will be suspended so long as the Notes retain such rating.

 

The Indenture provides that a number of events will constitute an Event of Default, including, among other things, a failure to pay the Notes when due at maturity, upon acceleration or redemption, failure to pay interest for 30 days, the Company’s failure to comply with certain covenants relating to merger, consolidation or sale of assets,

 

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the Company’s failure to comply for 60 days following notice with any of the other covenants or agreements in the Indenture, a default or other failure by the Company to make required payments under other indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or significant subsidiary having an outstanding principal amount of $50.0 million or more which results in such indebtedness being due or payable prior to its maturity or which gives the holder thereof the right to accelerate such indebtedness, the Company’s or any Guarantor’s or significant subsidiary’s failure to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million, and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the notes to be due and payable immediately.

 

The foregoing description of the Indenture is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indenture, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Relationships

 

Some of the initial purchasers and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with the Company, the Guarantors or their affiliates. The initial purchasers have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. Affiliates of certain of the initial purchasers are lenders under the Credit Facility and, accordingly, received or will receive a portion of the proceeds from the Notes offering and will continue to serve as lenders or agents under the Credit Facility.

 

Intercreditor Agreement

 

On June 10, 2015, Royal Bank of Canada, as priority lien agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as the collateral trustee (the “Collateral Trustee”), entered into an intercreditor agreement, which was acknowledged and agreed to by the Company and certain of the Guarantors (the “Intercreditor Agreement”) to govern the relationship of noteholders and holders of any other parity lien obligations that the Company may issue in the future, the lenders under the Credit Facility and holders of other priority lien obligations and holders of any junior lien debt that the Company may issue in the future, with respect to collateral and certain other matters.

 

The foregoing description of the Intercreditor Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Intercreditor Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Collateral Trust Agreement

 

On June 10, 2015, the Company, certain of the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, entered into a collateral trust agreement (the “Collateral Trust Agreement”) pursuant to which the Collateral Trustee will receive, hold, administer, maintain, enforce and distribute the proceeds of all of its liens upon the collateral for the benefit of the current and future holders of the notes and other parity lien obligations, if any.

 

The foregoing description of the Collateral Trust Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Collateral Trust Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference. Additionally a security agreement with respect to the Notes and any future parity lien obligations provided for by the Collateral Trust Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

On June 10, 2015, in conjunction with the issuance of the Notes, the Company entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among the Company, as borrower, Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent, and the lenders signatory thereto (the “Credit Facility”). The Company has up to $1.0 billion of committed financing under the Credit Facility. Borrowings and letter of credit obligations on the Credit Facility are limited to a periodically determined borrowing base, which as of the date of this report is $500 million. The Credit Facility matures on the earliest of (a) March 2, 2020, (b) 91 days prior to the earliest date of any maturity under or

 

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mandatory offer to repurchase the Company’s currently outstanding notes and (c) 91 days prior to the earliest date of any maturity under or mandatory offer to repurchase the Notes. The Credit Facility is available to be drawn on subject to limitations based on its terms and certain financial covenants, as further described below.

 

The obligations under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, and are secured by first priority liens on all shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s material present and future subsidiaries; all of the Company’s intercompany debt; and certain of the Company’s other assets, including proved oil and natural gas reserves representing at least 80% of the discounted present value (as described in the senior credit facility) of proved oil and natural gas reserves of the Company.

 

The Credit Facility contains various covenants that limit the Company’s ability and that of certain of its subsidiaries to grant certain liens; make certain loans and investments; make distributions; redeem stock; redeem or prepay debt; merge or consolidate with or into a third party; or engage in certain asset dispositions, including a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. Additionally, the Credit Facility limits the Company’s ability and that of certain of its subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, subject to certain exceptions. The Credit Facility permits the Company to incur indebtedness under the Notes and to grant the liens in connection therewith.

 

The Credit Facility also contains financial covenants, including maintenance of agreed upon levels for the (i) ratio of the Company’s total secured debt under the Credit Facility to EBITDA, which may not exceed 2.00:1.00 at the end of any fiscal quarter and (ii) ratio of current assets to current liabilities, which must be at least 1.0:1.0 at each quarter end (in the current ratio calculation (as described in the Credit Facility), any amounts available to be drawn under the Credit Facility are included in current assets, and unrealized assets and liabilities resulting from mark-to-market adjustments on the Company’s derivative contracts are disregarded).

 

The failure to satisfy any of the covenants or the occurrence of other specified events that constitute an event of default could result in the acceleration of the repayment obligations of the Company under the Credit Facility.

 

The borrowing base is subject to review semi-annually; however, the lenders reserve the right to have one additional redetermination of the borrowing base in each 12-month interval. Unscheduled redeterminations may be made at the Company’s request, but are limited to two requests per 12-month interval. In the event the Company incurs certain types of additional indebtedness, the borrowing base will automatically be reduced by 25% of the principal amount of such additional indebtedness.

 

At the Company’s election, interest under the Credit Facility is determined by reference to (a) the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited LIBOR Rate (“LIBOR”) plus an applicable margin between 1.75% and 2.75% per annum, or (b) the ‘base rate,’ which is the highest of (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, (ii) the prime rate published by the administrative agent under the Credit Facility, or (iii) the one-month Eurodollar rate (as defined in the Credit Facility) plus 1.00% per annum, plus, in each case under scenario (b), an applicable margin between 0.75% and 1.75% per annum. Interest is payable quarterly for base rate loans and at the applicable maturity date for LIBOR loans, except that if the interest period for a LIBOR loan is six months, interest is paid at the end of each three-month period.

 

The foregoing description of the Credit Facility is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Facility, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

The information included in Item 1.01 of this Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01                   Other Events

 

On June 10, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the Notes offering and effectiveness of the Credit Facility. A copy of this press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report, which is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

 

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Item 9.01                   Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of June 10, 2015, among SandRidge Energy, Inc., the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including the forms of the Notes)

 

 

 

10.1

 

Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, Royal Bank of Canada, as Priority Lien Agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

10.2

 

Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, by and among SandRidge Energy, Inc., the guarantors from time to time party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

10.3

 

Security Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, by and among SandRidge Energy, Inc., the guarantors from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

10.4

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, by and among the Company, as borrower, Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent, and the lenders signatory thereto.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release issued by SandRidge Energy, Inc. dated as of June 10, 2015.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Date: June 10, 2015

 

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Philip T. Warman

 

Name:

Philip T. Warman

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

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Exhibit Index

 

No.

 

Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of June 10, 2015, among SandRidge Energy, Inc., the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including the forms of the Notes)

 

 

 

10.1

 

Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, Royal Bank of Canada, as Priority Lien Agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

10.2

 

Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, by and among SandRidge Energy, Inc., the guarantors from time to time party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

10.3

 

Security Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, by and among SandRidge Energy, Inc., the guarantors from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

10.4

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, by and among the Company, as borrower, Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent, and the lenders signatory thereto.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release issued by SandRidge Energy, Inc. dated as of June 10, 2015.

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.
as Issuer

 

the Guarantors party hereto

 

and

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee

 


 

Indenture

 

Dated as of June 10, 2015

 


 

8.75% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2020

 


 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, between Royal Bank of Canada, as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by SandRidge Energy, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”).  Each holder of any Second Lien Obligations, by its acceptance of such Second Lien Obligations i) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, ii) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and iii) authorizes and instructs the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party (as defined therein) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Second Lien Secured Parties.  The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Lien Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to extend credit to SandRidge and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE 1 Definitions

1

Section 1.01.

Definitions

1

Section 1.02.

Rules of Construction

39

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2 The Notes

40

Section 2.01.

Form, Dating and Denominations; Legends

40

Section 2.02.

Execution and Authentication; Additional Notes

41

Section 2.03.

Registrar, Paying Agent and Authenticating Agent; Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

42

Section 2.04.

Replacement Notes

42

Section 2.05.

Outstanding Notes

42

Section 2.06.

Temporary Notes

43

Section 2.07.

Cancellation

43

Section 2.08.

CUSIP and ISIN Numbers

43

Section 2.09.

Registration, Transfer and Exchange

43

Section 2.10.

Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange

46

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3 Redemption; Offer to Purchase

48

Section 3.01.

Optional Redemption

48

Section 3.02.

[Reserved]

48

Section 3.03.

Method and Effect of Redemption

48

Section 3.04.

Offer to Purchase

49

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4 Covenants

51

Section 4.01.

Payment of Notes

51

Section 4.02.

Maintenance of Office or Agency

52

Section 4.03.

Existence

52

Section 4.04.

Payment of Obligations

53

Section 4.05.

Maintenance of Properties and Insurance

53

Section 4.06.

Limitation on Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock

53

Section 4.07.

Limitation on Restricted Payments

57

Section 4.08.

Limitation on Liens

62

Section 4.09.

[Reserved]

62

Section 4.10.

Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

62

Section 4.11.

[Reserved]

64

Section 4.12.

Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries

64

Section 4.13.

Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control

64

Section 4.14.

Limitation on Asset Sales

65

Section 4.15.

Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates

66

Section 4.16.

[Reserved]

67

Section 4.17.

Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

67

Section 4.18.

[Reserved]

69

 

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Section 4.19.

Financial Reports

69

Section 4.20.

Reports to Trustee

70

Section 4.21.

Suspension of Covenants when Notes Rated Investment Grade

70

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5 Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets

71

Section 5.01.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets by the Company

71

Section 5.02.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets by a Guarantor

72

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6 Default and Remedies

74

Section 6.01.

Events of Default

74

Section 6.02.

Acceleration

76

Section 6.03.

Other Remedies

76

Section 6.04.

Waiver of Past Defaults

76

Section 6.05.

Control by Majority

76

Section 6.06.

Limitation on Suits

77

Section 6.07.

Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

77

Section 6.08.

Collection Suit by Trustee

77

Section 6.09.

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

77

Section 6.10.

Priorities

78

Section 6.11.

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

78

Section 6.12.

Undertaking for Costs

78

Section 6.13.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

78

Section 6.14.

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

79

Section 6.15.

Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws

79

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7 The Trustee

79

Section 7.01.

General

79

Section 7.02.

Certain Rights of Trustee

80

Section 7.03.

Individual Rights of Trustee

80

Section 7.04.

Trustee’s Disclaimer

81

Section 7.05.

Notice of Default

81

Section 7.06.

Reports by Trustee to Holders

81

Section 7.07.

Compensation and Indemnity

81

Section 7.08.

Replacement of Trustee

82

Section 7.09.

Successor Trustee by Merger

83

Section 7.10.

Eligibility

83

Section 7.11.

Money Held in Trust

83

Section 7.12.

Trustee in Other Capacities

83

 

 

 

ARTICLE 8 Defeasance and Discharge

83

Section 8.01.

Discharge of Company’s Obligations

83

Section 8.02.

Legal Defeasance

84

Section 8.03.

Covenant Defeasance

85

Section 8.04.

Application of Trust Money

85

Section 8.05.

Repayment to Company

86

Section 8.06.

Reinstatement

86

 

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ARTICLE 9 Amendments, Supplements and Waivers

86

Section 9.01.

Amendments Without Consent of Holders

86

Section 9.02.

Amendments With Consent of Holders

87

Section 9.03.

Effect of Consent

89

Section 9.04.

Trustee’s Rights and Obligations

89

Section 9.05.

[Reserved]

90

Section 9.06.

Payments for Consents

90

 

 

 

ARTICLE 10 Reserved

90

 

 

 

ARTICLE 11 Guarantees

90

Section 11.01.

The Guarantees

90

Section 11.02.

Guarantee Unconditional

90

Section 11.03.

Discharge; Reinstatement

91

Section 11.04.

Waiver by the Guarantors

91

Section 11.05.

Subrogation and Contribution

91

Section 11.06.

Stay of Acceleration

91

Section 11.07.

Limitation on Amount of Guarantee

91

Section 11.08.

Delivery of Guarantee

92

Section 11.09.

Release of Note Guarantee

92

 

 

 

ARTICLE 12 Miscellaneous

92

Section 12.01.

Trust Indenture Act of 1939

92

Section 12.02.

Noteholder Communications; Noteholder Actions

93

Section 12.03.

Notices

93

Section 12.04.

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

94

Section 12.05.

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

94

Section 12.06.

Payment Date Other Than a Business Day

95

Section 12.07.

Governing Law

95

Section 12.08.

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

95

Section 12.09.

Successors

95

Section 12.10.

Duplicate Originals

95

Section 12.11.

Separability

95

Section 12.12.

Table of Contents and Headings

95

Section 12.13.

No Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members, Partners and Stockholders

95

 

 

 

ARTICLE 13 Collateral and Security

96

Section 13.01.

Security Interest

96

Section 13.02.

Post-Issue Date Collateral Requirements

97

Section 13.03.

Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property

97

Section 13.04.

Intercreditor Agreement

99

Section 13.05.

Collateral Trust Agreement

100

Section 13.06.

Release of Liens in Respect of Notes

100

Section 13.07.

Collateral Trustee

101

Section 13.08.

Insurance

101

 

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EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A

Form of Note

EXHIBIT B

Form of Supplemental Indenture

EXHIBIT C

Restricted Legend

EXHIBIT D

DTC Legend

EXHIBIT E

Regulation S Certificate

EXHIBIT F

Rule 144A Certificate

EXHIBIT G

Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate

 

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THIS INDENTURE, dated as of June 10, 2015, is among SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation, as the Company, the Guarantors party hereto and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Trustee.

 

RECITALS

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of up to $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2020, and if and when issued, any Additional Notes as provided herein (the “Notes”). All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done, and the Company has done all things necessary to make the Notes (in the case of the Additional Notes, when duly authorized), when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company as hereinafter provided.

 

In addition, the Guarantors party hereto have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture as guarantors of the Notes. All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of each Guarantor, in accordance with its terms, have been done, and each Guarantor has done all things necessary to make the Note Guarantees, when the Notes are executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of such Guarantor as hereinafter provided.

 

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the parties hereto covenant and agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01. Definitions.

 

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

 

Act of Parity Lien Debtholders” means, as to any matter at any time, a direction in writing delivered to the Collateral Trustee by or with the written consent of the holders of Parity Lien Debt representing the Required Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

Additional Assets” means (i) any assets or property (other than cash, Cash Equivalents or securities) used in the Oil and Gas Business or any business ancillary thereto, (ii) Investments in any other Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business or any business ancillary thereto

 



 

(including the acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of such Person) as a result of which such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) the acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary or (iv) Permitted Business Investments.

 

Additional Notes” means any Notes issued under this Indenture in addition to the Initial Notes, and in accordance with Section 2.02, and Article 4, having the same terms in all respects as the Initial Notes except that (i) interest may accrue on the Additional Notes from their date of issuance and (ii) Additional Notes will have different CUSIP and/or ISIN numbers than the Initial Notes to the extent such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Additional Secured Debt Designation” means the written agreement of the holders of any Series of Parity Lien Debt or their Parity Lien Representative, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Priority Lien Debt, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and each existing and future holder of Priority Liens:

 

(1)           that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any Guarantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

(2)           that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

 

(3)           consenting to and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other security documents establishing Parity Liens.

 

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

 

(i)                                     the sum of:

 

(a)           discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines before any state, federal or foreign income taxes, as estimated in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year, which reserve report is prepared or reviewed by independent petroleum engineers as to 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 reserves covered by such report, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from (1) estimated proved oil and gas reserves acquired since such year-end, which reserves were not reflected in such year-end reserve report, and (2) estimated increases in proved oil and gas reserves since such year-end due to exploration,

 

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development or exploitation activities or due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report), and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from (3) estimated proved oil and gas reserves reflected in such year-end report produced or disposed of since such year-end and (4) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to downward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since such year-end due to changes in geological conditions or other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions, in each case calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report); provided that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (1) through (4), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers, plus

 

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

 

(c)           the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, plus

 

(d)           the greater of (1) the net book value on a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements and (2) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets (including, without duplication, Investments in unconsolidated Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of the date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements (provided that the Company shall not be required to obtain such appraisal of such assets if no such appraisal has been performed),

 

minus

 

(ii)                                  the sum of:

 

(a)           minority interests, plus

 

(b)           any net gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Company’s latest audited Consolidated financial statements, plus

 

(c)           to the extent included in (i)(a) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in the Company’s year-end reserve report), attributable to reserves which 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 (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto), plus

 

(d)           the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the

 

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discounted future net revenues specified in (i)(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 (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto).

 

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

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person: (1) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person; (2) any other Person that owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the Voting Stock of such specified Person (or any of such specified Person’s direct or indirect parent’s Voting Stock); or (3) any other Person 10% or more of the Voting Stock of which is beneficially owned or held directly or indirectly by such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Authenticating Agent.

 

Agent Member” means a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary.

 

Asset Sale” means any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition (including, without limitation, by way of merger or consolidation, Production Payments and Reserve Sales or a Sale Leaseback Transaction) (collectively, a “transfer”), directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, of:

 

(1)           any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(A)          any transfer of properties and assets (including any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary) that is governed by Article 5, or any transfer of equity interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary,

 

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

 

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(C)          any transfer of properties and assets that would be within the definition of a “Permitted Payment,” a “Permitted Investment” or a “Restricted Payment” and, in the latter case, would be permitted to be made as a Restricted Payment (and shall be deemed a Restricted Payment) under Section 4.07; provided that any cash proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a transfer of property or assets (which cash proceeds would otherwise constitute Net Available Cash if such transfer were treated as an Asset Sale) made pursuant to clause (12) of the definition of ‘‘Permitted Investments” shall be applied in accordance with Section 4.14,

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(G)          any Production Payments and Reserve Sales, provided that any such Production Payments and Reserve Sales (other than incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), shall have been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the acquisition or financing of, and within 90 days after the acquisition of, the Property that is subject thereto,

 

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

 

(I)            the creation or incurrence of any Lien,

 

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

 

(K)          the sale or other disposition of (i) the office buildings located at (x) 120 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, (y) 123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 and (z) 324 N. Robinson Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, (ii) the Broadway-Kerr Parking Garage located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Robert S. Kerr Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City, OK, (iii) the three surface parking lots located on Broadway Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City, OK and (iv) any other buildings located in Oklahoma City, OK,

 

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(L)           the sale or other disposition (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) of oil and gas properties, provided at the time of such sale or other disposition such properties do not have associated with them any proved reserves, or

 

(M)         any transfer of assets the Fair Market Value of which in the aggregate does not exceed $20.0 million in any transaction or series of related transactions.

 

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

 

Authenticating Agent” refers to a Person engaged to authenticate the Notes in the stead of the Trustee.

 

Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Company or any Guarantor by any holder of Priority Lien Debt or any Affiliate thereof: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards and (c) Treasury Management Arrangements (including controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

Banking Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Company or any Guarantor, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors or comparable governing body of the Company, or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on its behalf.

 

Borrowing Base” means the maximum amount in United States dollars determined or re-determined by the lenders under the Senior Credit Facility as the aggregate lending value to be ascribed to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Guarantors against which such lenders are prepared to provide loans or other Indebtedness to the Company and the Guarantors under the Senior Credit Facility, using their customary practices and standards for determining reserve based loans and which are generally applied by commercial lenders to borrowers in the Oil and Gas Business, as determined semi-annually during each year and/or on such other occasions as may be provided for by the Senior 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 Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such amount shall not as of the date of its semi-annual or other determination or re-determination under the Senior Credit Facility exceed 65% of the discounted future net revenue before state or federal income taxes from Proved Reserves of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated using Modified ACNTA Prices (after giving effect to commodity derivatives contracts in effect as of the date of determination) but otherwise calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, as estimated in the most recent Reserve Report after giving effect to exploration and production activities,

 

6



 

acquisitions, dispositions and production since the date of such Reserve Report in the same manner as would be given in calculating Modified ACNTA.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized by law to close, or are in fact closed, in New York City or in the city where the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located.

 

Capital Lease Obligation” of any Person means any obligation of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis under any capital lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) real or personal property which, in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Issue Date, is required to be recorded as a capitalized lease obligation.

 

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, units, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock, other equity interests whether now outstanding or issued after the date hereof, partnership interests (whether general or limited), limited liability company interests, 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, including any Preferred Stock, and any rights (other than debt securities or other Indebtedness convertible into Capital Stock), warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such Capital Stock.

 

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

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

 

(2)           deposits, time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, money market deposits or acceptances of any financial institution having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million that is a member of the Federal Reserve System and whose senior unsecured debt is rated at least “A-1” by S&P or at least “P-1” by Moody’s;

 

(3)           commercial paper with a maturity of 365 days or less issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate or Subsidiary of the Company) organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and rated at least “A-1” by S&P and at least “P-1” by Moody’s;

 

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

 

(5)           deposits and certificates of deposit with any commercial bank not meeting the qualifications specified in clause (2) above, provided all such deposits do not exceed $1.0 million in the aggregate at any one time; and

 

(6)           money market funds which invest substantially all of their assets in securities described in the preceding clauses (1) through (4).

 

Certificated Note” means a Note in registered individual form without interest coupons.

 

7



 

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

 

(1)           any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares that such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or any Successor Parent (measured by voting power rather than the number of shares); provided, however, that no Change of Control shall be deemed to occur by reason of the Company becoming a Subsidiary of a Successor Parent;

 

(2)           the Company or any Successor Parent consolidates with or merges with or into any Person, or sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to any such Person, or any such Person consolidates with or merges into or with the Company or any Successor Parent, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or such Successor Parent, as the case may be, is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where:

 

(A)          the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, or such Successor Parent, as the case may be, is changed into or exchanged for Voting Stock of the surviving Person which is not Disqualified Stock; and

 

(B)          immediately after such transaction, no “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total outstanding Voting Stock (measured by voting power rather than the number of shares) of the surviving Person; or

 

(3)           the Company is liquidated or dissolved or adopts a plan of liquidation or dissolution other than in a transaction which complies with the provisions of Article 5.

 

For purposes of this definition, any transfer of an equity interest of an entity that was formed for the purpose of acquiring Voting Stock of the Company will be deemed to be a transfer of such portion of such Voting Stock as corresponds to the portion of the equity of such entity that has been so transferred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur upon the consummation of any actions undertaken by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary solely for the purpose of changing the legal structure of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Collateral” means all property wherever located and whether now owned or at any time acquired after the Issue Date by the Company or any Guarantor as to which a Lien is granted under the Security Documents to secure the Notes or any Note Guarantee, which shall consist of all properties and assets subject to Liens securing the Priority Lien Obligations (except as set forth in the Security Documents).

 

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Collateral Trust Agreement” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto, the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time

 

Collateral Trustee” means U.S. Bank National Association, the collateral trustee for all holders of Parity Lien Obligations pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, and any successor thereof.

 

Company” means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor obligor under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Article 5.

 

Consolidated” means with respect to any Person, the consolidation of the accounts of such Person and each of its Subsidiaries if and to the extent the accounts of such Person and each of its Subsidiaries would normally be consolidated with those of such Person, all in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated ACNTA Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) Modified ACNTA to (y) the aggregate principal amount of Secured Debt that is then outstanding.

 

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

 

(a)           without duplication, the sum of Consolidated Net Income, and in each case to the extent deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Income Tax Expense and Consolidated Non-cash Charges for such period, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, all determined in accordance with GAAP, less all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period, less (to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income) the sum of (1) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during the period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments and (2) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments, and less all cash payments during such period relating to non-cash charges that were added back to Consolidated Net Income in determining the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio in any prior period to

 

(b)           Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, in each case after giving pro forma effect to, without duplication:

 

(1)           the incurrence of the Indebtedness giving rise to the need to make such calculation and (if applicable) the application of the net proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other Indebtedness, as if such Indebtedness was incurred, and the application of such proceeds occurred, on the first day of such period;

 

(2)           the incurrence, repayment or retirement of any other Indebtedness by the Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the first day of such period as if such Indebtedness was incurred, repaid or retired at the beginning of such period (except that, in making such

 

9



 

computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such period);

 

(3)           in the case of Acquired Debt or any acquisition occurring at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the related acquisition, assuming such acquisition had been consummated on the first day of such period; and

 

(4)           any acquisition or disposition by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any company or any business or any assets out of the ordinary course of business, whether by merger, stock purchase or sale or asset purchase or sale, or any related repayment of Indebtedness, in each case since the first day of such period, assuming such acquisition or disposition had been consummated on the first day of such period, and any expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the Company (regardless of whether those costs savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC related thereto);

 

provided that:

 

(1)           in making such computation, the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to interest on any Indebtedness computed on a pro forma basis and (A) bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed as if the rate in effect on the date of computation had been the applicable rate for the entire period and (B) which was not outstanding for any part of the period for which the computation is being made but which bears, at the option of such Person, a fixed or floating rate of interest, shall be computed by applying at the option of such Person either the fixed or floating rate, and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(a)           the interest expense, less interest income, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a Consolidated basis, excluding any interest attributable to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments but including, without limitation,

 

(1)           amortization of debt discount (excluding amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs),

 

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(2)           the net cash costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements (including amortization of discounts),

 

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

 

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

 

(5)           accrued interest, minus

 

(b)           to the extent included in (a) above, write-offs of deferred financing costs of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period and any charge related to, or any premium paid in connection with, paying any such Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to its Stated Maturity, plus

 

(c)           (1) the interest component of the Capital Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period but excluding the interest component of any obligation with respect to a lease that is not a Capital Lease Obligation and

 

(2)           all capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus

 

(d)           the interest expense under any Guaranteed Debt of such Person and any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not included under any other clause hereof, whether or not paid by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus

 

(e)           dividend payments by the Person with respect to Disqualified Stock and of any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to Preferred Stock (except, in either case, dividends paid solely in Qualified Capital Stock of such Person or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be).

 

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

 

(1)           all extraordinary gains or losses net of taxes (less all fees and expenses relating thereto),

 

(2)           the portion of net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis allocable to minority interests in unconsolidated Persons or Unrestricted Subsidiaries but only to the extent that cash dividends or distributions have not actually been received by such Person or one of its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

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

 

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(4)           gains or losses, net of taxes (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), in respect of dispositions of assets other than in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to Sale Leaseback Transactions, but excluding transactions such as farmouts, sales of leasehold inventory and sales of undivided interests in drilling prospects),

 

(5)           the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not also a Guarantor, to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or the holders of its Capital Stock,

 

(6)           any write-downs of non-current assets, provided that any ceiling limitation write-downs under SEC guidelines shall be treated as capitalized costs, as if such write-downs had not occurred,

 

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

 

(8)           all deferred financing costs written off, and premiums paid, in connection with any early extinguishment of Indebtedness,

 

(9)           any unrealized non-cash gains or losses or charges in respect of hedge or non-hedge derivatives (including those resulting from the application of the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification), and

 

(10)         any non-cash compensation charge arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity-based awards.

 

Consolidated Net Worth” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the consolidated shareholders’ equity of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, less (without duplication) amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock of such Person.

 

Consolidated Non-cash Charges” of any Person means, for any period, the aggregate depreciation, depletion, amortization and exploration expense and other non-cash charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP (excluding any non-cash charge which requires an accrual or reserve for cash charges for any future period but including, without limitation, any non-cash charge arising from any grant of Capital Stock, options to acquire Capital Stock, or other equity based awards).

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any time the corporate trust business in relation to this Indenture and the Notes is administered, which office at the date of this Indenture is located at 5555 San Felipe Street, 11th Floor, Houston, Texas 77056, EX-TX-WSFH, Attention: Corporate Trust Services.

 

Credit Agreement Agent” means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “Agent” or “Administrative Agent” under the Senior Credit Facility or any other representative

 

12



 

then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Senior Credit Facility, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Credit Facility” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Senior Credit Facility), commercial paper facilities or other debt instruments, indentures or agreements providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financings (including through the sale of receivables to the lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from the lenders against such receivables), letters of credit, capital markets financings and/or private placements involving bonds or other debt securities, or other debt obligations, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restructured, supplemented, replaced or refinanced from time to time in whole or in part from time to time, including without limitation any amendment increasing the amount of Indebtedness incurred or available to be borrowed thereunder, extending the maturity of any Indebtedness incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby or deleting, adding or substituting one or more parties thereto (whether or not such added or substituted parties are banks or other institutional lenders).

 

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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

 

Depositary” means the depositary of each Global Note, which will initially be DTC.

 

Designation” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.18.

 

Designation Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.18.

 

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

 

Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, either by its terms or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or otherwise, is or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be, required to be redeemed (unless, at the option of the Company such redemption can be satisfied solely with Qualified Capital Stock) prior to the final Stated Maturity of the Notes or is redeemable at the option of the Holder thereof (unless, at the option of the Company such redemption can be satisfied solely with Qualified Capital Stock) at any time prior to such final Stated Maturity (other than upon a change of control of or sale of assets by the Company in circumstances where the Holders would have similar rights), or is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to such final Stated Maturity at the option of the Holder thereof.

 

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Disposal Assets” means (i) assets used primarily for the gathering, processing and disposal of saltwater, including disposal wells, gathering pipelines, processing and disposal facilities, well connections and related infrastructure and (ii) equity interests of any Person that has no substantial assets other than assets referred to in clause (i).

 

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

 

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

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, and its successors.

 

DTC Legend” means the legend set forth in Exhibit D.

 

Electrical Assets” means (i) assets used primarily for transmission and delivery of electricity, including electrical substations, power lines and other electrical infrastructure assets, and (ii) equity interests of any Person that has no substantial assets other than assets referred to in clause (i).

 

equity interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of Capital Stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of Capital Stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Capital Stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

 

Equity Offering” means a public or private offering of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

 

Excess Proceeds” means any Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale not applied in accordance with Section 4.14(b) within 365 days from the date of such Asset Sale.

 

Existing Unsecured Notes” means the Company’s 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020, 7.5% Senior Notes due 2021, 8.125% Senior Notes due 2022 and 7.5% Senior Notes due 2023, in each case that are outstanding on the Issue Date.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchanged Properties” means properties or assets or Capital Stock representing an equity interest in or assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas Business, received by the Company

 

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or a Restricted Subsidiary in a substantially concurrent purchase and sale, trade or exchange as a portion of the total consideration for other such properties or assets.

 

Excluded Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in any applicable Security Document.

 

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the sale value that would be obtained in an arm’s-length free market transaction between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy. Fair Market Value of an asset or property in excess of $25.0 million shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith, in which event it shall be evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

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

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.

 

Global Note” means a Note in registered global form without interest coupons.

 

Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof, in whole or in part; provided that the term “Guarantee” does not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(5)                                 otherwise to assure a creditor against loss;

 

provided that the term “guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business.

 

Guarantors” means (i) each Restricted Subsidiary that executes this Indenture as an initial Guarantor to provide for the guarantee of the payment of the Notes and (ii) each Restricted Subsidiary that executes a supplemental indenture in substantially the form of Exhibit B to this Indenture providing for the guarantee of the payment of the Notes, or any successor obligor under its Note Guarantee pursuant to this Indenture, in each case unless and until such Guarantor is released from its Note Guarantee pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Holder” or “Noteholder” means the registered holder of any Note.

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under or in respect of currency exchange contracts, oil, gas or other hydrocarbon price hedging arrangements and Interest Rate Agreements.

 

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

 

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

 

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary with total assets of less than $500,000, as determined in accordance with its latest financial statements.

 

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

 

(1)           all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services, excluding any Trade Accounts Payable and other accrued current liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, but including, without limitation, all

 

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obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in connection with any letters of credit issued under letter of credit facilities, acceptance facilities or other similar facilities,

 

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

 

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

 

(4)           all obligations under or in respect of currency exchange contracts, oil, gas or other hydrocarbon price hedging arrangements and Interest Rate Agreements of such Person (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at such time),

 

(5)           all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person,

 

(6)           the Attributable Indebtedness of such Person related to any Sale Leaseback Transaction,

 

(7)           all Indebtedness referred to in clauses (1) through (6) above of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons, to the extent the payment of such Indebtedness or dividends is secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien, upon or with respect to property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness,

 

(8)           all Guaranteed Debt of such Person,

 

(9)           all Disqualified Stock issued by such Person, valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price, plus accrued and unpaid dividends,

 

(10)         all Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Person, valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price, plus accrued and unpaid dividends,

 

(11)         with respect to any Production Payment and Reserve Sale, any warranties or guarantees of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production Payment and Reserve Sale but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to such Production Payment and Reserve Sale, and

 

(12)         any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension, refunding or refinancing of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (1) through (11) above.

 

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For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if it were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the Fair Market Value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Fair Market Value to be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock. Subject to clause (11) of the preceding sentence, Production Payments and Reserve Sales shall not be deemed to be Indebtedness.

 

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

 

Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness” means Indebtedness secured by a Junior Lien for which certain requirements of the Intercreditor Agreement have been satisfied that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with the applicable Secured Debt Documents.

 

Initial Junior Lien Trustee” means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “collateral trustee” or “collateral agent” under the Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness or any other representative then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Initial Notes” means the Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Notes issued in replacement thereof.

 

Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto.

 

Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement among the Collateral Trustee, the Trustee, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the other parties from time to time party thereto, to be entered into on the Issue Date, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Interest Payment Date” means June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2015.

 

Interest Rate Agreements” means one or more of the following agreements which shall be entered into from time to time by one or more financial institutions: interest rate protection agreements (including, without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements) and/or other types of interest rate hedging agreements.

 

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, directly or indirectly, any advance, loan (including Guarantees), or other extension of credit or capital contribution to any other Person (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase, acquisition or ownership by such Person of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities issued or owned by any other Person and all other items that would be classified as investments on a balance sheet

 

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prepared in accordance with GAAP. “Investment” shall exclude direct or indirect advances to customers or suppliers in the ordinary course of business that are, in conformity with GAAP, recorded as accounts receivable, prepaid expenses or deposits on the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s balance sheet, endorsements for collection or deposit arising in the ordinary course of business and extensions of trade credit on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with normal trade practices. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company (other than the sale of all of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Subsidiary), the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07.

 

Investment Grade Status” shall occur when the Notes are rated as follows by one of the following two rating agencies: Baa3 or better by Moody’s or BBB- or better by S&P (or, if either such entity ceases to rate the Notes, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency).

 

Issue Date” means the earliest date on which any Notes are originally issued under this Indenture.

 

Junior Lien” means a Lien, junior to the Priority Liens and the Parity Liens as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, granted by the Company or any Guarantor in favor of holders of Junior Lien Debt (or any collateral trustee or representative in connection therewith), at any time, upon any property of the Company or any Guarantor to secure Junior Lien Obligations.

 

Junior Lien Collateral Agent” means the Initial Junior Lien Trustee (or such Person designated by the Initial Junior Lien Trustee), or if the Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness ceases to exist, the collateral trustee or other representative of lenders or holders of Junior Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Junior Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Junior Lien Debt” means:

 

(1)           the Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness, and

 

(2)           any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Company or its Subsidiaries) of the Company or any Guarantor that is secured by a Junior Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this definition:

 

(a)           on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Junior Lien Collateral Agent and Collateral Trustee as (x) in the case of Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness, as “Initial Junior Lien Indebtedness” and (y) in the case of all Junior Lien Debt, as “Junior Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents;

 

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provided that if such Series of Secured Debt is designated “Junior Lien Debt,” it cannot also be designated as Parity Lien Debt or Priority Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

 

(b)                                 the collateral agent or other representative with respect to such Indebtedness, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Junior Lien Collateral Agent, the Collateral Trustee, the Company, each applicable Guarantor have duly executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement (or a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement or a new Intercreditor Agreement substantially similar to the Intercreditor Agreement, as in effect on the date of this Indenture, and in a form reasonably acceptable to each of the parties thereto); and

 

(c)                                  all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Liens of the holders of Junior Debt to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied.

 

Junior Lien Documents” means, collectively, any indenture, credit agreement or other agreement or instrument pursuant to which Junior Lien Debt is incurred and the documents pursuant to which Junior Lien Obligations are granted.

 

Junior Lien Obligations” means Junior Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

 

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

 

Liquid Securities” means securities: (i) of an issuer that is not an Affiliate of the Company, (ii) that are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE AMEX Equities or the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor thereof); and (iii) as to which the Company is not subject to any restrictions on sale or transfer (including any volume restrictions under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other restrictions imposed by the Securities Act) or as to which a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the resale thereof is in effect for as long as the securities are held; provided that securities meeting the requirements of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall be treated as Liquid Securities from the date of receipt thereof until and only until the earlier of (a) the date on which such securities are sold or exchanged for cash or Cash Equivalents and (b) 360 days following the date of receipt of such securities. If such securities are not sold or exchanged for cash or Cash Equivalents within 360 days of receipt thereof, for purposes of determining whether the transaction pursuant to which

 

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the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary received the securities was in compliance with Section 4.14, such securities shall be deemed not to have been Liquid Securities at any time.

 

Midstream Assets” means (i) assets used primarily for gathering, transmission, storage, processing or treatment of natural gas, natural gas liquids or other Hydrocarbons or carbon dioxide and (ii) equity interests of any Person that has no substantial assets other than assets referred to in clause (i).

 

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 60 days prior to the date of determination (the “calculation date”), on the following basis:

 

(a)                                 in lieu of commodity pricing of future net revenues based on SEC guidelines, Modified ACNTA Prices shall be used after giving effect to commodity derivatives contracts in effect as of the date of determination, as determined in good faith by the Company, and

 

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

 

Modified ACNTA Prices” means, as of any date of determination, the forward month prices for the most comparable hydrocarbon commodity applicable to such future production month for a five year period (or such shorter period if forward month prices are not quoted for a reasonably comparable hydrocarbon commodity for the full five year period), with such prices held constant thereafter based on the last quoted forward month price of such period, as such prices are (i) quoted on the NYMEX (or its successor) as of the calculation date (as defined in the definition of Modified ACNTA) and (ii) adjusted for energy content, quality and basis differentials; provided that with respect to estimated future production for which prices are defined, within the meaning of SEC guidelines, by contractual arrangements excluding escalations based upon future conditions, then such contract prices shall be applied to future production subject to such arrangements.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

Mortgages” means all mortgages, debentures, hypothecs, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness and similar documents, instruments and agreements (and all amendments, modifications and supplements thereof) creating, evidencing, perfecting or otherwise establishing the Liens on Oil and Gas Properties and other related assets to secure payment of the Notes and the Note Guarantees or any part thereof.

 

Net Available Cash” from an Asset Sale means cash proceeds received therefrom (including (i) any cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received and (ii) the Fair Market Value of Liquid Securities and Cash Equivalents, and excluding (iii) any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the assets or property that is the subject of such Asset Sale and (iv) except to the extent subsequently converted to cash within 360 days after such Asset Sale, consideration constituting Exchanged Properties or consideration other than as identified in the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii)), in each case net of:

 

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

 

(b)                                 all payments made on any Indebtedness (but specifically excluding Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries assumed in connection with or in anticipation of such Asset Sale) which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Sale, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Sale or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale, provided that such payments are made in a manner that results in the permanent reduction in the balance of such Indebtedness and, if applicable, a permanent reduction in any outstanding commitment for future incurrences of Indebtedness thereunder,

 

(c)                                  all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale, and

 

(d)                                 the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale; provided, however, that if any consideration for an Asset Sale (which would otherwise constitute Net Available Cash) is required to be held in escrow pending determination of whether a purchase price adjustment will be made, such consideration (or any portion thereof) shall become Net Available Cash only at such time as it is released to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from escrow.

 

Net Cash Proceeds” means with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or debt securities or Capital Stock that has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock as referred to in Section 4.07, the proceeds of such issuance or sale in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when received in the form of, or stock or other assets when disposed of for, cash or Cash Equivalents (except to the extent that such obligations are financed or sold with recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), net of attorney’s fees, accountant’s fees and brokerage, consultation, underwriting and other fees and expenses actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.

 

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

 

Non-U.S. Person” means a Person that is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.

 

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Note Documents” means the Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

 

Note Guarantee” means the guarantee of the Notes by a Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Notes Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.01(a).

 

NYMEX” means the New York Mercantile Exchange.

 

Obligations” means any principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness or in respect thereto.

 

Offer to Purchase” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.04(a).

 

Offering Memorandum” means the final confidential offering memorandum, dated May 28, 2015, relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes.

 

Officer” means the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president or chief executive officer, any vice president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer, or the secretary or any assistant secretary, of the Company.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed in the name of the Company (i) by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president or chief executive officer or a vice president and (ii) by the chief financial officer, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer or the secretary or any assistant secretary.

 

Offshore Global Note” means a Global Note representing Notes issued and sold pursuant to Regulation S.

 

Oil and Gas Business” means the business of exploiting, exploring for, developing, acquiring, operating, producing, processing, gathering, marketing, storing, selling, hedging, treating, swapping, refining and transporting Hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide and other related energy businesses, including contract drilling and other oilfield services.

 

Oil and Gas Liens” means (i) Liens on any specific property or any interest therein, construction thereon or improvement thereto to secure all or any part of the costs incurred for surveying, exploration, drilling, extraction, development, operation, production, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of, in, under or on such property and the plugging and abandonment of wells located thereon (it being understood that, in the case of oil and gas producing properties, or any interest therein, costs incurred for “development” shall include costs incurred for all facilities relating to such properties or to projects, ventures or other arrangements of which such properties form a part or which relate to such properties or interests); (ii) Liens on

 

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an oil or gas producing property to secure obligations incurred or guarantees of obligations incurred in connection with or necessarily incidental to commitments for the purchase or sale of, or the transportation or distribution of, the products derived from such property; (iii) Liens arising under partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, production payment agreements, royalty trust agreements, incentive compensation programs for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, master limited partnership agreements, farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering or processing of oil, gas or other Hydrocarbons, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts, area of mutual interest agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business; provided, however, in all instances that such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement, program, order or contract; (iv) Liens arising in connection with Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided that such Liens are limited to the property that is subject to such Production Payments and Reserve Sales, and such Production Payments and Reserve Sales either (a) were created in connection with the acquisition or financing of the property and were incurred within 90 days after the acquisition of the property subject thereto, or (b) constitute Asset Sales made in compliance with Section 4.14; and (v) Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law.

 

Oil and Gas Properties” means (a) Hydrocarbon Interests; (b) the Properties now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; (c) all presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any governmental authority) that may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; (d) all operating agreements, contracts and other agreements, including production sharing contracts and agreements, that relate to any of the 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 that may be produced and saved or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, including all oil in tanks, and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; (f) all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and Properties in any manner appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests; and (g) all Properties, rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all Property, real or personal, now owned or hereinafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or Property (excluding drilling rigs, automotive equipment, rental equipment or other personal Property that may be on such premises for the purpose of drilling a well or for other similar temporary uses) and including any and all oil wells, gas wells, injection wells or other wells, structures, fuel separators, liquid extraction plants, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes, together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

 

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Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, satisfactory to the Trustee.

 

Parity Lien” means a Lien granted by the Company or any Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Security Document, at any time, upon any property of the Company or any Guarantor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Parity Lien Debt” means:

 

(1)                                 the Notes issued on the date of this Indenture and Note Guarantees thereof; and

 

(2)                                 any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness owing to the Company or its Subsidiaries) of the Company or any Guarantor (including Additional Notes and Note Guarantees thereof) that is secured equally and ratably with the Notes by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (2) of this definition:

 

(a)                                 on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to each Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee, as “Parity Lien Debt” for the purposes of this Indenture and the Collateral Trust Agreement; provided further that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and either Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt or both;

 

(b)                                 other than in the case of Additional Notes issued under this Indenture, such Indebtedness is governed by an indenture, credit agreement or other agreement that includes an Additional Secured Debt Designation and, in each case, the Parity Lien Representative of such Parity Lien Debt (other than Additional Notes) shall have executed a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form provided therein; and

 

(c)                                  all requirements set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Collateral Trustee’s Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (c) will be conclusively established if the Company delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is “Parity Lien Debt”).

 

Parity Lien Documents” means, collectively, the Note Documents and any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt and the Security Documents (other than any Security Documents that do not secure Parity Lien Obligations).

 

Parity Lien Obligations” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

 

Parity Lien Representative” means:

 

(1)                                 in the case of the Notes, the Trustee; or

 

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(2)                                 in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the Trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who (a) is appointed as a Parity Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant to this Indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity and (b) has become a party to the Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Paying Agent” refers to a Person engaged to perform the obligations of the Trustee in respect of payments made or funds held hereunder in respect of the Notes.

 

Permitted Business Investments” means Investments and expenditures made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business as a means of actively engaging therein through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements 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 Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties, including (i) ownership interests in oil and gas properties or gathering, transportation, processing, storage or related systems and (ii) Investments and expenditures in the form of or pursuant to operating agreements, processing agreements, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements (whether general or limited) and other similar agreements (including for limited liability companies) with third parties.

 

Permitted Collateral Liens” means Liens described in clauses (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14) (with respect to Liens under clauses (1), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (10), (11), (12), (13) and (18) of such clause only), (15) and (18) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

 

Permitted Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.06(b).

 

Permitted Investments” mean:

 

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

 

(2)                                 Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary described under clauses (4), (5), (6) and (10) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”;

 

(3)                                 Investments in the Notes;

 

(4)                                 Cash Equivalents;

 

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

 

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(6)                                 Investments acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale permitted under Section 4.14 to the extent such Investments are non-cash proceeds as permitted under such covenant;

 

(7)                                 Investments in existence on the Issue Date;

 

(8)                                 Investments acquired in exchange for the issuance of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary);

 

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

 

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

 

(11)                          any Investments received in good faith in settlement or compromise of receivables or other obligations that were obtained in the ordinary course of business, including in settlement of litigation, arbitration or other disputes or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer;

 

(12)                          any Investments in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in exchange for the contribution or other transfer of Disposal Assets or Midstream Assets to such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(13)                          other Investments in the aggregate amount outstanding at any one time of up to the greater of (x) $25.0 million and (y) 2.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time the Investment is made; and

 

(14)                          Guarantees received with respect to any Permitted Investment listed above.

 

Investments permitted by this definition need not be permitted solely by reference to one clause of this definition but may be permitted in part by one such clause and in part by one or more other clauses of this definition. In connection with any assets or property contributed or transferred to any Person as an Investment, the value of such property and assets shall be equal to the Fair Market Value at the time of Investment, without regard to subsequent changes in value.

 

Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1)                                 any Lien existing on the Issue Date securing Indebtedness or obligations existing on the Issue Date and not otherwise referred to in this definition (other than Liens permitted under clauses (2) and (15));

 

(2)                                 any Lien securing Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt under any Credit Facilities incurred under sub-clause (A) of clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and

 

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Liens securing Banking Services Obligations and Hedging Obligations constituting Priority Lien Obligations;

 

(3)                                 any Lien in favor of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)                                 any Lien arising by reason of:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(G)                               operation of law or contract in favor of mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, landlords, materialmen, laborers, employees, suppliers and similar persons, incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by negotiations or by appropriate proceedings which suspend the collection thereof; and

 

(H)                              normal depository arrangements with banks;

 

(5)                                 any Lien securing Acquired Debt created prior to (and not created in connection with, or in contemplation of) the incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Lien only secures the assets acquired in connection

 

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with the transaction pursuant to which the Acquired Debt became an obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(6)                                 any Lien to secure performance bids, leases (including, without limitation, statutory and common law landlord’s liens), statutory obligations, letters of credit and other obligations of a like nature and incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary and not securing or supporting Indebtedness, and any Lien to secure statutory or appeal bonds;

 

(7)                                 any Lien securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (6) or clause (8) of the definition of Permitted Debt, so long as none of such Indebtedness constitutes debt for borrowed money;

 

(8)                                 any Lien securing (A) Attributable Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Sale Leaseback Transactions in accordance with clause (7) of the definition of Permitted Debt and (B) Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations or other Indebtedness incurred in accordance with clause (7) of the definition of Permitted Debt; provided that, in the case of clause (B), such Liens only extend to such acquired, developed or constructed property and such Liens secure Indebtedness the value of which does not at the time of incurrence thereof exceed the Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company in good faith, of the acquired or constructed asset or improvement so financed;

 

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

 

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

 

(11)                          Oil and Gas Liens, in each case which are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(12)                          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 the Indebtedness;

 

(13)                          Liens (including put and call arrangements) on Capital Stock of (A) any Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or (B) any

 

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other Person (including a joint venture) in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owns any Capital Stock that is not a Restricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness of such other Person;

 

(14)                          any extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Lien described in the foregoing clauses (1) and (3) through (13) and this clause (14) so long as the Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or under such written arrangements could secure) the original Indebtedness;

 

(15)                          Liens securing Parity Lien Debt incurred pursuant to clause (2) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt;

 

(16)                          any Lien securing Junior Lien Obligations under any Indebtedness incurred under sub-clause (B) of clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is Junior Lien Debt;

 

(17)                          Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness was incurred to refinance Existing Unsecured Notes and constitutes Junior Lien Debt; and

 

(18)                          in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (17) above, Liens of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure Indebtedness and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding which does not exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 2.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets outstanding in the aggregate at the time of incurrence; provided, such aggregate principal amount shall not be deemed to be exceeded as a result of the incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

If a Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Liens described in clauses (1) through (18) of this definition, the Company may classify, or later reclassify, such Lien in whole or in part in any manner that complies with this definition, including by allocation to more than one other type of Permitted Lien.

 

Permitted Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.07(b).

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, extend, substitute, defease, refund, refinance or replace (“refinance”) other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

 

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

 

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(2)                                 such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date (a) later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being refinanced or (b) later than 90 days after the final maturity date of the Notes;

 

(3)                                 if the Indebtedness being refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as the case may be, on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced; and

 

(4)                                 such Indebtedness is incurred by either (i) the Company or (ii) the Restricted Subsidiary that is the obligor on the Indebtedness refinanced.

 

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

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

 

principal” of any Indebtedness means the principal amount of such Indebtedness (or if such Indebtedness was issued with original issue discount, the face amount of such Indebtedness less the remaining unamortized portion of the original issue discount of such Indebtedness), together with, unless the context otherwise indicates, any premium then payable on such Indebtedness.

 

Priority Lien” means a Lien granted by the Company or any Guarantor in favor of the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any Property of the Company or any Guarantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Priority Lien Collateral Agent” means the Credit Agreement Agent (or other Person designated by the Credit Agreement Agent), or if the Senior Credit Facility ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Debt” means:

 

(1)                                 Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors under the Senior Credit Facility (including letters of credit (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) that is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and permitted to be incurred and secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; and

 

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(2)                                 additional Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors under any other Credit Facility that is secured with the Senior Credit Facility by a Priority Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in this clause (2), that:

 

(a)                                 on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company and the Guarantors, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and the Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that if such Series of Secured Debt is designated as “Priority Lien Debt,” it cannot also be designated as Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (or any combination of the three);

 

(b)                                 the collateral agent or other representative with respect to such Indebtedness, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, the Collateral Trustee, the Company, each applicable Guarantor have duly executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement (or a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement or a new Intercreditor Agreement substantially similar to the Intercreditor Agreement, as in effect on the date of this Indenture, and in a form reasonably acceptable to each of the parties thereto); and

 

(c)                                  all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Priority Lien Collateral Agent’s Liens to secure such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied;

 

provided that all such Indebtedness (other than any DIP Financing that is permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement) is pari passu in right of payment, it being understood that there may be different tranches of Priority Lien Debt with different maturities and amortization profiles, but the principal amount of Indebtedness under all such tranches must in all other respects be pari passu in right of payment. Any such Indebtedness (other than any such DIP Financing) that is not consistent with the foregoing requirement for pari passu treatment in right of payment with the revolving credit loans under the Priority Lien Documents shall not constitute Priority Lien Debt.

 

Priority Lien Documents” means the Senior Credit Facility and any other Credit Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred and the documents pursuant to which Priority Lien Obligations are granted.

 

Priority Lien Obligations” means Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of Priority Lien Debt, Hedging Obligations and Banking Services Obligations, in each case, that are secured by Priority Liens.

 

Priority Lien Representative” means (1) the Credit Agreement Agent or (2) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the Trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt.

 

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

 

Production Payments and Reserve Sales” means the grant or transfer by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, Production Payment, 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 properties, production or proceeds of production, subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to operate and maintain, or cause the subject interests to be operated and maintained, in a reasonably prudent manner or other customary standard or subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to indemnify for environmental, title or other matters customary in the Oil and Gas Business, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the Oil and Gas Business for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(1)                                 the security agreement or conditional sales or other title retention contract pursuant to which the Lien on such assets is created (collectively a “Purchase Money Security Agreement”) shall be entered into within 90 days after the purchase or substantial completion of the construction of such assets and shall at all times be confined solely to the assets so purchased or acquired (together with any additions, accessions, and other related assets referred to in the last sentence of the definition of “Liens”),

 

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

 

(3)                                 (A) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby (determined on a per asset basis in the case of any additions, improvements and accessions) shall not at the time such Purchase Money Security Agreement is entered into exceed 100% of the purchase price to the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary of the assets subject

 

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thereto or (B) the Indebtedness secured thereby shall be with recourse solely to the assets so purchased or acquired subject to the last sentence of the definition of “Liens”).

 

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

 

Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(a).

 

Registrar” means a Person engaged to maintain the Register.

 

Regular Record Date” means, in respect of any Interest Payment Date, the May 15 or November 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

 

Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

Regulation S Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto.

 

Reporting Default” means a Default of the Company’s obligations under Section 4.19.

 

Required Parity Lien Debtholders” means, at any time, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding, calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

Reserve Report” means a report setting forth, as of each December 31st or June 30th, the Proved Reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, in each case in the form delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Senior Credit Facility, or if there is no Senior Credit Facility requiring delivery of a Reserve Report, in form substantially consistent as determined in good faith by the Company with the form of Reserve Report required under the Senior Credit Facility as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Restricted Legend” means the legend set forth in Exhibit C.

 

Restricted Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.07.

 

Restricted Period” means the relevant 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of that Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Revocation” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.17(d).

 

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

 

Rule 144A Certificate” means (i) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto or (ii) a written certification addressed to the Company and the Trustee to the effect that the Person making such certification (x) is acquiring the applicable Note (or beneficial interest) for its own account or one or more accounts with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and each such account is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A, (y) is aware that the transfer to it or exchange, as applicable, is being made in reliance upon the exemption from the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A, and (z) acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) or has determined not to request such information.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

Secured Debt” means Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt and Junior Lien Debt.

 

Secured Debt Documents” means the Priority Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Documents and the Junior Lien Documents.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Security Agreement” means the Second Lien Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties (as defined therein), as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time.

 

Security Documents” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, each joinder agreement required by the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Agreement, and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, hypothecs, collateral assignments, Mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, collateral agency agreements, debentures, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee (including, without limitation, the financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant state), in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole

 

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or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section 7.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Senior Credit Facility” means that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among SandRidge Energy, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer, and the other lenders party thereto, as such agreement, in whole or in part, in one or more instances, may be amended, restated, renewed, extended, substituted, refinanced, restructured, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including, without limitation, any successive amendments, restatements, renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings, restructurings, replacements, supplementations or other modifications of the foregoing).

 

Senior Unsecured Obligations” means senior Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien.

 

Series of Junior Lien Debt” means, severally, each issue or series of Junior Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Parity Lien Debt” means, severally, the Notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Priority Lien Debt” means, severally, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility and any other Credit Facility that constitutes Priority Lien Debt.

 

Series of Secured Debt” means each Series of Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt and each Series of Junior Lien Debt.

 

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

 

Stated Maturity” means (i) with respect to any Indebtedness, the date specified as the fixed date on which the final installment of principal of such Indebtedness is due and payable or (ii) with respect to any scheduled installment of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, the date specified as the fixed date on which such installment is due and payable as set forth in the documentation governing such Indebtedness, not including any contingent obligation to repay, redeem or repurchase prior to the regularly scheduled date for payment.

 

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

 

Subsidiary” of a Person means:

 

(1)                                 any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting power of the Voting Stock of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, or

 

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(2)                                 any limited partnership of which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner, or

 

(3)                                 any other Person in which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, has more than 50% of the outstanding Capital Stock or has the power, by contract or otherwise, to direct or cause the direction of the policies, management and affairs thereof.

 

Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Successor Parent” with respect to any Person means any other Person more than 50% of the total outstanding Voting Stock of which (measured by voting power rather than number of shares) is, at the time the first Person becomes a Subsidiary of such other Person, “beneficially owned” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares that such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) by one or more Persons that “beneficially owned” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares that such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) more than 50% of the total outstanding Voting Stock of the first Person (measured by voting power rather than number of shares) immediately prior to the first Person becoming a Subsidiary of such other Person.

 

Supplemental Indenture” means a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

 

Surviving Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01(a)(1).

 

Surviving Guarantor Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 5.02(a)(1).

 

Suspended Covenants” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.21(a)(2).

 

Suspension Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.21(a)(2).

 

Trade Accounts Payable” of any Person means accounts payable or other obligations of that Person or any Restricted Subsidiary to trade creditors created or assumed by the Person or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of goods or services.

 

Treasury Management Arrangement” means any agreement or other arrangement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overdraft, credit or debit card, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

 

Trustee” means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor trustee under this Indenture pursuant to Article 7.

 

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Trust Indenture Act” and “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

U.S. Global Note” means a Global Note that bears the Restricted Legend representing Notes issued and sold pursuant to Rule 144A.

 

U.S. Government Obligations” means obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or by any agent or instrumentality thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination has previously been designated, and continues to be, an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.17 and any Subsidiary thereof.

 

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

 

(1)                                 as to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary is directly or indirectly liable (by virtue of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary being the primary obligor on, guarantor of, or otherwise liable in any respect to, such Indebtedness), except Guaranteed Debt of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Affiliate of the Company, in which case (unless the incurrence of such Guaranteed Debt resulted in a Restricted Payment at the time of incurrence) the Company shall be deemed to have made a Restricted Payment equal to the principal amount of any such Indebtedness to the extent guaranteed at the time such Affiliate is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

 

(2)         which, upon the occurrence of a default with respect thereto, does not result in, or permit any holder of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare, a default on such Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, any Unrestricted Subsidiary may Guarantee the Notes or any Credit Facility.

 

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

 

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

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, as of the date of determination with respect to any Indebtedness, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of (a) the number of years from the date of determination to the date or dates of each successive scheduled principal payment and (b) the amount of each such principal payment by (2) the sum of all such principal payments.

 

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Section 1.02.  Rules of Construction.

 

(a)                                 Unless the context otherwise requires or except as otherwise expressly provided:

 

(1)                                 the definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined;

 

(2)                                 whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms;

 

(3)                                 the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation,” unless such phrase is already present in the text;

 

(4)                                 the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”;

 

(5)                                 any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns;

 

(6)                                 the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights;

 

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

 

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

 

(9)                                 all references to Sections or Articles or Exhibits refer to Sections or Articles or Exhibits of or to this Indenture unless otherwise indicated;

 

(10)                          references to agreements or instruments, or to statutes or regulations, are to such agreements or instruments, or statutes or regulations, as amended from time to time (or to successor statutes and regulations); and

 

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

 

(12)                          In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

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(13)         As used herein, the term “proved reserves” has the meaning given such term from time to time and at the time in question by the Society of Petroleum Engineers of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.

 

(14)         Any financial ratios required to be calculated pursuant to this Indenture shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01.         Form, Dating and Denominations; Legends.

 

(a)           The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A. The terms and provisions contained in the forms of the Notes annexed as Exhibit A constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, 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. To the extent any provision of any Note or any Guarantee conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture (to the extent permitted by law) shall govern and be controlling. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, rules of or agreements with national securities exchanges to which the Company is subject, or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 in principal amount and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

(b)           (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c), Section 2.09(b)(4) or Section 2.10(b)(3), (b)(5), or (c), each Initial Note will bear the Restricted Legend.

 

(2)           Each Global Note, whether or not an Initial Note or Additional Note, will bear the DTC Legend.

 

(3)           Initial Notes will be issued in the form of Global Notes only, except as provided in Section 2.09(b)(4).

 

(c)           (1) If the Company determines (upon the advice of counsel and such other certifications and evidence as the Company may reasonably require) that a Note is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act (or a successor provision) and that the Restricted Legend is no longer necessary or appropriate in order to ensure that subsequent transfers of the Note (or a beneficial interest therein) are effected in compliance with the Securities Act, or

 

(2)           after any Note bearing the Restricted Legend is sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act,

 

the Company may instruct the Trustee to cancel the Note and issue to the Holder thereof (or to its transferee) a new Note of like tenor and amount, registered in the name of the

 

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Holder thereof (or its transferee), that does not bear the Restricted Legend, and the Trustee will comply with such instruction.

 

(d)           By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Restricted Legend (or any beneficial interest in such a Note), each Holder thereof and each owner of a beneficial interest therein acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note (and any such beneficial interest) set forth in this Indenture and in the Restricted Legend and agrees that it will transfer such Note (and any such beneficial interest) only in accordance with this Indenture and such legend.

 

Section 2.02.         Execution and Authentication; Additional Notes.

 

(a)           An Officer shall execute the Notes for the Company by facsimile or manual signature in the name and on behalf of the Company. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Note is authenticated, the Note will still be valid.

 

(b)           A Note will not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note, with the signature conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

(c)           At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication. The Trustee will authenticate and deliver

 

(i)            Initial Notes for original issue in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,250,000,000, and

 

(ii)           Additional Notes from time to time for original issue in aggregate principal amounts specified,

 

after receipt by the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate specifying

 

(1)           the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated,

 

(2)           whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes or Additional Notes,

 

(3)           in the case of Additional Notes, that the issuance of such Notes does not contravene any provision of Article 4,

 

(4)           whether the Notes are to be issued as one or more Global Notes or Certificated Notes, and

 

(5)           other information the Company may determine to include or the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

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Section 2.03.         Registrar, Paying Agent and Authenticating Agent; Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

(a)           The Company may appoint one or more Registrars and one or more Paying Agents, and the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent, in which case each reference in this Indenture to the Trustee in respect of the obligations of the Trustee to be performed by that Agent will be deemed to be references to the Agent. The Company may act as Registrar or (except for purposes of Article 8) Paying Agent. In each case the Company and the Trustee will enter into an appropriate agreement with the Agent implementing the provisions of this Indenture relating to the obligations of the Trustee to be performed by the Agent and the related rights. The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

(b)           The Company will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes and will promptly notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and account for any funds disbursed, and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any payment default, upon written request to a Paying Agent, require the Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. Upon doing so, the Paying Agent will have no further liability for the money so paid over to the Trustee.

 

Section 2.04.         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, the Company will issue and the Trustee will authenticate a replacement Note of like terms, tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding. Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity must be furnished that is sufficient in the judgment of both the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company and the Trustee from any loss they may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge the Holder for the expenses of the Company and the Trustee in replacing a Note. In case the mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may pay the Note instead of issuing a replacement Note.

 

Section 2.05.         Outstanding Notes.

 

(a)           Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes that have been authenticated by the Trustee except for Notes cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to it for cancellation;

 

(b)           any Note which has been replaced pursuant to Section 2.04 unless and until the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a “protected purchaser” (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York); and

 

(c)           on or after the maturity date or any redemption date or date for purchase of any Notes pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, those Notes payable or to be redeemed or purchased on that date for which the Trustee (or Paying Agent, other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds money sufficient to pay all amounts then due.

 

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(d)           A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or one of its Affiliates holds the Note, provided that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding Notes have given or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder, Notes owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, (it being understood that in determining whether the Trustee is protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Notes which the Trustee knows to be so owned will be so disregarded).

 

Section 2.06.         Temporary Notes. Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee will authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have insertions, substitutions, omissions and other variations determined to be appropriate by the Officer executing the temporary Notes, as evidenced by the execution of the temporary Notes. If temporary Notes are issued, the Company will cause definitive Notes to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary Notes will be exchangeable for definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose pursuant to Section 4.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any temporary Notes the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Notes of authorized denominations and like terms and tenor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes will be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes.

 

Section 2.07.         Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold. Any Registrar or the Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to it for transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee will cancel all Notes surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and dispose of them in accordance with its normal procedures or the written instructions of the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has paid in full or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.08.         CUSIP and ISIN Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers, and the Trustee will use CUSIP numbers or ISIN numbers in notices of redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase as a convenience to Holders, the notice to 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 Offer to Purchase. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN numbers.

 

Section 2.09.         Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)           The Notes will be issued in registered form only, without coupons, and the Company shall cause the Trustee to maintain a register (the “Register”) of the Notes, for registering the record ownership of the Notes by the Holders and transfers and exchanges of the Notes.

 

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(b)           (1)           Each Global Note will be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and, so long as DTC is serving as the Depositary thereof, will bear the DTC Legend.

 

(2)           Each Global Note will be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary. Transfers of a Global Note (but not a beneficial interest therein) will be limited to transfers thereof in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees, except (1) as set forth in Section 2.09(b)(4) and (2) if approved by the Company in its reasonable discretion, transfers of portions thereof in the form of Certificated Notes may be made upon request of an Agent Member (for itself or on behalf of a beneficial owner) by written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of the Depositary in accordance with customary procedures of the Depositary and in compliance with this Section 2.09 and Section 2.10.

 

(3)           Agent Members will have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee as the absolute owner and Holder of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Depositary or its nominee may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person (including any Agent Member and any Person that holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through an Agent Member) to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes, and nothing herein will impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any security.

 

(4)           If (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for a Global Note and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of the notice or (y) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Trustee has received a request from the Depositary, the Trustee will promptly exchange each beneficial interest in a Global Note for one or more Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an equal aggregate principal amount registered in the name of the owner of such beneficial interest, as identified to the Trustee by the Depositary, and thereupon such Global Note will be deemed canceled. If such Note does not bear the Restricted Legend, then the Certificated Notes issued in exchange therefor will not bear the Restricted Legend. If such Note bears the Restricted Legend, then the Certificated Notes issued in exchange therefor will bear the Restricted Legend.

 

(c)           Each Certificated Note will be registered in the name of the Holder thereof or its nominee.

 

(d)           A Holder may transfer a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) to another Person or exchange a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) for another Note or Notes of any authorized denomination and of like terms and tenor by presenting to the Trustee a written request therefor stating the name of the proposed transferee or requesting such an exchange, accompanied by any certification, opinion or other document required by Section 2.10. The Trustee will promptly register any transfer or exchange that meets the requirements of this Section 2.09 by noting the same in the Register; provided that:

 

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(x)           no transfer or exchange will be effective until it is registered in the Register and

 

(y)           the Trustee will not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes of like terms and tenor to be redeemed or purchased pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption or purchase in whole or in part, except, in the case of a partial redemption or purchase, that portion of any Note not being redeemed or purchased, or (iii) if a redemption or a purchase pursuant to an Offer to Purchase is to occur after a Regular Record Date but on or before the corresponding Interest Payment Date, to register the transfer of or exchange any Note on or after the Regular Record Date and before the date of redemption or purchase. Prior to the registration of any transfer, the Company, each Guarantor, the Trustee and their agents will treat the Person in whose name the Note is registered as the owner and Holder thereof for all purposes (whether or not the Note is overdue), and will not be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

From time to time the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate additional Notes as necessary in order to permit the registration of a transfer or exchange in accordance with this Section 2.09.

 

No service charge will be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of any Note, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than a transfer tax or other similar governmental charge payable upon exchange pursuant to Section 2.09(b)(4)).

 

(e)           (1)           Global Note to Global Note. If a beneficial interest in a Global Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Trustee will (x) record a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note being transferred or exchanged equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (y) record a like increase in the principal amount of the other Global Note. Any beneficial interest in one Global Note that is transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Note, or exchanged for an interest in another Global Note, will, upon transfer or exchange, cease to be an interest in such Global Note and become an interest in the other Global Note and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer and exchange restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest.

 

(2)           Global Note to Certificated Note. If a beneficial interest in a Global Note is transferred or exchanged for a Certificated Note, the Trustee will (x) record a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (y) deliver one or more new Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an equal aggregate principal amount to the transferee (in the case of a transfer) or the owner of such beneficial interest (in the case of an exchange), registered in the name of such transferee or owner, as applicable.

 

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(3)           Certificated Note to Global Note. If a Certificated Note is transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note, the Trustee will (x) cancel such Certificated Note, (y) record an increase in the principal amount of such Global Note equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange and (z) in the event that such transfer or exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Certificated Note, deliver to the Holder thereof one or more new Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an aggregate principal amount equal to the untransferred or unexchanged portion of the canceled Certificated Note, registered in the name of the Holder thereof.

 

(4)           Certificated Note to Certificated Note. If a Certificated Note is transferred or exchanged for another Certificated Note, the Trustee will (x) cancel the Certificated Note being transferred or exchanged, (y) deliver one or more new Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such transfer or exchange to the transferee (in the case of a transfer) or the Holder of the canceled Certificated Note (in the case of an exchange), registered in the name of such transferee or Holder, as applicable, and (z) if such transfer or exchange involves less than the entire principal amount of the canceled Certificated Note, deliver to the Holder thereof one or more Certificated Notes in authorized denominations and of like terms and tenor having an aggregate principal amount equal to the untransferred or unexchanged portion of the canceled Certificated Note, registered in the name of the Holder thereof.

 

Section 2.10.         Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)           The transfer or exchange of any Note (or a beneficial interest therein) may only be made in accordance with this Section 2.10 and Section 2.09 and, in the case of a Global Note (or a beneficial interest therein), the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee shall refuse to register any requested transfer or exchange that does not comply with the preceding sentence.

 

(b)           Subject to paragraph (c), the transfer or exchange of any Note (or a beneficial interest therein) of the type set forth in column A below for a Note (or a beneficial interest therein) of the type set forth opposite in column B below may only be made in compliance with the certification requirements (if any) described in the clause of this paragraph set forth opposite in column C below.

 

A

 

B

 

C

U.S. Global Note

 

U.S. Global Note

 

(1)

U.S. Global Note

 

Offshore Global Note

 

(2)

U.S. Global Note

 

Certificated Note

 

(3)

Offshore Global Note

 

U.S. Global Note

 

(4)

Offshore Global Note

 

Offshore Global Note

 

(1)

Offshore Global Note

 

Certificated Note

 

(5)

Certificated Note

 

U.S. Global Note

 

(4)

Certificated Note

 

Offshore Global Note

 

(2)

Certificated Note

 

Certificated Note

 

(3)

 

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(1)           No certification is required.

 

(2)           The Person requesting the transfer or exchange must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee a duly completed Regulation S Certificate; provided that if the requested transfer or exchange is made by the Holder of a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend, then no certification is required.

 

(3)           The Person requesting the transfer or exchange must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee (x) a duly completed Rule 144A Certificate, (y) a duly completed Regulation S Certificate or (z) a duly completed Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate, and/or an Opinion of Counsel and such other certifications and evidence as the Company may reasonably require in order to determine that the proposed transfer or exchange is being made in compliance with the Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States; provided that if the requested transfer or exchange is made by the Holder of a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend, then no certification is required. In the event that (i) the requested transfer or exchange takes place after the Restricted Period and a duly completed Regulation S Certificate is delivered to the Trustee or (ii) a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend is surrendered for transfer or exchange, upon transfer or exchange the Trustee will deliver a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend.

 

(4)           The Person requesting the transfer or exchange must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee a duly completed Rule 144A Certificate.

 

(5)           If the requested transfer or exchange occurs during the Restricted Period and involves a beneficial interest in an Offshore Global Note, the Person requesting the transfer must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee (x) a duly completed Rule 144A Certificate or (y) a duly completed Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate, and/or an Opinion of Counsel and such other certifications and evidence as the Company may reasonably require in order to determine that the proposed transfer is being made in compliance with the Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. If the requested transfer or exchange involves a beneficial interest in an Offshore Global Note but does not occur during the Restricted Period, no certification is required and the Trustee will deliver a Certificated Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend.

 

(c)           No certification is required in connection with any transfer or exchange of any Note (or a beneficial interest therein):

 

(1)           after such Note is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act (or a successor provision); provided that the Company has provided the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate to that effect, and the Company may require from any Person requesting a transfer or exchange in reliance upon this clause (c) an opinion of counsel and any other reasonable certifications and evidence in order to support such certificate; or

 

(2)           sold pursuant to an effective registration statement.

 

Any Certificated Note delivered in reliance upon this paragraph will not bear the Restricted Legend.

 

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(d)           The Trustee will retain copies of all certificates, opinions and other documents received in connection with the transfer or exchange of a Note (or a beneficial interest therein), and the Company will have the right to inspect and make copies thereof at any reasonable time upon written notice to the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION; OFFER TO PURCHASE

 

Section 3.01.         Optional Redemption. The Notes may be redeemed as set forth in Section 4 of the form of Notes and Section 4.13(c) of this Indenture.

 

Section 3.02.         [Reserved].

 

Section 3.03.         Method and Effect of Redemption.

 

(a)           If the Company elects to redeem Notes, it must notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed by delivering an Officers’ Certificate at least 10 days before the notice of redemption required pursuant to this Section 3.03(a) is sent to Holders (unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the Trustee). If fewer than all of the Notes are being redeemed, the Officers’ Certificate must also specify a record date not less than 15 days after the date the notice of redemption is sent to Holders, and the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed pro rata, by lot or by any other method the Trustee in its sole discretion deems fair and appropriate (or, in the case of Notes represented by Global Notes, in such manner as DTC may require), in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and multiples thereof. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of the Notes or portions of Notes to be called for redemption. Notice of redemption must be sent by the Company or at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, to Holders whose Notes are to be redeemed at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date, except that a redemption notice may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if it is issued in connection with a discharge of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to Section 8.01 or a defeasance pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03.

 

(b)           The notice of redemption will identify the Notes to be redeemed and will include or state the following:

 

(1)           the redemption date;

 

(2)           the redemption price, if then determinable, and otherwise the method of determining the redemption price;

 

(3)           the name and address of the Paying Agent where Notes are to be surrendered for redemption;

 

(4)           Notes called for redemption must be so surrendered in order to collect the redemption price;

 

(5)           if such redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable,

 

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shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption 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 Company any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied;

 

(6)           subject to any condition precedent contained in such notice, on the redemption date the redemption price will become due and payable on Notes called for redemption, and interest on Notes called for redemption will cease to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(7)           if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the identification and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed;

 

(8)           if any Note is redeemed in part, on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Note, new Notes of like terms and tenor equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion will be issued;

 

(9)           that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(10)         if any Note contains a CUSIP or ISIN number, no representation is being made as to the correctness of the CUSIP or ISIN number either as printed on the Notes or as contained in the notice of redemption and that the Holder should rely only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes; and

 

(11)         that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

(c)           Once notice of redemption is sent to the Holders, Notes called for redemption become due and payable at the redemption price on the redemption date, subject to any condition precedent contained in such notice, together with interest accrued thereon to the redemption date, and upon surrender of the Notes called for redemption, the Company shall redeem such Notes at the redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the redemption date. Commencing on the redemption date, if funds are deposited by the Company to pay the redemption price for the Notes as provided herein, together with interest accrued thereon to the redemption date, the Notes redeemed will cease to accrue interest. Upon surrender of any Note redeemed in part, the Holder will receive a new Note of like terms and tenor equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the surrendered Note. The Trustee shall notify the Registrar of the issuance of such new Note.

 

Section 3.04.         Offer to Purchase.

 

(a)           An “Offer to Purchase” means an offer by the Company to purchase Notes as required by this Indenture. An Offer to Purchase must be made by written offer (the “offer”) sent to the Holders. The Company will notify the Trustee at least 15 days (or such

 

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shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to sending the offer to Holders of its obligation to make an Offer to Purchase, and the offer will be sent by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

(b)           The offer must include or state the following as to the terms of the Offer to Purchase:

 

(1)           the provision of this Indenture pursuant to which the Offer to Purchase is being made;

 

(2)           the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes offered to be purchased by the Company pursuant to the Offer to Purchase (including, if less than 100%, the manner by which such amount has been determined pursuant to this Indenture) (the “purchase amount”);

 

(3)           the purchase price;

 

(4)           an expiration date (the “expiration date”) not less than 30 days or more than 60 days after the date of the offer, and a settlement date for purchase (the “purchase date”) not more than five Business Days after the expiration date;

 

(5)           a Holder may tender all or any portion of its Notes, subject to the requirement that any portion of a Note tendered must be in a multiple of $1,000 principal amount;

 

(6)           the place or places where Notes are to be surrendered for tender pursuant to the Offer to Purchase;

 

(7)           each Holder electing to tender a Note pursuant to the offer will be required to surrender such Note at the place or places specified in the offer prior to the close of business on the expiration date (any such Certificated Note being, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed written instrument of transfer);

 

(8)           interest on any Note not tendered, or tendered but not purchased by the Company pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, will continue to accrue;

 

(9)           on the purchase date the purchase price will become due and payable on each Note accepted for purchase, together with interest accrued thereon to the purchase date, and interest on Notes purchased will cease to accrue on and after the purchase date;

 

(10)         Holders are entitled to withdraw Notes tendered by giving notice, which must be received by the Company or the Trustee not later than the close of business on the expiration date, setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the tendered Notes, the certificate number of any tendered Certificated Notes and a statement that the Holder is withdrawing all or a portion of the tender;

 

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(11)         (i) if Notes in an aggregate principal amount less than or equal to the amount of such Notes being purchased pursuant to the Offer to Purchase are duly tendered and not withdrawn, the Company will purchase all such Notes, and (ii) if Notes in an aggregate principal amount in excess of the amount of such Notes being purchased pursuant to the Offer to Purchase are duly tendered and not withdrawn, the Company will purchase Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the purchase amount on a pro rata basis, with adjustments so that only Notes in multiples of $1,000 principal amount will be purchased;

 

(12)         if any Note is purchased in part, new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Note will be issued; and

 

(13)         if any Note contains a CUSIP or ISIN number, no representation is being made as to the correctness of the CUSIP or ISIN number either as printed on the Notes or as contained in the offer and that the Holder should rely only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes.

 

(c)           Prior to the purchase date, the Company will accept tendered Notes for purchase as required by the Offer to Purchase and deliver to the Trustee all Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate specifying which Notes have been accepted for purchase. On the purchase date the purchase price will become due and payable on each Note accepted for purchase, together with interest accrued thereon to the purchase date, and interest on Notes purchased will cease to accrue on and after the purchase date. The Trustee will promptly return to Holders any Notes not accepted for purchase and send to Holders new Notes of like terms and tenor equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes accepted for purchase in part.

 

(d)           The Company will comply with Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws in making any Offer to Purchase, and the above procedures will be deemed modified as necessary to permit such compliance.

 

(e)           The Company will timely repay Indebtedness or obtain consents as necessary under, or terminate, any agreements or instruments that would otherwise prohibit an Offer to Purchase required to be made pursuant to this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01.         Payment of Notes.

 

(a)           The Company agrees to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and this Indenture. Not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the due date of any principal of or interest on any Notes, or any redemption or purchase price of the Notes, the Company will deposit with the Trustee (or Paying Agent) money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay such amounts, provided that if the Company or any Affiliate of the Company is acting as Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date, segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders a sum of money sufficient to pay such amounts until paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as

 

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provided in this Indenture. In each case the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its compliance with this paragraph.

 

(b)           An installment of principal or interest will be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee (or Paying Agent, other than the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) holds by 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that date money designated for and sufficient to pay the installment. If the Company or any Affiliate of the Company acts as Paying Agent, an installment of principal or interest will be considered paid on the due date only if paid to the Holders.

 

(c)           The Company agrees to pay interest on overdue principal, and, in certain circumstances and to the extent lawful, overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum specified in the Notes.

 

(d)           Payments in respect of the Notes represented by the Global Notes are to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders of the Global Notes. With respect to Certificated Notes, the Company will make all payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each Holder’s registered address.

 

Section 4.02.         Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in the continental United States, an office or agency where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as such office of the Company. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served to the Trustee.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be surrendered or presented for any of such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will 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.

 

Section 4.03.         Existence. The Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and the existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with their respective organizational documents, and the material rights, licenses and franchises of the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Company is not required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the existence of any Restricted Subsidiary, if the maintenance or preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and provided, further, that this Section 4.03 does not prohibit any transaction otherwise permitted by Section 4.14 or Article 5.

 

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Section 4.04.         Payment of Obligations. The Company will pay or discharge, and cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay or discharge as the same shall become due and payable (i) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) all material lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon the property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Section 4.05.         Maintenance of Properties and Insurance.

 

(a)           The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided that nothing in this Section 4.05 prevents the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from discontinuing the use, operation or maintenance of any of such properties or disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

(b)           The Company will maintain or cause to be maintained (at its own expense), for itself and its Restricted Subsidiaries, insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, in such amounts, with such limitations or deductibles, against such risks, and in such form as is customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

 

Section 4.06.         Limitation on Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock.

 

(a)           The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, issue, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise in any manner become directly or indirectly liable for the payment of or otherwise incur, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur”), any Indebtedness (including any Acquired Debt and the issuance of Disqualified Stock), unless such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company or any Guarantor and, in each case, the Company’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the most recent four full fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available immediately preceding the incurrence of such Indebtedness taken as one period is at least equal to or greater than 2.25:1.

 

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

 

(1)           Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor (whether as borrowers or guarantors):

 

(A)          with respect to Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt incurred under one or more Credit Facilities pursuant to this clause 1(A), up to an aggregate principal amount (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount

 

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thereof) (together with the aggregate principal amount of all other such Indebtedness at any time outstanding pursuant to this clause (1)(A)) not to exceed the greater of (x) $950.0 million, (y) the Borrowing Base in effect at the time of incurrence if incurred under the Senior Credit Facility and (z) 30.0% of Modified ACNTA as of the date of such incurrence, and

 

(B)          with respect to Indebtedness that does not constitute Priority Lien Debt or Parity Lien Debt incurred pursuant to this clause 1(B), up to an aggregate principal amount such that after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated ACNTA Coverage Ratio would be no less than 1.1 to 1.0; provided that for purposes of determining the amount that may be incurred under this clause 1(B), all Indebtedness that is not Secured Debt incurred under this clause 1(B) shall be deemed to be included in clause (y) of the definition of “Consolidated ACNTA Coverage Ratio”;

 

(2)           Parity Lien Debt (including the Notes issued on the Issue Date and any related Note Guarantee) in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding (together, with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (11) of this definition of “Permitted Debt” in respect thereof to refinance the foregoing) not to exceed the greater of (i) $1,500.0 million and (ii) 30.0% of Modified ACNTA as of the date of such incurrence;

 

(3)           Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor outstanding on the Issue Date, and not otherwise referred to in clauses (1) and (2) of this definition of “Permitted Debt”;

 

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

 

(A)          if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; and

 

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

 

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(5)           Guarantees by the Company or any Guarantor of any Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Guarantors which is permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

 

(6)           Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that represents:

 

(A)          obligations pursuant to Interest Rate Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business with respect to Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture;

 

(B)          obligations under currency exchange contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(C)          obligations pursuant to hedging arrangements (including, without limitation, swaps, caps, floors, collars, options and similar agreements) entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of protecting, on a net basis, against price risks, basis risks, or other risks encountered in the Oil and Gas Business;

 

(7)           Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) represented by Sale Leaseback Transactions or (B) represented by Capital Lease Obligations or Purchase Money Obligations or other Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or development of real or personal, movable or immovable, property incurred for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or any part of the purchase price, lease expense, rental payment or cost of construction or improvement of property used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether through the direct purchase of such property or through the purchase of Capital Stock of any Person owning such property, in an aggregate principal amount pursuant to sub-clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (7) (together with the aggregate principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (7)) not to exceed $250.0 million outstanding at any time; provided that the principal amount of any Indebtedness permitted under clause (7)(B) does not in each case at the time of incurrence exceed the Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company in good faith, of the acquired or constructed asset or improvement so financed;

 

(8)           Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in connection with:

 

(A)          one or more standby letters of credit issued for the account of the Company or a Guarantor in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(B)          other letters of credit, surety, bid, performance, appeal or similar bonds, bankers’ acceptances, completion guarantees or similar instruments; provided that, in each case contemplated by this clause (8), upon the drawing of such letters of credit or other instrument, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing; provided, further, that with respect to clauses (A) and (B), such Indebtedness is not in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit;

 

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(9)           Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to obligations relating to oil or gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10)         Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising from agreements for indemnification or purchase price adjustment obligations or similar obligations, earn-outs or other similar obligations or from Guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing any obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to such an agreement, in each case incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(11)         Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, extend, substitute, defease, refund, refinance or replace, any Indebtedness, including any Disqualified Stock, incurred pursuant to Section 4.06(a) and clauses (2), (3), (7), (11) or (12) of this Section 4.06(b);

 

(12)         the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Acquired Debt in connection with a transaction meeting any one of the three alternative financial tests set forth in Section 5.01(a)(3);

 

(13)         Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any obligation 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, provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;

 

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

 

(15)         Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in addition to that described in clauses (1) through (14) above, and any renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings or replacements of such Indebtedness, so long as the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 2.5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets outstanding in the aggregate at the time of incurrence.

 

(c)           For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.06, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness permitted by this Section 4.06, the Company in its sole discretion may classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness and only be required to include the amount of such Indebtedness as one of such types (or to divide such Indebtedness between two or more of such types); provided that any Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility which was in existence on the Issue Date (after giving effect to the application of the net proceeds from the Notes) shall be deemed to have been incurred pursuant to Section 4.06(b)(1) rather than Section 4.06(a) and may not be reclassified.

 

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(d)           Subject to the proviso contained in the foregoing clause (c), Indebtedness permitted by this Section 4.06 need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this covenant permitting such Indebtedness.

 

(e)           Accrual of interest, accretion of principal or liquidation preference (or similar amount) in respect of Preferred Stock or amortization of original issue discount, and the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the accretion or payment of dividends on any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.06; provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof as accrued shall be included as required in the calculation of the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company.

 

(f)            For purposes of determining compliance with any dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, the dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date that such Indebtedness was incurred.

 

(g)           If Indebtedness is secured by a letter of credit that serves only to secure such Indebtedness, then the total amount deemed incurred shall be equal to the greater of (x) the principal of such Indebtedness and (y) the amount that may be drawn under such letter of credit.

 

(h)           The amount of Indebtedness issued at a price less than the amount of the liability thereof shall be determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Section 4.07.         Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

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

 

(1)           pay any dividend on, or make any distribution to holders of, any shares of the Company’s Capital Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable in shares of the Company’s Qualified Capital Stock);

 

(2)           purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, directly or indirectly, the Company’s Capital Stock;

 

(3)           make any principal payment on, or purchase, redeem, defease, retire or otherwise acquire for value, prior to any scheduled principal payment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Existing Unsecured Notes or Subordinated Indebtedness (excluding any intercompany Subordinated Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except a payment on, or a purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of such Existing Unsecured Notes or Subordinated Indebtedness within one year of final maturity;

 

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(4)           pay any dividend or distribution on any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary to any Person (other than (A) to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Guarantor or (B) dividends or distributions made by a Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis to all holders of the Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary); or

 

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

 

(any of the foregoing actions described in clauses (1) through (5) above, other than any such action that is a Permitted Payment, collectively, “Restricted Payments”) (the amount of any such Restricted Payment, if other than cash, shall be the Fair Market Value of the assets proposed to be transferred, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a board resolution), unless:

 

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

 

(B)          immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) under Section 4.06(a); and

 

(C)          after giving effect to the proposed Restricted Payment, the aggregate amount of all such Restricted Payments declared or made after the Issue Date (including all Designation Amounts) does not exceed the sum of:

 

(1)           50% of the aggregate Consolidated Net Income of the Company accrued on a cumulative basis during the period beginning April 1, 2015 and ending on the last day of the Company’s last fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of the Restricted Payment (or, if such aggregate cumulative Consolidated Net Income shall be a loss, minus 100% of such loss);

 

(2)           the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of property other than cash (including assets used in the Oil and Gas Business or Capital Stock of Persons engaged in the Oil and Gas Business that become Restricted Subsidiaries), received since April 1, 2015 by the Company either (i) as capital contributions in the form of common equity to the Company or (ii) from the issuance or sale (other than to any of its Subsidiaries) of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company excluding the Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of Qualified Capital Stock financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Subsidiary until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid);

 

(3)           the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received since April 1, 2015 by the Company (other than from any of its Subsidiaries) upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase Qualified

 

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Capital Stock of the Company (and excluding the Net Cash Proceeds from the exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase Qualified Capital Stock financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Subsidiary until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid);

 

(4)           the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received after April 1, 2015 by the Company from the conversion or exchange, if any, of debt securities or Disqualified Stock of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries into or for Qualified Capital Stock of the Company plus the Fair Market Value of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company issued in exchange for such debt securities (and excluding the Net Cash Proceeds from the conversion or exchange of debt securities or Disqualified Stock financed, directly or indirectly, using funds borrowed from the Company or any Subsidiary until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid);

 

(5)           (a)           in the case of the disposition or repayment of any Investment constituting a Restricted Payment (including any Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary) made since April 1, 2015, an amount (to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income) equal to the amount received with respect to such Investment, less the cost of the disposition of such Investment and net of taxes, and

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           The foregoing provisions shall not prohibit the following actions (each of clauses (1) through (12) being referred to as a “Permitted Payment”):

 

(1)           the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at such date of declaration such payment was permitted by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.07, and such payment shall be deemed to have been paid on such date of declaration; provided, that in determining the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made after the Issue Date in accordance with Section 4.07(a)(C), amounts expended pursuant to this clause (1) shall be included in such calculation;

 

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(2)           the purchase, defeasance, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company in exchange for (including any such exchange pursuant to the exercise of a conversion right or privilege in connection with which cash is paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares or scrip), or out of the Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent issuance and sale for cash (other than to a Subsidiary) of, any Qualified Capital Stock of the Company; provided that the Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of such Qualified Capital Stock shall be excluded from Section 4.07(a)(C)(2);

 

(3)           the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition for value or payment of principal of any Existing Unsecured Notes or Subordinated Indebtedness in exchange for, or in an amount not in excess of the Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent issuance and sale for cash (other than to any Subsidiary of the Company) of any Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, provided that the Net Cash Proceeds received from the issuance of Qualified Capital Stock and the Fair Market Value of Qualified Capital Stock issued in exchange for Subordinated Indebtedness shall be excluded from Section 4.07(a)(C)(2) with respect to the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition for value of Subordinated Indebtedness;

 

(4)           the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition for value or payment of principal of Existing Unsecured Notes or any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Stock) in exchange for or with the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance of Junior Lien Debt, Senior Unsecured Obligations or Subordinated Indebtedness that constitutes Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(5)           any purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition for value of any Existing Unsecured Notes or Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of such Existing Unsecured Notes or Subordinated Indebtedness upon a change of control or an asset sale after the Company shall have complied with Sections 4.13 or 4.14, as the case may be, and repurchased all Notes tendered for purchase in connection with the Offer to Purchase;

 

(6)           the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company held by any current or former officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or permitted transferees of such current or former officers, directors or employees) pursuant to the terms of agreements (including employment agreements) or plans approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, including any such purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of such Capital Stock that is deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options or similar rights if such shares represent all or a portion of the exercise price or are surrendered in connection with satisfying Federal income tax obligations; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such purchases, redemptions, defeasances or other retirements and acquisitions pursuant to this clause (6) will not, in the aggregate, exceed $2.0 million per fiscal year (with any unused amount in any fiscal year being carried over into one or more succeeding fiscal years);

 

(7)           loans made to officers, directors or employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2.0 million outstanding at any one time, the proceeds of which are used

 

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solely (A) to purchase Capital Stock of the Company in connection with a restricted stock or employee stock purchase plan, or to exercise stock options received pursuant to an employee or director stock option plan or other incentive plan, in a principal amount not to exceed the exercise price of such stock options or (B) to refinance loans, together with accrued interest thereon, made pursuant to subsection (A) of this clause (7);

 

(8)           payments of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends on any Preferred Stock of the Company outstanding on the Issue Date;

 

(9)           payments to dissenting stockholders of the Company (A) pursuant to applicable law or (B) in connection with the settlement or other satisfaction of legal claims made pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets in connection with a transaction that is not prohibited by this Indenture and payments made in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of Capital Stock of the Company in connection with any such transaction;

 

(10)         payments made by any Person other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the stockholders of the Company in connection with or as part of (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (B) a merger of a Subsidiary of such Person into the Company;

 

(11)         the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of equity interests deemed to occur upon the exercise or exchange of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if the equity interests represent a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof and purchases or other acquisitions or retirement for value of equity interests deemed to occur upon the withholding of a portion of the equity interests granted or awarded to an employee to pay for the taxes payable by such employee upon such grant, award or vesting or in connection with any such exercise or exchange of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities;

 

(12)         repurchases, redemptions or other payments with respect to Existing Unsecured Notes in an aggregate amount paid under this clause (12) since the Issue Date not to exceed $250.0 million, provided that, after giving effect to each such payment, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have cash, Cash Equivalents and undrawn availability (giving effect to any borrowing base limitations) under the Senior Credit Facility totaling at least $175.0 million; and

 

(13)         Restricted Payments not exceeding $25.0 million in the aggregate since the Issue Date.

 

(c)           The Company will not cause or permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary that holds Midstream Assets or Disposal Assets or the proceeds, products, offspring, rents or profits thereof to, directly or indirectly, take any of the actions described in clauses (2) or (3) of paragraph (a) of this Section 4.07 unless (i) the Company would have been permitted to take such action as a Restricted Payment at such time pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this covenant and (ii) any such action taken by such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been a

 

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Restricted Payment made directly by the Company for purposes of determining compliance with this covenant.

 

(d)           Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment (except for any Restricted Payment under clauses (2) through (13) of Section 4.07(b)), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by the covenant were calculated.

 

(e)           For purposes of clauses (2), (3) and (4) of Section 4.07(b), the term “substantially concurrent” means that the offering was consummated within 180 days after the date of determination.

 

(f)            For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, if a payment meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Permitted Payments described in clauses (1) through (13) of Section 4.07(b), the Company, in its sole discretion, may divide, redivide, classify or reclassify (or later divide, re-divide, classify or reclassify, in whole or in part) such payment in any manner that complies with this Section 4.07.

 

Section 4.08.         Limitation on Liens.

 

The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or incur, in order to secure any Indebtedness, any Lien of any kind, other than Permitted Liens, upon any property or assets (including any intercompany notes) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owned on the date hereof or acquired after the date hereof, or assign or convey, in order to secure any Indebtedness, any right to receive any income or profits therefrom.

 

Section 4.09.         [Reserved].

 

Section 4.10.         Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

(1)           pay dividends or make any other distribution on its Capital Stock to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)           pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3)           make loans or advances to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

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

 

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(b)           However, Section 4.10(a) will not prohibit any encumbrance or restriction created, existing or becoming effective under or by reason of:

 

(1)           any agreement (including the Senior Credit Facility, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents) in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(5)           the security documents evidencing any Liens securing obligations or Indebtedness that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens; provided that such Liens are permitted to be incurred under Section 4.08;

 

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

 

(7)           asset sale agreements with respect to asset sales permitted to be made under Section 4.14 that limit the transfer of such assets pending the closing of such sale;

 

(8)           shareholders’, partnership, joint venture and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such encumbrances or restrictions do not apply to any Restricted Subsidiaries other than the applicable company, partnership, joint venture or other entity; and provided, further, however, that such encumbrances and restrictions do not materially impact the ability of the Company to make payments on the Notes when due as required by the terms of this Indenture;

 

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

 

(10)         any other Credit Facility governing debt of the Company or any Guarantor, permitted to be incurred under Section 4.06; provided, however, that such encumbrances or restrictions are not (in the view of the Board of Directors of the Company as expressed in a board resolution thereof) materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the Senior Credit Facility;

 

(11)         customary restrictions on the disposition or distribution of assets or property in agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business of the types described in the definition of Permitted Business Investments; and

 

(12)         this Indenture, or any agreement, amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing that extends, renews, refinances or replaces the agreements containing the encumbrances or restrictions in the foregoing clauses (1) through (11), or in this clause (12); provided that the terms and conditions of any such encumbrances or restrictions are no more restrictive in any material respect taken as a whole than those under or pursuant to the agreement so extended, renewed, refinanced or replaced.

 

Section 4.11.         [Reserved].

 

Section 4.12.         Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)           Upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary (excluding (i) any Foreign Subsidiary and (ii) any Immaterial Subsidiary) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, then such new Restricted Subsidiary will provide a Note Guarantee within 20 days after its formation or acquisition.

 

(b)           Any Restricted Subsidiary required to provide a Note Guarantee shall (i) execute a Supplemental Indenture and (ii) deliver an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee in accordance with Article 11 of this Indenture.

 

Section 4.13.         Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control.

 

(a)           Not later than 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company will make an Offer to Purchase all outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued interest to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

(b)           The Company will not be required to make an Offer to Purchase pursuant to Section 4.13(a) if a third party makes an Offer to Purchase in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.13(a) and Section 3.04 applicable to an Offer to Purchase made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to such Offer to Purchase.

 

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(c)           In the event that Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept an Offer to Purchase and the Company (or a third party making the Offer to Purchase as provided in paragraph (b) above) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Offer to Purchase described above, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Section 4.14.         Limitation on Asset Sales.

 

(a)           The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any Asset Sale unless (1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (measured at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets and property subject to such Asset Sale and (2) except with respect to any Asset Sale of Midstream Assets, Disposal Assets or Electrical Assets, at least 75% of the aggregate consideration paid to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of (i) cash, Cash Equivalents, Liquid Securities, Exchanged Properties (including pursuant to asset swaps), or Additional Assets, (ii) the assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of the Company (other than liabilities of the Company that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes), (iii) the assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of any Guarantor that made such Asset Sale (other than liabilities of a Guarantor that are by their terms subordinated to such Guarantor’s Guarantee), and, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii) as a result of which the Company and its remaining Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such liabilities or (iv) consideration consisting of the Fair Market Value of Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Company or any Guarantor received from Persons who are not the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

(b)           The Net Available Cash from Asset Sales by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary may be applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects (or is required by the terms of any Parity Lien Debt of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), to:

 

(1)           repay any Priority Lien Debt and other outstanding Priority Lien Obligations or Parity Lien Debt and other outstanding Parity Lien Obligations; or

 

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

 

(c)           Excess Proceeds of less than $20.0 million will be carried forward and accumulated. When accumulated Excess Proceeds equals or exceeds $20.0 million, the Company

 

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must, within seven Business Days, make an Offer to Purchase Notes having a principal amount equal to:

 

(1)           accumulated Excess Proceeds, multiplied by

 

(2)           a fraction (x) the numerator of which is equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and (y) the denominator of which is equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and all Parity Lien Debt similarly required to be repaid, redeemed or tendered for in connection with the Asset Sale,

 

rounded down to the nearest $1,000. Any Offer to Purchase Notes pursuant to this Section 4.14(c) shall be made ratably to the Holders of the Notes on the basis of the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. The purchase price for the Notes will be 100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest to the date of purchase (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date). Upon completion of the Offer to Purchase, Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

Section 4.15.         Limitation on Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates. The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the sale, purchase, exchange or lease of assets, property or services) with or for the benefit of any Affiliate of the Company (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) unless such transaction or series of related transactions is entered into in good faith and in writing and:

 

(a)           such transaction or series of related transactions is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that would be available in a comparable transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a party who is not an Affiliate of the Company and, if in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company (whose determination shall be conclusive), no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such transaction or series of related transactions, such transaction or series of related transactions is otherwise fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view,

 

(b)           with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate value in excess of $20.0 million, the Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee certifying that such transaction or series of related transactions complies with clause (a) above, and

 

(c)           with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate value in excess of $40.0 million, the Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee certifying that such transaction or series of related transactions has been approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Board of Directors of the Company, or in the event there is only one Disinterested Director, by such Disinterested Director;

 

provided, however, that this Section 4.15 shall not apply to:

 

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(1)           employee benefit arrangements with any officer or director of the Company, including under any employment agreement, stock option or stock incentive plans, and customary indemnification arrangements with officers or directors of the Company, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business,

 

(2)           the payment of reasonable and customary fees to directors of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries who are not employees of the Company or any Affiliate,

 

(3)           any Permitted Investments, Restricted Payments or Permitted Payments made in compliance with Section 4.07,

 

(4)           sales of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to Affiliates of the Company,

 

(5)           in the case of contracts for purchase of drilling equipment or sale of oil field service supplies or natural gas or other operational contracts, any such contracts are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and third parties, or if neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar contract with a third party, that the terms are no less favorable than those available from third parties on an arm’s length basis, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company,

 

(6)           any customary agreements with stockholders of the Company providing for preemptive, voting, tag-along and similar rights to certain stockholders of the Company; provided that such agreements are approved in advance by a majority of the Disinterested Directors,

 

(7)           transactions between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company and such director is the sole cause for such Person to be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such director shall abstain from voting as a director of the Company or such direct or indirect parent company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person, and

 

(8)           any transactions undertaken pursuant to any contracts in existence on the Issue Date (as in effect on such date) and any renewals, replacements or modifications of such contracts (pursuant to new transactions or otherwise) on terms no less favorable to the Holders of the Notes than those in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Section 4.16.         [Reserved].

 

Section 4.17.         Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

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

 

(2)           (A) the Company would be permitted to make an Investment at the time of Designation (assuming the effectiveness of such Designation) pursuant to Section 4.07 in an amount (the “Designation Amount”) equal to the greater of (i) the net book value of the Company’s interest in such Subsidiary calculated in accordance with GAAP or (ii) the Fair Market Value of the Company’s interest in such Subsidiary, or

 

(B)          the Designation Amount is less than $1,000;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

In the event of any such Designation, the Company shall be deemed, for all purposes of this Indenture, to have made an Investment equal to the Designation Amount that constitutes a Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 4.07.

 

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

 

(1)           provide credit support for, Guarantee or subject any of its property or assets (other than the Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary) to the satisfaction of, any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness); provided, however, that this Section 4.17(b)(1) shall not be deemed to prevent Permitted Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries that are otherwise allowed under this Indenture, or

 

(2)           be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

(c)           For purposes of the foregoing, the Designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the Designation of all of the Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary as Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3)           unless such redesignated Subsidiary shall not have any Indebtedness outstanding (other than Indebtedness that would be Permitted Debt), immediately after giving effect to such proposed Revocation, and after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness of such redesignated Subsidiary as if such Indebtedness was incurred on the date of the Revocation, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) pursuant to Section 4.06.

 

(e)           All Designations and Revocations must be evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee certifying compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.17.

 

Section 4.18.         [Reserved].

 

Section 4.19.         Financial Reports.

 

(a)           Whether or not the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company must provide the Trustee and Holders within the time periods specified in those sections with:

 

(1)           all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10 Q and 10 K if the Company were required to file such forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to annual information only, a report thereon by the Company’s certified independent accountants, and

 

(2)           all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8 K if the Company were required to file such reports.

 

(b)           Whether or not required by the SEC, the Company will, if the SEC will accept the filing, file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.19(a) with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations, and any such information and reports so filed with the SEC shall be deemed to have been provided to Holders pursuant to Section 4.19(a). The Company will make the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.19(a) available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request, to the extent such information and reports have not been filed with the SEC.

 

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(c)           If the Company had any Unrestricted Subsidiaries during the relevant period, the Company will provide to the Trustee and the Holders information sufficient to ascertain the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, excluding in all respects the Unrestricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such information has not been filed with the SEC.

 

(d)           For so long as any of the Notes remain outstanding and constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144, the Company will furnish to the Holders and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

(e)           Delivery of these reports and information to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of them will not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

Section 4.20.         Reports to Trustee.

 

(a)           The Company will deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year a certificate from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company stating that the officer has conducted or supervised a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and their performance under this Indenture and that, based upon such review, the Company has fulfilled its obligations hereunder or, if there has been a Default, specifying the Default and its nature and status.

 

(b)           The Company will deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware or should reasonably become aware of the occurrence of a Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of the Default, and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.21.         Suspension of Covenants when Notes Rated Investment Grade.

 

(a)           If on any date following the Issue Date:

 

(1)           the Notes have achieved Investment Grade Status; and

 

(2)           no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date, then, beginning on that day and continuing until such time, if any, at which the Notes cease to have Investment Grade Status (such period, the “Suspension Period”), Sections 4.06, 4.07, 4.10, 4.12, 4.14, 4.15, and 4.17 and 5.01(a)(3) (the “Suspended Covenants”) will no longer be applicable to the Notes and any related default provisions of this Indenture will cease to be effective and will not be applicable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(b)           The Suspended Covenants will not, however, be of any effect with regard to the actions of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries properly taken during the continuance of the Suspension Period; provided that (1) with respect to the Restricted Payments

 

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made after any such reinstatement, the amount of Restricted Payments will be calculated as though Section 4.07 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period and (2) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.06(b)(3). Upon the occurrence of a Suspension Period, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

ARTICLE 5
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS

 

Section 5.01.         Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets by the Company.

 

(a)           The Company will not, in a single transaction or through a series of related transactions, consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or group of Persons, or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any such transaction or series of transactions, if such transaction or series of transactions, in the aggregate, would result in a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis to any other Person or group of Persons (other than the Company or a Guarantor), unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:

 

(1)           either (A) the Company will be the continuing corporation or (B) the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis (the “Surviving Entity”) will be a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership (provided that in the event the Surviving Entity is a limited partnership, then a Subsidiary of the Surviving Entity that is a corporation or limited liability company shall execute a supplement to this Indenture pursuant to which it shall become a co-obligor of the Surviving Entity’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes) duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and the Surviving Entity expressly assumes, by executing a supplement to this Indenture and any other agreements or instruments reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Documents to which the Company is a party;

 

(2)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness not previously an obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which becomes the obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been incurred at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing;

 

(3)           either (x) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis (on the assumption that the transaction occurred on the first day of the four-quarter period for which financial statements are available ending immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction with the appropriate adjustments with respect to the transaction being included in such pro forma calculation), the Company (or the Surviving Entity

 

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if the Company is not the continuing obligor under this Indenture) (A) could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt) under Section 4.06(a), or (B) would have a Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio not less than the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction, or (y) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is not the continuing obligor under this Indenture) is no less than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; provided, however, that this clause (3) will be of no effect during any Suspension Period;

 

(4)           unless the Company is the continuing obligor under this Indenture, at the time of the transaction, each Guarantor, if any, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, will have confirmed, by executing a supplement to this Indenture and any other agreements or instruments reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, that its Note Guarantee shall apply to the Surviving Entity’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Documents to which such Guarantor is a party;

 

(5)           the Surviving Entity shall take such action (or agree to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause any property or assets that constitute Collateral owned by or transferred to the Surviving Guarantor Entity to continue to constitute Collateral and to be subject to the Parity Liens in the manner and to the extent required under the Note Documents; and

 

(6)           at the time of the transaction, the Company or the Surviving Entity will have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such consolidation, merger, transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other transaction and any supplement to this Indenture executed and delivered in connection therewith comply with the terms of this Indenture.

 

(b)           In the event of any transaction (other than a lease) described in and complying with the conditions listed in Section 5.01(a) in which the Company is not the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture, the Notes and the other Note Documents, and the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture, the Notes and the other Note Documents.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may merge with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Company in another jurisdiction to realize tax or other benefits.

 

Section 5.02.         Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets by a Guarantor.

 

(a)           Each Guarantor will not, and the Company will not permit a Guarantor to, in a single transaction or through a series of related transactions, (x) consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person (other than the Company or any other Guarantor) or (y) sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or group of Persons (other than the Company or any other Guarantor) or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any such transaction or series of transactions if

 

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such transaction or series of transactions, in the aggregate, in the case of clause (y) would result in a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Guarantor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis to any other Person or group of Persons (other than the Company or any Guarantor), unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:

 

(1)           either (A) the Guarantor or the Company will be the continuing Person in the case of a merger involving the Guarantor or (B) the Person (if other than the Guarantor) formed by such consolidation or into which the Guarantor is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or disposition all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Guarantor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis (the “Surviving Guarantor Entity”) expressly assumes, by executing a supplement to this Indenture and any other agreements or instruments acceptable to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee, this Indenture and all Note Documents to which it is a party;

 

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

 

(3)           at the time of the transaction (i) the Surviving Guarantor Entity, if applicable, shall take such action (or agree to take such action) as may be reasonably necessary to cause any property or assets that constitute Collateral owned by or transferred to the Surviving Guarantor Entity to continue to constitute Collateral and to be subject to the Parity Liens in the manner and to the extent required under the Note Documents, and (ii) such Guarantor or the Surviving Guarantor Entity will have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such consolidation, merger, transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, lease or other transaction and any supplement to this Indenture executed and delivered in connection therewith comply with this Indenture; provided, however, that this Section 5.02(a) shall not apply to any Guarantor whose Note Guarantee is terminated in accordance with Section 11.09 of this Indenture.

 

(b)           In the event of any transaction (other than a lease) described in and complying with the conditions listed in Section 5.02(a) in which the Guarantor is not the Surviving Guarantor Entity, the Surviving Guarantor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Guarantor under this Indenture, and such Guarantor shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture, the Notes and the other Note Documents.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may merge with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing such Guarantor in another jurisdiction to realize tax or other benefits.

 

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ARTICLE 6
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01.         Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs if:

 

(1)           the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of any Note when the same becomes due and payable at Stated Maturity, upon acceleration or redemption, or otherwise (other than pursuant to an Offer to Purchase);

 

(2)           the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, and the default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(3)           the Company fails to make an Offer to Purchase and thereafter accept and pay for Notes tendered when and as required pursuant to Section 4.13 or Section 4.14, or the Company or any Guarantor fails to comply with the provisions of Article 5;

 

(4)           the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary defaults in the performance of or breaches any other covenant or agreement of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in this Indenture or the other Note Documents or under the Notes and the default or breach continues for a period of 60 consecutive days after written notice (or 180 consecutive days after written notice in the case of a Reporting Default) to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Notes;

 

(5)           there occurs with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company, any Guarantor or any other Significant Subsidiary having an outstanding principal amount of $50.0 million or more in the aggregate for all such Indebtedness of all such Persons (i) an event of default that results in such Indebtedness (including any scheduled installment of principal with respect to such Indebtedness) being due and payable prior to its Stated Maturity or (ii) failure to make a principal, premium (if any) or interest payment when due and such defaulted payment is not made, waived or extended within the applicable grace period, the result of which is to give the holder of such Indebtedness the right to accelerate such Indebtedness;

 

(6)           one or more judgments, orders or decrees of any court or regulatory or administrative agency for the payment of money in excess of $50.0 million (determined net of any amounts covered by insurance policies by insurers believed by the Company in good faith to be credit-worthy), either individually or in the aggregate, shall be rendered against the Company, any Guarantor or any other Significant Subsidiary or any of their respective properties and shall not be discharged and either (i) any creditor shall have commenced an enforcement proceeding upon such judgment, order or decree or (ii) there shall have been a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of an appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect;

 

(7)           the Company or any Significant Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law with respect to it, or makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its

 

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property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding;

 

(8)           the Company or any Significant Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

(9)           any Note Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect, other than in accordance the terms of this Indenture, or a Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee; or

 

(10)         the occurrence of the following:

 

(a)                                 except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Note Document establishing the Parity Liens ceases for any reason to be enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (10)(a) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Note Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such Note Documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value of not more than $15.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected Parity Lien; provided further that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 30 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period;

 

(b)                                 except as permitted by the Note Documents, any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any Note Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a fair market value in excess of $15.0 million, ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second priority Lien, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Collateral Liens; provided that if such failure is susceptible to cure, no Event of Default shall arise with respect thereto until 30 days after any officer of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes aware of such failure, which failure has not been cured during such time period; and

 

(c)                                  the Company or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Note Document establishing Parity Liens.

 

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Section 6.02.         Acceleration.

 

(a)           If an Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default described in Section 6.01(7) with respect to the Company) and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company (and to the Trustee if the notice is given by the Holders), may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes to be immediately due and payable. Upon a declaration of acceleration, such principal and interest will become immediately due and payable; provided, however, that if an Event of Default under Section 6.01(7) with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes then outstanding will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

(b)           The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee may waive all past defaults and rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration and its consequences if:

 

(1)           all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived, and

 

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

 

Section 6.03.         Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee may pursue, in its own name or as trustee of an express trust, any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of 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.

 

Section 6.04.         Waiver of Past Defaults. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.02, 6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may, by notice to the Trustee, waive an existing Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, the Default will cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed to have been cured, but no such waiver will extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.05.         Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or the other Note Documents, that may involve the Trustee in personal liability, or that the Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of Notes not joining in the giving of such direction, and may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction received from Holders of Notes.

 

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Section 6.06.         Limitation on Suits. A Holder may not institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or the other Note Documents, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under this Indenture or the other Note Documents (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement), unless:

 

(1)           the Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(2)           Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of the Event of Default in its own name as Trustee under this Indenture;

 

(3)           Holders have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liabilities or expenses to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(4)           the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of security or indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(5)           during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such written request.

 

Section 6.07.         Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the right of a Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on its Note on or after the Stated Maturity thereof, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, may not be impaired or affected without the consent of that Holder.

 

Section 6.08.         Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default in payment of principal or interest specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust for the whole amount of principal and accrued interest remaining unpaid, together with interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, overdue installments of interest, in each case at the rate specified in the Notes, and such further amount as is sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 6.09.         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 (including any claim for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee hereunder) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relating to the Company or any Guarantor or their respective creditors or property, and is entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money, securities or other property payable or deliverable upon conversion or exchange of the Notes or upon any such claims. Any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee consents to the making of such

 

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payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agent and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee hereunder. Nothing in this Indenture will be deemed to empower 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 thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.10.         Priorities. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

 

First: to the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee for all amounts due to each under the Note Documents;

 

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

 

Third: to the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

The Trustee, upon written notice to the Company, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder and the Company a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

 

Section 6.11.         Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted a proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and the proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to the Holder, then, subject to any determination in the proceeding, the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders will be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders will continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 6.12.         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 Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit (other than the Trustee) to file an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant (other than the Trustee) in the suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.12 does not apply to a suit by a Holder to enforce payment of principal of or interest on any Note on the respective due dates, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

 

Section 6.13.         Rights and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy conferred or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders under this Indenture is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and all such rights and remedies are, to the extent permitted by law,

 

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cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or exercise of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or exercise of any other right or remedy.

 

Section 6.14.         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 will 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 6 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 6.15.         Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws. The Company and each Guarantor covenants, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company or the Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the principal of, or interest on, the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture. The Company and each Guarantor hereby expressly waives, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE 7
THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01.         General.

 

(a)           The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee are as provided by the Trust Indenture Act and as set forth herein. Whether or not expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee is subject to this Article 7.

 

(b)           Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise those rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

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

 

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Section 7.02.                          Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to Trust Indenture Act Sections 315(a) through (d):

 

(1)                                 In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may rely, and will be protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but, in the case of any document which is specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof, the Trustee shall examine the document to determine whether it conforms to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein). The Trustee, in its discretion, may make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it sees fit.

 

(2)                                 Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel conforming to Section 12.05 and the Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the certificate or opinion.

 

(3)                                 The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

 

(4)                                 The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(5)                                 The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers or for any action it takes or omits to take in accordance with the direction of the Holders in accordance with Section 6.05 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.

 

(6)                                 The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

(7)                                 No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of its rights or powers, unless it is offered reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense.

 

Section 7.03.                          Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee. Any Agent may do

 

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the same with like rights. However, the Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(b) and 311. For purposes of Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b)(4) and (6):

 

(a)                                 cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand; and

 

(b)                                 self-liquidating paper” means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.

 

Section 7.04.                          Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee (i) makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, (ii) is not accountable for the Company’s use or application of the proceeds from the Notes and (iii) is not responsible for any statement in the Notes other than its certificate of authentication.

 

Section 7.05.                          Notice of Default. If any Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will send notice of the Default to each Holder within 90 days after it occurs, unless the Default has been cured; provided that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders. Notice to Holders under this Section 7.05 will be given in the manner and to the extent provided in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).

 

Section 7.06.                          Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after each May 15, beginning with May 15, 2016, the Trustee will mail to each Holder, as provided in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), a brief report dated as of such May 15, if required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313 (a), and file such reports with each stock exchange upon which its Notes are listed and with the SEC as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d).

 

Section 7.07.                          Compensation and Indemnity.

 

(a)                                 The Company will pay the Trustee compensation as agreed upon in writing for its services. The compensation of the Trustee is not limited by any law on compensation of a Trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee, including the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

(b)                                 The Company will indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it harmless against, any loss or liability or expense incurred by it without negligence or bad faith on its part arising

 

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out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture and its duties under this Indenture and the Notes, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability and of complying with any process served upon it or any of its officers in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

(c)                                  To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee, except money or property held in trust to pay principal of, and interest on, particular Notes.

 

Section 7.08.                          Replacement of Trustee.

 

(a)                                 (1)                                 The Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to the Company.

 

(2)                                 The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by written notice to the Trustee.

 

(3)                                 If the Trustee is no longer eligible under Section 7.10 or in the circumstances described in Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b), any Holder that satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b) may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(4)                                 The Company may remove the Trustee if: (i) the Trustee is no longer eligible under Section 7.10; (ii) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent; (iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or (iv) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

 

(b)                                 If the Trustee has been removed by the Holders, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes may appoint a successor Trustee with the consent of the Company. Otherwise, if the Trustee resigns or is removed, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. If the successor Trustee does not deliver its written acceptance within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(c)                                  Upon delivery by the successor Trustee of a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company, (i) the retiring Trustee will transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07(c), (ii) the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and (iii) the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. Upon request of any successor Trustee, the Company will execute any and all instruments for

 

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fully and vesting in and confirming to the successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts. The Company will give notice of any resignation and any removal of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders, and include in the notice the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

(d)                                 Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

(e)                                  The Trustee agrees to give the notices provided for in, and otherwise comply with, Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b).

 

Section 7.09.                          Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or national banking association without any further act will be the successor Trustee with the same effect as if the successor Trustee had been named as the Trustee in this Indenture.

 

Section 7.10.                          Eligibility. This Indenture must always have a Trustee that satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(a) and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $25.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

Section 7.11.                          Money Held in Trust. The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as it may agree with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law and except for money held in trust under Article 8.

 

Section 7.12.                          Trustee in Other Capacities. References to the Trustee in Sections 7.01(b), 7.02, 7.03, 7.04, 7.07 and 7.08 shall be understood to include the Trustee when acting in other capacities under the Note Documents, including, without limitation, as Collateral Trustee and Paying Agent. Without limiting the foregoing, and for the avoidance of doubt, such Sections shall be read to apply to the Collateral Trustee and the Security Documents, mutatis mutandis, in addition to this Indenture. The privileges, rights, indemnities and exculpatory provisions contained in this Indenture shall apply to the Trustee, wherever it is acting under the Note Documents.

 

ARTICLE 8
DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 8.01.                          Discharge of Company’s Obligations.

 

(a)                                 Subject to paragraph (b), the Company’s obligations under the Notes ,this Indenture and the other Note Documents, and each Guarantor’s obligations under its Note Guarantee and the other Note Documents, will terminate if:

 

(1)                                 all Notes previously authenticated and delivered (other than (i) destroyed, lost or stolen Notes that have been replaced or (ii) Notes that are paid pursuant to Section 4.01 or (iii) Notes for whose payment money or U.S. Government Obligations have been

 

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held in trust and then repaid to the Company pursuant to Section 8.05) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and the Company has paid all sums payable by it hereunder; or

 

(2)                                 (A)                               the Notes mature within 60 days, or all of them are to be called for redemption within 60 days under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for giving the notice of redemption,

 

(B)                               the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Holders, money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certificate delivered to the Trustee, without consideration of any reinvestment, to pay principal of and interest on the Notes to final Stated Maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and to pay all other sums payable by it hereunder, and

 

(C)                               the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

(b)                                 After satisfying the conditions in clause (a)(1), only the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 will survive. After satisfying the conditions in clause (a)(2), only the Company’s obligations in Article 2 and Sections 4.02, 7.07, 7.08 , 8.05 and 8.06 will survive. In either case, the Trustee upon request will acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company’s obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the other Note Documents other than the surviving obligations. The Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as provided in Section 13.06 upon discharge in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.01.

 

Section 8.02.                          Legal Defeasance. After the 91st day following the deposit referred to in clause (1) of this Section 8.02, the Company will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from its obligations in respect of the Notes, this Indenture and the other Note Documents, other than its obligations in Article 2 and Sections 4.02, 4.03, 7.07, 7.08 , 8.05 and 8.06, and each Guarantor’s obligations under its Note Guarantee will terminate, and the Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, provided the following conditions have been satisfied:

 

(1)                                 The Company has irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Holders, money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certificate thereof delivered to the Trustee, without consideration of any reinvestment, to pay principal of and interest on the Notes to final Stated Maturity or redemption, as the case may be, provided that any redemption before maturity has been irrevocably provided for under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee.

 

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(2)                                 No Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit or occurs at any time during the 91-day period following the deposit (other than a Default relating to the borrowing of funds to make such deposit).

 

(3)                                 The deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture and the other Note Documents) to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(4)                                 The Company has delivered to the Trustee either (x) a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would otherwise have been the case or (y) an Opinion of Counsel, based on a change in applicable federal income tax law after the date of this Indenture, to the same effect as the ruling described in clause (x).

 

(5)                                 The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the defeasance have been complied with.

 

Prior to the end of the 91-day period, none of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture will be discharged. Thereafter, the Trustee upon request will acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company’s obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the other Note Documents except for the surviving obligations specified above.

 

Section 8.03.                          Covenant Defeasance. After the 91st day following the deposit referred to in clause (1) of this Section 8.03, the Company’s obligations set forth in Sections 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.10, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.17, clauses (a), (b) and (c) of Section 4.19, and clauses (3) and (5) of Section 5.01(a), and each Guarantor’s obligations under its Note Guarantee, will terminate, and the Collateral will be released from the Lien securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, and clauses (3), (4), (5), (6), (9) and (10) of Section 6.01 will no longer constitute Events of Default, provided the following conditions have been satisfied:

 

(1)                                 The Company has complied with clauses (1), (2), (3) and (5) of Section 8.02; and

 

(2)                                 the Company has delivered to the Trustee either a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service or an Opinion of Counsel, in either case, to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would otherwise have been the case.

 

Except as specifically stated above, none of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, or any Guarantor’s obligations under its Note Guarantee, will be discharged.

 

Section 8.04.                          Application of Trust Money. Subject to Section 8.05, the Trustee will hold in trust the money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Sections 8.01 8.02 or 8.03, and apply the deposited money and the proceeds from deposited U.S. Government

 

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Obligations to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes in accordance with the Notes and this Indenture. Such money and U.S. Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 8.05.                          Repayment to Company. Subject to Sections 7.08, 8.01, 8.02 and 8.03, the Trustee will promptly pay to the Company upon request any excess money held by the Trustee at any time and thereupon be relieved from all liability with respect to such money. The Trustee will pay to the Company upon request any money held for payment with respect to the Notes that remains unclaimed for two years, provided that, if any Certificated Note is then outstanding, before making such payment the Trustee may at the expense and written direction of the Company publish once in a newspaper of general circulation in New York City, or send to each Holder entitled to such money, notice that the money remains unclaimed and that after a date specified in the notice (at least 30 days after the date of the publication or notice) any remaining unclaimed balance of money will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to such money must look solely to the Company for payment, unless applicable law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee with respect to such money will cease.

 

Section 8.06.                          Reinstatement. If and for so long as the Trustee is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations held in trust pursuant to Sections 8.01, 8.02 or 8.03 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 Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes will be reinstated as though no such deposit in trust had been made. If the Company makes any payment of principal of or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, it will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held in trust.

 

ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

Section 9.01.                          Amendments Without Consent of Holders. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee (in the case of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement) may amend or supplement the Note Documents without notice to or the consent of any Noteholder:

 

(1)                                 to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in this Indenture or the other Note Documents;

 

(2)                                 to comply with Article 5;

 

(3)                                 to evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment of a successor Trustee or successor Collateral Trustee;

 

(4)                                 to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

(5)                                 to provide for any Guarantee of the Notes;

 

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(6)                                 to provide for or confirm the issuance of Additional Notes;

 

(7)                                 to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by this Indenture or any of the other Note Documents;

 

(8)                                 to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral in accordance with the Note Documents;

 

(9)                                 with respect to the Note Documents, as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement;

 

(10)                          to conform the text of this Indenture or any other Note Documents to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in such “Description of Notes” section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture or any other Note Document;

 

(11)                          to make any other change that does not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder; or

 

(12)                          to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Lien with respect to or securing the Notes or the Note Guarantees when such release, termination or discharge is provided for in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

In addition, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement may be amended in accordance with their terms and without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee with the consent of the parties thereto or otherwise in accordance with their terms, including to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt and add other parties (or any authorized agent thereof or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding, in each case to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents. The Security Documents may be amended automatically without the consent of Holders of Notes, the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee in connection with any amendments to corresponding security documents creating Priority Liens. Any such additional party and the Credit Agreement Agent, Trustee and the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Parity Lien Obligations, Priority Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations, as the case may be, were issued or borrowed in compliance with the Senior Credit Facility, this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents and no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection therewith.

 

Section 9.02.                          Amendments With Consent of Holders.

 

(a)                                 Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.02, 6.04 and 6.07 or 9.02(b), the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend, modify or supplement this Indenture and the other Note Documents with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes and the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may waive future compliance by the Company with any

 

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provision of this Indenture or the other Note Documents, in each case in addition to any required consent of holders of other Parity Lien Obligations required with respect to any amendment or waiver under any Note Document. Such an amendment, modification, supplement or waiver shall become effective upon receipt by the Trustee of evidence of the requisite consents, and in relation to any Notes evidenced by Global Notes, such consents need not be in written form and may be evidenced by any electronic transmissions that comport with the procedures of the Depositary.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding Section 9.02(a), without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, modification, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(1)                                 reduce the principal amount of or change the Stated Maturity of any installment of principal of any Note,

 

(2)                                 reduce the rate of or change the Stated Maturity of any interest payment on any Note,

 

(3)                                 reduce the amount payable upon the optional redemption of any Note or change the times at which any Note may be redeemed or, once notice of redemption has been given, the time at which it must thereupon be redeemed,

 

(4)                                 after the time an Offer to Purchase is required to have been made, reduce the purchase amount or purchase price, or extend the latest expiration date or purchase date thereunder,

 

(5)                                 make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note,

 

(6)                                 impair the right of any Holder of Notes to receive any principal payment or interest payment on such Holder’s Notes, on or after the Stated Maturity thereof, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment,

 

(7)                                 make any change in the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes required for amendments or waivers,

 

(8)                                 modify or change any provision of this Indenture affecting the ranking of the Notes or any Note Guarantee in a manner adverse to the Holders or

 

(9)                                 make any change in any Note Guarantee that would adversely affect the Noteholders.

 

(c)                                  In addition, the consent of Holders representing at least 66.67% of outstanding Notes will be required to release the Liens for the benefit of the Holders on all or substantially all of the Collateral, other than in accordance with the Note Documents.

 

(d)                                 It is not necessary for Noteholders to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, modification, supplement or waiver, but is sufficient if their consent approves the substance thereof.

 

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(e)                                  An amendment, modification, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 will become effective on receipt by the Trustee of consents from the Holders of the requisite percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. After an amendment, modification, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will send to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, modification, supplement or waiver. The Company will send copies of any documents pursuant to which any such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver has been effected to Holders upon request. Any failure of the Company to send such notice or copies, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver.

 

(f)                                   Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or agreed to be paid to all Holders of the Notes that are “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A of the Securities Act, who, upon request, confirm that they are “qualified institutional buyers,” consent, waive or agree to amend or modify such term or provision within the time period set forth in the solicitation documents relating to the consent, waiver, amendment or modification.

 

Section 9.03.                          Effect of Consent.

 

(a)                                 After an amendment, modification, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it will bind every Holder unless it is of the type requiring the consent of each Holder affected. If the amendment, modification, supplement or waiver is of the type requiring the consent of each Holder affected, the amendment, modification, supplement or waiver will bind each Holder that has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note that evidences the same debt as the Note of the consenting Holder.

 

(b)                                 If an amendment, modification, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder to deliver it to the Trustee so that the Trustee may place an appropriate notation of the changed terms on the Note and return it to the Holder, or exchange it for a new Note that reflects the changed terms. The Trustee may also place an appropriate notation on any Note thereafter authenticated. However, the effectiveness of the amendment, modification, supplement or waiver is not affected by any failure to annotate or exchange Notes in this fashion.

 

Section 9.04.                          Trustee’s Rights and Obligations. The Trustee is entitled to receive, and will be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of any amendment, modification, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. If the Trustee has received such an Opinion of Counsel, it shall sign the amendment, modification, supplement or waiver so long as the same does not adversely affect the rights of the Trustee. The Trustee may, but is not obligated to, execute any amendment, modification, supplement or waiver that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture.

 

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Section 9.05.                          [Reserved].

 

Section 9.06.                          Payments for Consents. Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or agreed to be paid to all Holders that consent, waive or agree to amend or modify such term or provision within the time period set forth in the solicitation documents relating to the consent, waiver, amendment or modification.

 

ARTICLE 10
RESERVED

 

ARTICLE 11
GUARANTEES

 

Section 11.01.                   The Guarantees. Subject to the provisions of this Article 11, each Guarantor hereby fully and unconditionally Guarantees, jointly and severally, on an unsecured senior basis, the full and punctual payment (whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, purchase pursuant to an Offer to Purchase or acceleration, or otherwise) of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and all other amounts payable under, each Note, and the full and punctual payment of all other amounts payable by the Company under this Indenture. Upon failure by the Company to pay punctually any such amount, each Guarantor shall forthwith on demand pay the amount not so paid at the place and in the manner specified in this Indenture.

 

Section 11.02.                   Guarantee Unconditional. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, will not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:

 

(1)                                 any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or release in respect of any obligation of the Company under this Indenture or any Note, by operation of law or otherwise;

 

(2)                                 any modification or amendment of or supplement to this Indenture or any Note;

 

(3)                                 any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Company, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Company or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of the Company contained in this Indenture or any Note;

 

(4)                                 the existence of any claim, set off or other rights which the Guarantor may have at any time against the Company, the Trustee or any other Person, whether in connection with this Indenture or any unrelated transactions, provided that nothing herein prevents the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;

 

(5)                                 any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against the Company for any reason of this Indenture or any Note, or any provision of applicable law or

 

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regulation purporting to prohibit the payment by the Company of the principal of or interest on any Note or any other amount payable by the Company under this Indenture; or

 

(6)                                 any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by the Company, the Trustee or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of or defense to such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, other than payment in full of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Company under this Indenture.

 

Section 11.03.                   Discharge; Reinstatement. Subject to Section 11.09, each Guarantor’s obligations hereunder will remain in full force and effect until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Company under this Indenture have been paid in full. If at any time any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note or any other amount payable by the Company under this Indenture is rescinded or must be otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, each Guarantor’s obligations hereunder with respect to such payment will be reinstated as though such payment had been due but not made at such time.

 

Section 11.04.                   Waiver by the Guarantors. Each Guarantor irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against the Company or any other Person.

 

Section 11.05.                   Subrogation and Contribution. Upon making any payment with respect to any obligation of the Company under this Article 11, the Guarantor making such payment will be subrogated to the rights of the payee against the Company with respect to such obligation, provided that the Guarantor may not enforce either any right of subrogation, or any right to receive payment in the nature of contribution, or otherwise, from any other Guarantor, with respect to such payment so long as any amount payable by the Company hereunder or under the Notes remains unpaid.

 

Section 11.06.                   Stay of Acceleration. If acceleration of the time for payment of any amount payable by the Company under this Indenture or the Notes is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of this Indenture are nonetheless payable by the Guarantors hereunder forthwith on demand by the Trustee or the Holders.

 

Section 11.07.                   Limitation on Amount of Guarantee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 11, each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent conveyance under applicable fraudulent conveyance provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of state law. To effectuate that intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee are limited to the maximum amount that would not render the Guarantor’s obligations subject to avoidance under applicable fraudulent

 

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conveyance provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of state law.

 

Section 11.08.                   Delivery of Guarantee. The execution by each Guarantor of this Indenture (or a Supplemental Indenture) evidences the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor, whether or not the person signing as an officer of the Guarantor still holds that office at the time of authentication of any Note. The delivery of any Note by the Trustee after authentication constitutes due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of each Guarantor.

 

Section 11.09.                   Release of Note Guarantee. The Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will terminate upon:

 

(1)                                 a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor (including by way of consolidation or merger) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale or other disposition is permitted by this Indenture;

 

(2)                                 a sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of that Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale or other disposition is permitted by this Indenture and as a result of such transaction the Guarantor no longer qualifies as a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(3)                                 if the Note Guarantee was required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the cessation of the circumstances requiring the Note Guarantee;

 

(4)                                 the designation in accordance with this Indenture of the Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(5)                                 the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing; or

 

(6)                                 defeasance or discharge of the Notes, as provided in Article 8.

 

Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the foregoing effect, the Trustee will execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of the Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

 

ARTICLE 12
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01.                   Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Except as otherwise provided for herein, this Indenture shall not be governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, including any requirements to deliver annual opinions with respect to perfection of security interests or opinions with respect to release of Collateral in accordance with this Indenture, the Collateral Trust Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Section 12.02.                   Noteholder Communications; Noteholder Actions.

 

(a)                                 The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to this Indenture or the Notes are as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and the Company and the Trustee shall comply with the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Sections 312(a) and 312(b). Neither the Company nor the Trustee will be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(b)                                 (1)                                 Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent to amendment, supplement, modification or waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a Holder (an “act”) may be evidenced by an instrument signed by the Holder delivered to the Trustee. The fact and date of the execution of the instrument, or the authority of the person executing it, may be proved in any manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(2)                                 The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders, which will be binding on all the Holders.

 

(c)                                  Any act by the Holder of any Note binds that Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note that evidences the same debt as the Note of the acting Holder, even if no notation thereof appears on the Note. Subject to paragraph (d), a Holder may revoke an act as to its Notes, but only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver or other consequence of the act becomes effective.

 

(d)                                 The Company may, but is not obligated to, fix a record date (which need not be within the time limits otherwise prescribed by Trust Indenture Act Section 316(c)) for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to act with respect to any amendment or waiver or in any other regard, except that during the continuance of an Event of Default, only the Trustee may set a record date as to notices of default, any declaration or acceleration or any other remedies or other consequences of the Event of Default. If a record date is fixed, those Persons that were Holders at such record date and only those Persons will be entitled to act, or to revoke any previous act, whether or not those Persons continue to be Holders after the record date. No act will be valid or effective for more than 90 days after the record date.

 

Section 12.03.                   Notices.

 

(a)                                 Any notice or communication to the Company will be deemed given if in writing in the English language (i) when delivered in person or (ii) five days after mailing when mailed by first class mail, or (iii) when sent by facsimile transmission, with transmission confirmed. Notices or communications to a Guarantor will be deemed given if given to the Company. Any notice to the Trustee will be effective only upon receipt. In each case the notice or communication should be addressed as follows:

 

if to the Company:

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.
123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

 

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Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (405) 429-5983

 

if to the Trustee:

 

U.S. Bank National Association

Corporate Trust Services

EX-TX-WSFH

5555 San Felipe Street, 11th Floor

Houston, Texas 77056

Facsimile: (713) 235-9213

Attention: Mauri J. Cowen

 

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

(b)                                 Except as otherwise expressly provided with respect to published notices, any notice or communication to a Holder will be deemed given when mailed to the Holder at its address as it appears on the Register by first class mail or, as to any Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, as agreed by the Company, the Trustee and DTC. Copies of any notice or communication to a Holder, if given by the Company, will be mailed to the Trustee at the same time. Defect in mailing a notice or communication to any particular Holder will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

(c)                                  Where this Indenture provides for notice, the notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and the waiver will be the equivalent of the notice. Waivers of notice by Holders must be filed with the Trustee, but such filing is not a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waivers.

 

Section 12.04.                   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company will furnish to the Trustee:

 

(1)                                 an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(2)                                 an Opinion of Counsel stating that all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Section 12.05.                   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture must include:

 

(1)                                 a statement that each person signing the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel has read the covenant or condition and the related definitions;

 

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(2)                                 a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statement or opinion contained in the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel is based;

 

(3)                                 a statement that, in the opinion of each such person, that person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable the person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(4)                                 a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with, provided that an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials with respect to matters of fact.

 

Section 12.06.                   Payment Date Other Than a Business Day. If any payment with respect to a payment of any principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note (including any payment to be made on any date fixed for redemption or purchase of any Note) is due on a day which is not a Business Day, then the payment need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such date, and no interest will accrue for the intervening period.

 

Section 12.07.                   Governing Law. This Indenture, including any Note Guarantees and the Notes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

Section 12.08.                   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture or loan or debt agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and no such indenture or loan or debt agreement may be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 12.09.                   Successors. All agreements of the Company or any Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successor.

 

Section 12.10.                   Duplicate 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. This Indenture may be executed by facsimile or other electronic transmission.

 

Section 12.11.                   Separability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 12.12.                   Table of Contents and Headings. 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 in no way modify or restrict any of the terms and provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 12.13.                   No Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators, Members, Partners and Stockholders. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or

 

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stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the Notes, any Note Guarantee, this Indenture or any Note Document or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

ARTICLE 13
COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

 

Section 13.01.                   Security Interest.

 

(a)                                 The due and punctual payment of the Obligations on the Notes and the Obligations of the Guarantors under the Note Guarantees, when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest (to the extent permitted by law), on the Notes, the Note Guarantees and performance and payment of all other obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to the Holders or the Trustee and/or the Collateral Trustee under the Note Documents, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder (collectively, the “Notes Obligations”), are secured, as provided in the Security Documents. The Company and each of the Guarantors consent and agree to be bound by the terms of the Security Documents to which they are parties, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and agree to perform their obligations thereunder in accordance therewith. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree that the Collateral Trustee shall hold the Collateral on behalf of and for the benefit of all of the Holders and the other holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

(b)                                 Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof and of the Note Guarantees, consents and agrees to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral and amendments to the Security Documents) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and authorizes and appoints U.S. Bank National Association as the Trustee and as the Collateral Trustee. The Trustee hereby authorizes and appoints U.S. Bank National Association as Collateral Trustee and each Holder of Notes and the Trustee direct the Collateral Trustee to enter into the Security Documents (including any amendments thereto contemplated by Section 7.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement and any security documents to secure additional Parity Lien Debt in accordance with Section 5.3 of the Collateral Trust Agreement, all as more particularly described in the Collateral Trust Agreement) and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, including, without limitation, the limitations on duties of the Collateral Trustee provided in Section 5.12 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and each Holder of Notes, by accepting the Notes and the Note Guarantees of the Guarantors, acknowledges that, as more fully set forth in the Security Documents, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, for the benefit of all the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee, and the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Intercreditor

 

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Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Security Documents and actions that may be taken thereunder.

 

Section 13.02.                   Post-Issue Date Collateral Requirements.

 

(a)                                 Within 60 days of the Issue Date, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, (i) execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as applicable, such Mortgages or other Security Documents, together with satisfactory evidence of the completion (or satisfactory arrangements for the completion) of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages or other Security Documents in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) as may be necessary to create a valid, perfected second-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Collateral Liens), against the Oil and Gas Properties or other property or assets of the Company and the Guarantors that are subject to Liens securing the Priority Lien Obligations on the Issue Date and (ii) on the date that each such Mortgage is so filed or recorded, cause its counsel for the jurisdiction in which the relevant Oil and Gas Properties are located to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a favorable legal opinion with respect thereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee.

 

(b)                                 Any Security Documents entered into after the Issue Date shall be substantially in the form of the corresponding security document securing the Priority Liens Obligations, or to the extent there is no such corresponding security document, the corresponding security documents securing the Priority Lien Obligations in place on the Issue Date, in each case, with such changes as are reasonably necessary to reflect the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and with such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing publicly traded debt securities, all as certified to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate of the Company.

 

Section 13.03.                   Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property.

 

(a)                                 The Company and each of the Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Trustee from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Trustee holds, for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected second priority Liens upon the Collateral (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and Permitted Collateral Liens) (including any acquired Property or other Property required by any Parity Lien Document to become, Collateral after the Issue Date), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Parity Lien Documents, and in connection with any merger, consolidation or sale of assets of the Company or any Guarantor, the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into the Company or any Guarantor, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, shall be treated as after-acquired property and the Company or such Guarantor shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Parity Liens, in the manner and to the extent required under the Parity Lien Documents.

 

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(b)                                 Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Company and each of the Guarantors shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Security Documents, instruments, certificates, financing statements, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided, that no such Security Document, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Company and the Guarantors than the Parity Lien Documents executed and delivered (or required to be executed and delivered promptly after the Issue Date, including pursuant to Section 13.02) by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with the issuance of the Notes on or about the Issue Date.

 

(c)                                  From and after the Issue Date, if the Company or any Guarantor acquires any Property that constitutes collateral for the Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, if and to the extent that any Priority Lien Document or Junior Lien Document, as applicable, requires any supplemental Security Document for such collateral or other actions to achieve a perfected Lien on such collateral, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, promptly (but not in any event no later than the date that is 20 Business Days after which such supplemental Security Documents are executed and delivered (or other action taken) under such Priority Lien Documents or Junior Lien Documents, as applicable), to the extent permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee appropriate Security Documents (or amendments thereto) in such form as shall be necessary in the Collateral Trustee’s reasonable discretion to grant the Collateral Trustee a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Collateral Liens) on such Collateral or take such other actions in favor of the Collateral Trustee as shall be reasonably necessary to grant a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Collateral Liens) on such Collateral to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders and holders of any other Parity Lien Obligations, subject to the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents. Additionally, subject to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Note Documents, if the Company or any Guarantor creates any additional Lien upon any Property that would constitute Collateral, or takes any additional actions to perfect any existing Lien on Collateral, in each case for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Debt or the holders of Junior Lien Debt, after the Issue Date, the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, must, to the extent permitted by applicable law, within 20 Business Days after such Lien is granted or other action taken, grant a valid and enforceable perfected second-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Collateral Liens) upon such property or asset, or take such additional perfection actions, as applicable, for the benefit of the Holders and obtain all related deliverables as those delivered to the Priority Lien Representative or Junior Lien Agent, as applicable, in each case as security for the Notes Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Section 13.03(c) shall not be required.

 

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(d)                                 Notwithstanding anything herein or in the other Note Documents to the contrary, neither the Company nor any Guarantor will be required to grant a security interest in, and the Collateral shall not include, any collateral securing Priority Lien Obligations that is or may be provided to certain issuers of letters of credit pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents rather than generally to the holders of Priority Lien Obligations or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations as a whole. In addition, the Collateral shall not include Excluded Property, except to the extent such assets or property are subject to a Priority Lien generally in favor of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of Priority Lien Obligations as whole. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Note Document, Lariat Services, Inc. shall not be required to become a party to the Security Documents or grant Liens on its assets or properties for the benefit of the holders of the Parity lien Obligations.

 

(e)                                  The Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee semi-annually on or before May 1 and November 1 in each calendar year, beginning November 1, 2015, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that, as of the date of such certificate, the Collateral includes Oil and Gas Properties that include not less than 80% of the total discounted present value of proved reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any proved reserves attributable to interests owned by any “variable interest entity”), as evaluated in the most recent Reserve Report, after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, dispositions and production since the date of such Reserve Report (the “minimum collateral requirement”). In the event that the Collateral does not represent at least 80% of such value, then the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, within thirty (30) days of delivery of the certificate required under this Section 13.03(e), execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee: (i) such executed Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages naming the Collateral Trustee, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as may be necessary to cause the minimum collateral requirement to be satisfied, (ii) satisfactory evidence of the completion of all recordings and filings of such Mortgages, amendments or supplements in the proper recorders’ offices or appropriate public records (and payment of any taxes or fees in connection therewith) and (iii) local counsel opinion or opinions (each, subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected second-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to Permitted Collateral Liens) with respect to the real property that is subject to the applicable Mortgage; provided that, (x) to the extent corresponding mortgages securing the Priority Lien Obligations are being delivered and (y) Mortgages have previously been recorded in the public records of the state applicable to such additional Mortgages or amendments or supplements to prior Mortgages, no such opinion shall be required unless a corresponding opinion will be delivered to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent.

 

(f)                                   The Company will deliver to the Trustee copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Security Documents.

 

Section 13.04.                   Intercreditor Agreement. This Article 13 and the provisions of each other Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. The Company and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its

 

99



 

obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance of the Notes (a) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Holder to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of such Holders as Second Lien Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). In addition, each Holder authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee to enter into any amendments or joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement, without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Senior Credit Facility to extend credit to the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Section 13.05.                   Collateral Trust Agreement. This Article 13 and the provisions of each Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Company and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms therewith. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance of the Notes (a) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and (b) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Holders and each other holder of Parity Lien Obligations to enter into the Collateral Trust Agreement as Collateral Trustee on behalf of such holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Section 13.06.                   Release of Liens in Respect of Notes. The Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens upon the Collateral will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under this Indenture or any other Notes Obligations, and the right of the Holders to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged:

 

(a)                                 upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 8 hereof;

 

(b)                                 upon a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of the Notes in accordance with Article 8 hereof;

 

(c)                                  upon payment in full in cash and discharge of all Notes outstanding under this Indenture and all other Notes Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under this Indenture and the other Note Documents at the time the Notes are paid in full in cash and discharged (other than contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made);

 

(d)                                 as to any Collateral of the Company or a Guarantor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Company or any Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before

 

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or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that complies with Section 4.14 (other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Asset Sale as provided in such provision) and is permitted by all of the other Note Documents, at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or disposition is subject to Article 5;

 

(e)                                  in whole or in part, with the consent of the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes in accordance with Article 9 hereof;

 

(f)                                   with respect to the assets of any Guarantor, at the time that such Guarantor is released from its Guarantee in accordance with Section 11.09; or

 

(g)                                  if and to the extent required by Section 4.01(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

In addition, the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral will be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Section 13.07.                   Collateral Trustee.

 

(a)                                 The Collateral Trustee will hold (directly or through co-trustees or agents) and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, will be entitled to enforce all Liens on the Collateral created by the Security Documents.

 

(b)                                 Except as provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement or as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated:

 

(i)                                     to act upon directions purported to be delivered to it by any Person;

 

(ii)                                  to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any Lien; or

 

(iii)                               to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any or all of the Security Documents, the Liens created thereby or the Collateral.

 

Section 13.08.                   Insurance. Upon the request of the Collateral Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors will furnish to the Collateral Trustee information as to their property and liability insurance carriers. Within 60 days of making any change in coverage or carrier with respect to any such policy, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to cause the Collateral Trustee to be named as an additional insured on all liability insurance policies of the Company and the Guarantors, and the Collateral Trustee to be named as loss payee on all property and casualty insurance policies of the Company and the Guarantors that insure the Collateral.

 

[Signature page to follow]

 

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SIGNATURES

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.,

 

as Issuer

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Name:

Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

SANDRIDGE OPERATING COMPANY,

 

INTEGRA ENERGY, L.L.C.,

 

LARIAT SERVICES, INC.,

 

SANDRIDGE EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION, LLC,

 

SANDRIDGE MIDSTREAM, INC.,

 

SANDRIDGE HOLDINGS, INC.,

 

SANDRIDGE GATHERING LLC,

 

as Guarantors

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Name:

Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]

 



 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mauri J. Cowen

 

Name:

Mauri J. Cowen

 

Title:

Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDENTURE]

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FACE OF NOTE]

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

8.75% Senior Secured Note due 2020

 

[CUSIP] [ISIN]               

 

No.

 

[Initially](1) $         

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”, which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to                    , or its registered assigns, the principal sum of                         DOLLARS ($                        ) [or such other amount as indicated on the Schedule of Exchange of Notes attached hereto,](2) on June 1, 2020; provided, however that if on October 15, 2019, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Company’s 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020 that shall not have been cancelled or retired as a result of redemption, repurchase, or other acquisition or shall have not otherwise been discharged or defeased exceeds $100.0 million, on October 16, 2019.

 

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, commencing December 1, 2015.

 

Regular Record Dates: May 15 and November 15.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 


(1)                                 For Global Notes.

(2)                                 For Global Notes.

 

EXHIBIT A - 1



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by a duly authorized officer.

 

Date:

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

EXHIBIT A - 2



 

(Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication)

 

This is one of the 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 described in the Indenture referred to in this Note.

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

EXHIBIT A - 3



 

[REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

8.75% Senior Secured Note due 2020

 

1.                                      Principal.

 

The Company promises to pay the principal of this Note on June 1, 2020; provided, however, that if on October 15, 2019, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Company’s 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020 that shall not have been cancelled or retired as a result of redemption, repurchase, or other acquisition or shall have not otherwise been discharged or defeased exceeds $100.0 million, on October 16, 2019.

 

2.                                      Interest.

 

Interest on this Note will be payable, at the rate of 8.75% per annum, semiannually to the Holders of record of the Notes at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day) on each Interest Payment Date, commencing December 1, 2015, even if such Note is canceled after such Regular Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date.

 

Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on this Note (or, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest and if this Note is authenticated between a Regular Record Date and the next Interest Payment Date, from such Interest Payment Date) or, if no interest has been paid, from (x) the date this Note was issued or (y) if this Note is an Initial Note, from June 10, 2015. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

The Company will, to the extent lawful, pay interest on overdue principal (without regard to any applicable grace periods) at a rate per annum of 8.75%. Interest not paid when due and any interest on principal, premium or interest not paid when due will be paid to the Persons that are Holders on a special record date, which will be the 15th day preceding the date fixed by the Company for the payment of such interest, whether or not such day is a Business Day. At least 15 days before a special record date, the Company will send to each Holder and to the Trustee a notice that sets forth the special record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid.

 

3.                                      Indentures; Note Guarantee.

 

This is one of the Notes issued under an Indenture dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended from time to time, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of all such terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any

 

EXHIBIT A - 4



 

inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture will control.

 

The Indenture limits the initial aggregate principal amount of the Notes to $1,250,000,000, but Additional Notes may be issued pursuant to the Indenture, and the originally issued Notes and all such Additional Notes will vote together for all purposes as a single class. This Note is guaranteed as set forth in the Indenture.

 

4.                                      Optional Redemption; Redemption with Proceeds of Equity Offering.

 

Except as set forth in this section and Section 4.13(c) of the Indenture, the Notes will not be redeemable at the option of the Company.

 

(a)                                 At any time and from time to time on or after June 1, 2017, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, at redemption price equal to the percentage of the principal amount set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on June 1 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

 

Redemption Price

 

2017

 

104.375

%

2018

 

102.188

%

2019 and thereafter

 

100.000

%

 

(b)                                 If fewer than all of the Notes are being redeemed, the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed pro rata, by lot or by any other method the Trustee in its sole discretion deems fair and appropriate (or, in the case of Notes represented by global certificates, in such manner as DTC may require), in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and multiples thereof. Upon surrender of any Note redeemed in part, the Holder will receive a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the surrendered Note. Once notice of redemption is sent to the Holders, subject to any condition precedent contained in any notice of redemption, Notes called for redemption become due and payable at the redemption price on the redemption date, and, commencing on the redemption date, Notes redeemed will cease to accrue interest.

 

(c)                                  In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to June 1, 2017, the Company may use up to an amount equal to the net proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings to redeem up to an aggregate of 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture) at a redemption price equal to 108.750% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided that this redemption provision shall not be applicable with respect to any transaction that results in a Change of Control. At least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture) must remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption. In

 

EXHIBIT A - 5



 

order to effect this redemption, the Company must complete such redemption within 120 days of the closing of the Equity Offering.

 

(d)                                 Prior to June 1, 2017, the Company will be entitled at its option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest if any, to, the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Adjusted Treasury Ratemeans, with respect to any redemption date, the sum of (a) the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2017; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2017 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2017 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used, plus (b) 0.50%.

 

Applicable Premiummeans at any redemption date, the greater of (i) 1.00% of the principal amount of any Note to be redeemed on such date and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such redemption date of (1) the redemption price of such Note on June 1, 2017 (as set forth in the table appearing in clause (a) above) exclusive of any accrued interest, plus (2) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through June 1, 2017, (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (B) the principal amount of such Note on such redemption date. The Company will calculate the Applicable Premium and provide the Trustee prior to the applicable redemption date with a written statement showing the Applicable Premium and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail.

 

(e)                                  The Company is also entitled at its option to redeem the Notes in whole as provided in Section 4.13(c) of the Indenture.

 

(f)                                   All redemptions of the Notes will be made upon not less than 15 days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, except that a redemption notice may be made more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance or discharge of the Notes as provided in Article 8 of the Indenture.

 

(g)                                  Notice of any redemption of the Notes (including upon an Equity Offering or in connection with a transaction (or series of related transactions) or an event that constitutes a Change of Control) may, at the Company’s discretion, be given prior to the completion or the occurrence thereof and any such redemption or notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion or

 

EXHIBIT A - 6



 

occurrence of the related transaction or event, as the case may be. In addition, if such redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption 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 Company any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied. In addition, the Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible for monitoring, or charged with knowledge of, the maximum aggregate amount of the Notes eligible under the Indenture to be redeemed.

 

5.                                      Redemption and Repurchase; Discharge Prior to Redemption or Maturity.

 

This Note is subject to optional redemption, and may be the subject of an Offer to Purchase, as further described in the Indenture. There is no sinking fund or mandatory redemption applicable to this Note.

 

If the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay the then outstanding principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Notes to final Stated Maturity or redemption, the Company may in certain circumstances be discharged from the Indenture and the Notes or may be discharged from certain of its obligations under certain provisions of the Indenture.

 

6.                                      Registered Form; Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

 

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. Pursuant to the Indenture, there are certain periods during which the Trustee will not be required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Note or certain portions of a Note.

 

7.                                      Defaults and Remedies.

 

Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if an Event of Default (other than a bankruptcy or insolvency default with respect to the Company), as defined in the Indenture, occurs and is continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company (and to the Trustee if the notice is given by such Holders), may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of and accrued interest on the Notes to be immediately due and payable. If a bankruptcy or insolvency default with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the Notes automatically become due and payable. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it

 

EXHIBIT A - 7



 

before it enforces the Indenture or the Notes. Subject to certain limitations and the Intercreditor Agreement, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of remedies.

 

Subject to certain limited exceptions, pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, so long as the Senior Credit Facility is secured, the Credit Agreement Agent will determine the time and method by which the security interests in the Collateral will be enforced.

 

8.                                      Amendment and Waiver.

 

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes and the other Note Documents may be amended, or default may be waived, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (in the case of the Indenture, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement) may amend or supplement the Indenture or the other Note Documents to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency.

 

9.                                      Authentication.

 

This Note is not valid until the Trustee (or Authenticating Agent) signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

10.                               Governing Law.

 

This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

EXHIBIT A - 8



 

11.                               Security.

 

The Notes and the Note Guarantees will be secured by second priority Liens on the Collateral on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the Security Documents, including the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.  The rights of the Holders with respect to the Collateral will be subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, as the case may be, hold the Collateral in trust for the benefit of the Holders, in each case pursuant to the Security Documents, including the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement. Each Holder, by accepting this Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including the provisions providing for the foreclosure and release of Collateral), the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and the Indenture and authorizes and directs the Collateral Trustee to enter into the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement on the Issue Date, and at any time after the Issue Date, if applicable and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.

 

12.                               Abbreviations.

 

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and U/G/M/A/ (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

The Company will furnish a copy of the Indenture to any Holder upon written request and without charge.

 

EXHIBIT A - 9



 

TRANSFER NOTICE

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned registered holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

Insert Taxpayer Identification No.

 

 

Please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee

 

the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing

 

attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

EXHIBIT A - 10



 

[THE FOLLOWING PROVISION TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL CERTIFICATES BEARING A RESTRICTED LEGEND]

 

In connection with any transfer of this Note occurring prior to                    , the undersigned confirms that such transfer is made without utilizing any general solicitation or general advertising and further as follows:

 

Check One

 

o (1) This Note is being transferred to a “qualified institutional buyer” in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and certification in the form of Exhibit F to the Indenture is being furnished herewith.

 

or

 

¨ (2) This Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in compliance with the exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Regulation S thereunder, and certification in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture is being furnished herewith.

 

or

 

¨ (3) This Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (1) or (2) above and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture.

 

If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee is not obligated to register this Note in the name of any Person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in the Indenture have been satisfied.

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seller

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within mentioned instrument in every particular, without alteration or any change whatsoever.

 

Signature Guarantee:(3)

 


(3)                                 Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Association Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

EXHIBIT A - 11



 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you wish to have all of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.13 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, check here:

 

If you wish to have a portion of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.13 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the principal amount below:

 

$

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)

 

 

Signature Guarantee:(4)

 

 

 


(4)                                 Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Association Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

EXHIBIT A - 12



 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES(1)

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for Certificated Notes or a part of another 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 officer
of Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)                                 For Global Notes.

 

EXHIBIT A - 13



 

EXHIBIT B

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of                 ,         

 

Among

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

the Guarantor(s) Party Hereto

 

and

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

as Trustee

 


 

8.75% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2020

 

EXHIBIT B - 1



 

THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), entered into as of                          ,           , among SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), [insert each Guarantor executing this Supplemental Indenture and its jurisdiction of organization] (each an “Undersigned”) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee entered into the Indenture, dated as of June 10, 2015 (the “Indenture”), relating to the Company’s 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to the Trustee entering into the Indenture and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders, the Company agreed pursuant to the Indenture to cause any newly acquired or created Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Foreign Subsidiaries and Immaterial Subsidiaries) to provide Guarantees.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained and intending to be legally bound, the parties to this Supplemental Indenture hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                           Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are used as defined in the Indenture.

 

Section 2.                                           Each Undersigned, by its execution of this Supplemental Indenture, agrees to be a Guarantor under the Indenture and to be bound by the terms of the Indenture applicable to Guarantors, including, but not limited to, Article 11 thereof, subject to any limitations therein.

 

Section 3.                                           This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Section 4.                                           This Supplemental Indenture may be signed in various counterparts which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 5.                                           This Supplemental Indenture is an amendment supplemental to the Indenture and the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture will henceforth be read together.

 

EXHIBIT A - 2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., as Issuer

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

[GUARANTOR]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

EXHIBIT A - 3



 

EXHIBIT C

 

RESTRICTED LEGEND

 

THIS NOTE 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 NOTE 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 NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED NOTES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH NOTE), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES 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 AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR ACQUIRING THE NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE NOTES OF $250,000, 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, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (C), (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.

 

EXHIBIT C - 1



 

EXHIBIT D

 

DTC LEGEND

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN 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 A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE ARE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE ARE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRANSFER PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE.

 

EXHIBIT D - 1



 

EXHIBIT E

 

Regulation S Certificate

 

,        

 

U.S. Bank National Association
5555 San Felipe Street, 11th Floor

Houston, Texas 77056

EX-TX-WSFH

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

Facsimile: (713) 235-9213

 

Re:                             SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.
Senior Secured Notes due 2020
(the “Notes”)
Issued under the Indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as
as of June 10, 2015 relating to the Notes

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Terms are used in this Certificate as used in Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), except as otherwise stated herein.

 

[CHECK A OR B AS APPLICABLE.]

 

o                                    (1)                                 This Certificate relates to our proposed transfer of $ principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture. We hereby certify as follows:

 

1.                                      The offer and sale of the Notes was not and will not be made to a person in the United States (unless such person is excluded from the definition of “U.S. person” pursuant to Rule 902(k)(2)(vi) or the account held by it for which it is acting is excluded from the definition of “U.S. person” pursuant to Rule 902(k)(2)(i) under the circumstances described in Rule 902(h)(3)) and such offer and sale was not and will not be specifically targeted at an identifiable group of U.S. citizens abroad.

 

2.                                      Unless the circumstances described in the parenthetical in paragraph 1 above are applicable, either (a) at the time the buy order was originated, the buyer was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the buyer was outside the United States or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market, and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction was pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States.

 

3.                                      Neither we, any of our affiliates, nor any person acting on our or their behalf has made any directed selling efforts in the United States with respect to the Notes.

 

EXHIBIT E - 1



 

4.                                      The proposed transfer of Notes is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

5.                                      If we are a dealer or a person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration in respect of the Notes, and the proposed transfer takes place during the Restricted Period (as defined in the Indenture), or we are an officer or director of the Company (as defined in the Indenture), we certify that the proposed transfer is being made in accordance with the provisions of Rule 904 (b) of Regulation S.

 

o                                    (2)                                 This Certificate relates to our proposed exchange of $              principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture for an equal principal amount of Notes to be held by us. We hereby certify as follows:

 

6.                                      At the time the offer and sale of the Notes was made to us, either (i) we were not in the United States or (ii) we were excluded from the definition of “U.S. person” pursuant to Rule 902(k)(2)(vi) or the account held by us for which we were acting was excluded from the definition of “U.S. person” pursuant to Rule 902(k)(2)(i) under the circumstances described in Rule 902(h)(3); and we were not a member of an identifiable group of U.S. citizens abroad.

 

7.                                      Unless the circumstances described in paragraph 1(ii) above are applicable, either (a) at the time our buy order was originated, we were outside the United States or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and we did not pre-arrange the transaction in the United States.

 

8.                                      The proposed exchange of Notes is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this Certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce this Certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF SELLER (FOR TRANSFERS) OR OWNER (FOR EXCHANGES)]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT E - 2



 

EXHIBIT F

 

Rule 144A Certificate

 

,        

 

U.S. Bank National Association
5555 San Felipe Street, 11th Floor

Houston, Texas 77056

EX-TX-WSFH

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

Facsimile: (713) 235-9213

 

Re:                             SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.
Senior Secured Notes due 2020
(the “Notes”)
Issued under the Indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as
as of June 10, 2015 relating to the Notes

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This Certificate relates to:

 

[CHECK A OR B AS APPLICABLE.]

 

o                                    A.                                    Our proposed purchase of $             principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture.

 

¨                                    B.                                    Our proposed exchange of $            principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture for an equal principal amount of Notes to be held by us.

 

We and, if applicable, each account for which we are acting in the aggregate owned and invested more than $100,000,000 in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with us (or such accounts, if applicable), as of           , 20  , which is a date on or since close of our most recent fiscal year. We and, if applicable, each account for which we are acting, are a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). If we are acting on behalf of an account, we exercise sole investment discretion with respect to such account. We are aware that the transfer of Notes to us, or such exchange, as applicable, is being made in reliance upon the exemption from the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A. Prior to the date of this Certificate we have received such information regarding the Company as we have requested pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) or have determined not to request such information.

 

You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this Certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce this Certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

EXHIBIT F - 1



 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF PURCHASER (FOR TRANSFERS)

 

 

OR OWNER

 

 

(FOR EXCHANGES)]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT F - 2



 

EXHIBIT G

 

Institutional Accredited Investor Certificate

 

,       

 

U.S. Bank National Association
5555 San Felipe Street, 11th Floor

Houston, Texas 77056

EX-TX-WSFH

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

Facsimile: (713) 235-9213

 

Re:                             SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.
Senior Secured Notes due 2020
(the “Notes”)
Issued under the Indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as
as of June 10, 2015 relating to the Notes

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This Certificate relates to:

 

[CHECK A OR B AS APPLICABLE.]

 

¨                                    A. Our proposed purchase of $                   principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture.

 

¨                                    B. Our proposed exchange of $                  principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture for an equal principal amount of Notes to be held by us.

 

We hereby confirm that:

 

1.                                      We are an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (an “Institutional Accredited Investor”).

 

2.                                      Any acquisition of Notes by us will be for our own account or for the account of one or more other Institutional Accredited Investors as to which we exercise sole investment discretion.

 

3.                                      We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that we are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Notes and we and any accounts for which we are acting are able to bear the economic risks of and an entire loss of our or their investment in the Notes.

 

4.                                      We are not acquiring the Notes with a view to any distribution thereof in a transaction that would violate the Securities Act or the securities laws of any State

 

EXHIBIT G - 1



 

of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction; provided that the disposition of our property and the property of any accounts for which we are acting as fiduciary will remain at all times within our and their control.

 

5.                                      We acknowledge that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and that the Notes may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the benefit of U.S. persons except as set forth below.

 

6.                                      The principal amount of Notes to which this Certificate relates is at least equal to $250,000.

 

We agree for the benefit of the Company, on our own behalf and on behalf of each account for which we are acting, that such Notes may be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred only in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States and only (a) to the Company or its subsidiaries, (b) pursuant to a registration statement which has become effective under the Securities Act, (c) to a qualified institutional buyer in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (d) in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) in a principal amount of not less than $250,000, to an Institutional Accredited Investor that, prior to such transfer, delivers to the Trustee a duly completed and signed certificate (in the same form as this Certificate) relating to the restrictions on transfer of the Notes or (f) pursuant to an exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Prior to the registration of any transfer in accordance with (c), (d), (e) or (f) above, we acknowledge that the Company reserves the right to require the delivery of such legal opinions, certifications or other evidence as may reasonably be required in order to determine that the proposed transfer is being made in compliance with the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We acknowledge that no representation is made as to the availability of any Rule 144 exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

We understand that the Trustee will not be required to accept for registration of transfer any Notes acquired by us, except upon presentation of evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee that the foregoing restrictions on transfer have been complied with. We further understand that the Notes acquired by us may be in the form of definitive physical certificates and that any such certificates will bear a legend reflecting the substance of the preceding paragraph. We further agree to provide to any person acquiring any of the Notes from us a notice advising such person that resales of the Notes are restricted as stated herein and that certificates representing the Notes will bear a legend to that effect.

 

We agree to notify you promptly in writing if any of our acknowledgments, representations or agreements herein ceases to be accurate and complete.

 

We represent to you that we have full power to make the foregoing acknowledgments, representations and agreements on our own behalf and on behalf of any account for which we are acting.

 

EXHIBIT G - 2



 

You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this Certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce this Certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF PURCHASER (FOR TRANSFERS) OR OWNER (FOR EXCHANGES)]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT G - 3



 

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Taxpayer ID number:

 

 

 

EXHIBIT G - 4


Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 

dated as of June 10, 2015 between

 

Royal Bank of Canada,
 as Priority Lien Agent,

 

and

 

U.S. Bank National Association,
as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

 

and Acknowledged and Agreed by
SandRidge Energy, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries

 


 

THIS IS THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN (A) THE INDENTURE DATED AS OF JUNE 10, 2015, AMONG SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., CERTAIN OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO AND U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, (B) THE SENIOR REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JUNE 10, 2015 AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED, RESTATED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AMONG SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., THE LENDERS PARTY THERETO FROM TIME TO TIME AND ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, (C) THE OTHER NOTE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH INDENTURE AND (D) THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN SUCH CREDIT AGREEMENT.

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01

Construction; Certain Defined Terms

1

 

ARTICLE II

LIEN PRIORITIES

 

Section 2.01

Relative Priorities

17

Section 2.02

Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc.

18

Section 2.03

No New Liens

18

Section 2.04

Similar Collateral and Agreements

19

Section 2.05

No Duties of Priority Lien Agent

19

Section 2.06

No Duties of Second Lien Collateral Trustee

20

 

ARTICLE III

ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION

 

Section 3.01

Limitation on Enforcement Action

21

Section 3.02

Standstill Periods; Permitted Enforcement Action

22

Section 3.03

Insurance

24

Section 3.04

Notification of Release of Collateral

25

Section 3.05

No Interference; Payment Over

25

Section 3.06

Purchase Option

28

 

ARTICLE IV

OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

Section 4.01

Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens and Third Liens

30

Section 4.02

Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings

31

Section 4.03

Reinstatement

38

Section 4.04

Refinancings; Additional Priority Lien Debt; Additional Second Lien Debt; Initial Third Lien Indebtedness; Additional Third Lien Debt

39

Section 4.05

Amendments to Second Lien Documents and Third Lien Documents

41

Section 4.06

Legends

41

Section 4.07

Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor

42

Section 4.08

Postponement of Subrogation

42

Section 4.09

Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives

43

 

ARTICLE V

GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS

 

Section 5.01

General

43

Section 5.02

Deposit Accounts

44

 

ARTICLE VI

APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS

 

Section 6.01

Application of Proceeds

45

Section 6.02

Determination of Amounts

45

 

i



 

ARTICLE VII

NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE;

CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC.

 

Section 7.01

No Reliance; Information

46

Section 7.02

No Warranties or Liability

46

Section 7.03

Obligations Absolute

47

Section 7.04

Grantors Consent

48

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 8.01

Representations and Warranties of Each Party

48

Section 8.02

Representations and Warranties of Each Representative

48

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.01

Notices

49

Section 9.02

Waivers; Amendment

50

Section 9.03

Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance

50

Section 9.04

Parties in Interest

51

Section 9.05

Survival of Agreement

51

Section 9.06

Counterparts

51

Section 9.07

Severability

51

Section 9.08

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

51

Section 9.09

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

52

Section 9.10

Headings

52

Section 9.11

Conflicts

52

Section 9.12

Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights

52

Section 9.13

Certain Terms Concerning the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee

52

Section 9.14

Certain Terms Concerning the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee

53

Section 9.15

Authorization of Secured Agents

53

Section 9.16

Further Assurances

54

Section 9.17

Relationship of Secured Parties

54

Section 9.18

Third Lien Provisions

54

 

Annex and Exhibits

 

Annex I

 

 

 

Exhibit A

Form of Priority Confirmation Joinder

Exhibit B

Security Documents

 

ii



 

INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), between Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Original Priority Lien Agent”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties referred to herein (in such capacity, and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee”) and acknowledged and agreed by SandRidge Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, “SandRidge”) and certain of its subsidiaries.

 

Reference is made to (a) the Priority Credit Agreement (defined below) and (b) the Second Lien Indenture (defined below) governing the Second Lien Indenture Notes (defined below).

 

From time to time following the date hereof, SandRidge may (i) incur Additional Priority Lien Obligations (defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents (defined below); in connection with any Additional Priority Lien Obligations, SandRidge and the Priority Lien Agent (defined below) shall, concurrently with the incurrence of such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, enter into a Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement (defined below); (ii) incur Additional Notes and Additional Second Lien Obligations (each defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents; in connection with the Second Lien Indenture and any Additional Notes or Additional Second Lien Obligations, SandRidge and certain Grantors (defined below), the Second Lien Trustee (defined below) and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (defined below) have entered into the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement (defined below) and (iii) incur Initial Third Lien Obligations and Additional Third Lien Obligations (each as defined below) to the extent permitted by the Secured Debt Documents (as defined below); in connection with the Initial Third Lien Obligations, SandRidge and certain of its subsidiaries and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee (defined below) shall, concurrently with the incurrence of such Additional Third Lien Obligations, enter into a Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement (defined below).

 

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Priority Lien Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties) and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (for itself and on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties) agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01                             Construction; Certain Defined Terms.  (a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any reference herein to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have

 



 

the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (vi) the term “or” is not exclusive.

 

(b)                                 All terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC (whether capitalized herein or not) and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York UCC.  If a term is defined in Article 9 of the New York UCC and another Article of the UCC, such term shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

 

(c)                                  Unless otherwise set forth herein, all references herein to (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to refer to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its capacity as collateral trustee under the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to refer to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee in its capacity as collateral trustee under the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

(d)                                 As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

Accounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01(a).

 

Additional Notes” has the meaning given to such term in the Second Lien Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility” means any indebtedness for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that neither the Priority Credit Agreement nor any Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall constitute an Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility at any time.

 

Additional Priority Lien Documents” means the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility, the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

Additional Priority Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Priority Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Priority Lien Documents.

 

Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Priority Lien Agent, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Priority Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Priority Lien Debt outstanding at such time; provided that the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (other than the Priority Lien Agent) shall not be deemed Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties.

 

Additional Priority Lien Security Documents” means the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by SandRidge or any other Grantor to the Priority Lien Agent creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Priority Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties.

 

2



 

Additional Second Lien Debt Facility” means any indebtedness for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that neither the Second Lien Indenture nor any Second Lien Substitute Facility shall constitute an Additional Second Lien Debt Facility at any time.

 

Additional Second Lien Documents” means the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

 

Additional Second Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Second Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Second Lien Documents.

 

Additional Second Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Second Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Second Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Second Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Second Lien Debt outstanding at such time; provided that the Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Additional Second Lien Security Documents” means the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by SandRidge or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Second Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Additional Third Lien Debt Facility” means any indebtedness for which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that no Third Lien Substitute Facility shall constitute an Additional Third Lien Debt Facility at any time.

 

Additional Third Lien Documents” means the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents.

 

Additional Third Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Third Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Third Lien Documents.

 

Additional Third Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of any Series of Third Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Third Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Third Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Series of Third Lien Debt outstanding at such time.

 

Additional Third Lien Security Documents” means the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge

 

3



 

agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by SandRidge or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Third Lien Collateral in favor of the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person: (a) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person; (b) any other Person that owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the Voting Stock of such specified Person (or any of such specified Person’s direct or indirect parent’s Voting Stock); or (c) any other Person 10% or more of the Voting Stock of which is beneficially owned or held directly or indirectly by such specified Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “under common control with” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

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

 

Bank Product” means each and any of the following bank services and products provided to SandRidge or any other Grantor by any lender under the Priority Credit Agreement or any Affiliate of any such lender: (a) commercial credit cards; (b) stored value cards; and (c) Treasury Management Arrangements (including controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

Bank Product Obligations” means any and all obligations of SandRidge or any other Grantor, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with any Bank Product.

 

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.

 

Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

 

Borrowing Base” has the meaning set forth in the Second Lien Indenture as in effect on the date hereof, and any component definition used therein has the meaning set forth in the Second Lien Indenture as of the date hereof.

 

Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in Houston, Texas or in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, units, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock, other equity interests whether now outstanding or issued after the date hereof, partnership interests (whether general or limited), limited liability company interests, 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, including any Preferred Stock, and any rights (other than debt securities or other indebtedness convertible into Capital Stock), warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such Capital Stock.

 

4



 

Class” means (a) in the case of Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Priority Lien Debt, taken together, (b) in the case of Second Lien Debt, every Series of Second Lien Debt, taken together and (c) in the case of Third Lien Debt, every Series of Third Lien Debt, taken together.

 

Collateral” means all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or mixed, constituting the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and/or the Third Lien Collateral.

 

Credit Agreement Debt” means the indebtedness under the Priority Credit Agreement (including letters of credit and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) that was permitted to be incurred and secured under the Priority Credit Agreement, any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility, the Second Lien Indenture, any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility, any Second Lien Substitute Facility, any Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and any Third Lien Substitute Facility (or as to which the lenders under the Priority Credit Agreement obtained an Officers’ Certificate at the time of incurrence to the effect that such indebtedness was permitted to be incurred and secured by all applicable Secured Debt Documents) and additional indebtedness under any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.  For purposes of this Agreement, indebtedness under the Priority Credit Agreement is permitted to be incurred under each of the Second Lien Indenture and any Initial Third Lien Document.

 

Credit Agreement Documents” means the Priority Credit Agreement, the Credit Agreement Security Documents, the other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement) and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing, or executed or delivered in connection with, any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

 

Credit Agreement Obligations” means the Credit Agreement Debt and all other Obligations in respect of or in connection with Credit Agreement Debt together with Hedging Obligations and the Bank Product Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations shall only constitute Credit Agreement Obligations to the extent that such Hedging Obligations are secured under the terms of the Credit Agreement Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Credit Agreement Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs, and other charges incurred under the Priority Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, and whether or not allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.  To the extent that any payment with respect to the Credit Agreement Obligations (whether by or on behalf of SandRidge, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of set-off, or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential in any respect, set aside, or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, trustee, receiver, or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied will be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

 

Credit Agreement Secured Parties” means, at any time, (a) the Priority Lien Agent, (b) each lender or issuing bank under the Priority Credit Agreement, (c) each holder, provider or obligee of any Hedging Obligations and Bank Product Obligations that (i) is a lender under the Priority Credit Agreement or an Affiliate (as defined herein or in the Priority Credit Agreement) thereof at the time such Hedging Obligation or Bank Product Obligation is entered into or (ii) is a holder, provider or obligee of Hedging Obligations and Bank Product Obligations designated on Schedule 1.01A or 1.01B, respectively of the Priority Credit Agreement, and, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), is a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Credit Agreement Document, (d) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Credit Agreement Document, (e) each other Person that provides letters of credit, guarantees or other credit support related thereto under any Credit Agreement Document and (f) each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Credit Agreement Obligations (including pursuant to a Priority Substitute Credit Facility), in each case to the extent designated as a secured party (or a party entitled to the benefits of the security) under any Credit Agreement Document outstanding at such time.

 

Credit Agreement Security Documents” means the Priority Credit Agreement (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), each agreement listed in Part A of Exhibit B hereto, and any other

 

5



 

security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by SandRidge or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Agent (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility).

 

Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Priority Credit Agreement), commercial paper facilities or other debt instruments, indentures or agreements providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financings (including through the sale of receivables to the lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from the lenders against such receivables), letters of credit, capital markets financings and/or private placements involving bonds or other debt securities, or other debt obligations, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restructured, supplemented, replaced or refinanced from time to time in whole or in part from time to time, including without limitation any amendment increasing the amount of indebtedness incurred or available to be borrowed thereunder, extending the maturity of any indebtedness incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby or deleting, adding or substituting one or more parties thereto (whether or not such added or substituted parties are banks or other institutional lenders).

 

DIP Financing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(b).

 

DIP Financing Liens” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(b).

 

DIP Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(b).

 

Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations” means the occurrence of all of the following:

 

(a)                                 termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Debt;

 

(b)                                 payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Priority Lien Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);

 

(c)                                  discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (i) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (ii) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations;

 

(d)                                 payment in full in cash of obligations in respect of Hedging Obligations constituting Priority Lien Obligations (and, with respect to any particular agreement regarding Hedging Obligations, termination of such agreement and payment in full in cash of all obligations thereunder or such other arrangements as have been made by the counterparty thereto (and communicated to the Priority Lien Agent) pursuant to the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement); and

 

(e)                                  payment in full in cash of all other Priority Lien Obligations, including without limitation, Bank Product Obligations, that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Priority Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time);

 

provided that, if, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, SandRidge or any Grantor enters into any Priority Lien Document evidencing a Priority Lien Obligation which

 

6



 

incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Secured Debt Documents, then such Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Priority Lien Obligations (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which SandRidge designates such indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt in accordance with this Agreement, the obligations under such Priority Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Priority Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth in this Agreement, any Second Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Second Lien Obligations and at no time Priority Lien Obligations and any Third Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Third Lien Obligations and at no time Priority Lien Obligations or Second Lien Obligations.  For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section 4.04(a) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Discharge of Second Lien Obligations” means the occurrence of all of the following:

 

(a)                                 payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Second Lien Debt; and

 

(b)                                 payment in full in cash of all other Second Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at the time the Second Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time);

 

provided that, if at any time after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, SandRidge or any Grantor enters into any Second Lien Document evidencing a Second Lien Obligation which incurrence is not prohibited by the applicable Secured Debt Documents, then such Discharge of Second Lien Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement with respect to such new Second Lien Obligations (other than with respect to any actions taken as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Second Lien Obligations), and, from and after the date on which SandRidge designates such indebtedness as Second Lien Debt in accordance with this Agreement, the obligations under such Second Lien Document shall automatically and without any further action be treated as Second Lien Obligations for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth in this Agreement, any Third Lien Obligations shall be deemed to have been at all times Third Lien Obligations and at no time Second Lien Obligations.  For the avoidance of doubt, a Replacement as contemplated by Section 4.04(a) shall not be deemed to cause a Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

Disposition” shall mean any sale, lease, exchange, assignment, license, contribution, transfer or other disposition.  “Dispose” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

Excess Priority Lien Obligations” means Obligations constituting Priority Lien Obligations for the principal amount of loans, letters of credit and reimbursement obligations under the Priority Credit Agreement and/or any other Credit Facility pursuant to which Priority Lien Debt has been issued to the extent that such Obligations for principal, letters of credit and reimbursement obligations are in excess of the amount in clause (a) of the definition of “Priority Lien Cap.”

 

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

 

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Grantor” means SandRidge, each other subsidiary of SandRidge that shall have granted any Lien in favor of any of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on any of its assets or properties to secure any of the Secured Obligations.

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, the obligations of such Grantor incurred in the normal course of business and consistent with past practices and not for speculative purposes under:

 

(a)                                 interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect such Grantor or any subsidiary thereof entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to indebtedness incurred;

 

(b)                                 foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect such Grantor or any subsidiary thereof entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to indebtedness incurred;

 

(c)                                  any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of oil, natural gas or other commodities used, produced, processed or sold by that Grantor or any subsidiary thereof at the time; and

 

(d)                                 other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Grantor or any subsidiary thereof against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates.

 

Indenture Second Lien Documents” means the Second Lien Indenture, the Second Lien Indenture Notes, the Indenture Second Lien Security Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing the Indenture Second Lien Obligations or any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Indenture Second Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any obligations of such Grantor owed to any Indenture Second Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Indenture Second Lien Documents.

 

Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Second Lien Trustee, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of the Second Lien Indenture Notes (including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the issuance of any Series of Second Lien Debt under the Second Lien Indenture) who maintain the transfer register for such Second Lien Indenture Notes or such Series of Second Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Indenture Second Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Second Lien Indenture Notes, any holder or lender pursuant to any Indenture Second Lien Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Indenture Second Lien Security Documents” means the Second Lien Indenture (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, each agreement listed in Part B of Exhibit B hereto and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by SandRidge or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

 

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Initial Third Lien Debt Facility” means indebtedness secured by a Third Lien for which the requirements of Section 4.04(c) of this Agreement have been satisfied, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured, increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each applicable Secured Debt Document.

 

Initial Third Lien Documents” means the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and the Initial Third Lien Security Documents.

 

Initial Third Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any obligations of such Grantor owed to any Initial Third Lien Secured Party (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Initial Third Lien Documents.

 

Initial Third Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Third Lien Trustee, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility (including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the issuance of Series of Third Lien Debt under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility) who maintain the transfer register for such Third Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Initial Third Lien Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any Initial Third Lien Obligations, any holder or lender pursuant to any Initial Third Lien Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Initial Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

Initial Third Lien Security Documents” means the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral) and any other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, or grants or transfers for security, now existing or entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by SandRidge or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon the Third Lien Collateral in favor of the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties (including any such agreements, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents or instruments associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

 

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

 

(a)                                 any case commenced by or against SandRidge or any other Grantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of SandRidge or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to SandRidge or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to SandRidge or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(b)                                 any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to SandRidge or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(c)                                  any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of SandRidge or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Lien” means any mortgage or deed of trust, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), privilege, security interest, assignment, deposit, arrangement, hypothecation, claim, preference, priority or other encumbrance for security purposes upon or with respect to any property of any kind (including any conditional sale, capital lease or other title retention agreement, any leases in the nature thereof, and any

 

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agreement to give any security interest), real or personal, movable or immovable, now owned or hereafter acquired.

 

Modified ACNTA” has the meaning set forth in the Second Lien Indenture as in effect on the date hereof, and any component definition used therein has the meaning set forth in the Second Lien Indenture as of the date hereof.

 

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

 

Obligations” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any indebtedness.

 

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President or any Assistant Vice President of such Person.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of SandRidge by any Officers of SandRidge.

 

Original Priority Lien Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Original Second Lien Trustee” means U.S. Bank National Association, in its capacity as trustee under the Second Lien Indenture, and together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

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

 

Priority Confirmation Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

Priority Credit Agreement” means that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, by and among SandRidge, as borrower, the Original Priority Lien Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as such agreement, in whole or in part, in one or more instances, may be amended, restated, renewed, extended, substituted, refinanced, restructured, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including, without limitation, any successive amendments, restatements, renewals, extensions, substitutions, foregoing) and any credit agreement, loan agreement,

 

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note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

 

Priority Lien” means a Lien granted by SandRidge or any other Grantor in favor of the Priority Lien Agent, at any time, upon any Property of SandRidge or such Grantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Priority Substitute Credit Facility).

 

Priority Lien Agent” means (a) the Original Priority Lien Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity and (b) the Priority Lien Agent as collateral trustee or agent in respect of any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility pursuant to the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Cap” means, as of any date, (a) the aggregate principal amount of all indebtedness outstanding at any time under any Priority Lien Debt (with outstanding letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the stated amount thereof) not in excess of the greatest of (i) $950,000,000, (ii) the Borrowing Base in effect at the time of incurrence of such indebtedness if incurred under the Priority Credit Agreement, and (iii) 30.0% of Modified ACNTA at the time of incurrence of such indebtedness, plus (b) the amount of all Hedging Obligations, to the extent such Hedging Obligations are secured by the Priority Liens, plus (c) the amount of all Bank Product Obligations, plus (d) the amount of accrued and unpaid interest (excluding any interest paid-in-kind) and outstanding fees, to the extent such Obligations are secured by the Priority Liens.

 

Priority Lien Collateral” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement or any other Priority Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Priority Lien Obligation.

 

Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement” means from and after the date of execution and delivery of any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility and/or a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, a collateral trust agreement entered into among SandRidge, the other Grantors, the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Representatives, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Priority Lien Document.

 

Priority Lien Debt” means the Credit Agreement Debt and all additional indebtedness incurred under any Additional Priority Lien Documents and with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) have been satisfied, and all indebtedness incurred under any Priority Substitute Credit Facility.

 

Priority Lien Documents” means the Credit Agreement Documents and the Additional Priority Lien Documents.

 

Priority Lien Obligations” means the Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Priority Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs and other charges incurred under the Priority Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Priority Lien Representative” means (a) in the case of the Priority Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent, and (b) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who (i) is appointed as a Priority Lien

 

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Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (ii) has executed the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement or become party to the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Credit Agreement Secured Parties and the Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties at such time.

 

Priority Lien Security Documents” means the Credit Agreement Security Documents and the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

Priority Substitute Credit Facility” means any Credit Facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that Replaces the Priority Credit Agreement then in existence.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall be required to be a revolving or asset-based loan facility and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any Priority Lien securing such Priority Substitute Credit Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priorities as set forth herein as of the date hereof).

 

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

 

Recovery” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.03.

 

Replaces” means, (a) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Priority Credit Agreement or the Priority Lien Obligations or any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, that such agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the Priority Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Obligations or such Priority Substitute Credit Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Priority Credit Agreement, Priority Lien Obligations or such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, in part, (b) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or any Second Lien Substitute Facility, that such indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or such Second Lien Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Second Lien Documents, the Second Lien Obligations or such Second Lien Substitute Facility, in part and (c) in respect of any agreement with reference to the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations or any Third Lien Substitute Facility, that such indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations or such Third Lien Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with Section 4.04(a)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the Third Lien Documents, the Third Lien Obligations, or such Third Lien Substitute Facility, in part.  “Replace,” “Replaced” and “Replacement” shall have correlative meanings.

 

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

 

Second Lien” means a Lien granted by a Second Lien Document to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Collateral by any Grantor to secure Second Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Second Lien Substitute Facility).

 

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Second Lien Collateral” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in any Second Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Second Lien Obligations.

 

Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, among SandRidge, the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, the Second Lien Trustee, the other Second Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Second Lien Document.

 

Second Lien Collateral Trustee” means the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Second Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Second Lien Debt” means the indebtedness under the Second Lien Indenture Notes issued on the date hereof and guarantees thereof and all additional indebtedness incurred under any Additional Second Lien Documents and all additional indebtedness in respect of Additional Notes and guarantees thereof, in each case, that was permitted to be incurred and secured in accordance with the Secured Debt Documents (or as to which the lenders or other financing sources under the applicable Second Lien Documents obtained an Officers’ Certificate at the time of incurrence to the effect that such indebtedness was permitted to be incurred and secured by all applicable Secured Debt Documents) and with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(b) have been (or are deemed) satisfied, and all indebtedness incurred under any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Second Lien Documents” means the Indenture Second Lien Documents and the Additional Second Lien Documents.

 

Second Lien Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of June 10, 2015, among SandRidge, the Grantors party thereto from time to time and the Second Lien Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof (including any supplements executed in connection with the issuance of any Series of Second Lien Debt under the Second Lien Indenture) unless restricted by the terms of this Agreement, and any credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Second Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Second Lien Indenture Notes” means (i) the 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 issued under the Second Lien Indenture on the date hereof, and (ii) any Additional Notes for which the requirements of Section 3.8 of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement have been satisfied.

 

Second Lien Obligations” means Second Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Second Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs and other charges incurred under the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and whether or not allowable in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Second Lien Purchasers” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(a).

 

Second Lien Representative” means (a) in the case of the Second Lien Indenture Notes, the Second Lien Trustee, and (b) in the case of any other Series of Second Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or

 

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representative of the holders of such Series of Second Lien Debt who (i) is appointed as a Second Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Second Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (ii) has become party to the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Second Lien Secured Parties” means the Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties and the Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

Second Lien Security Documents” means the Indenture Second Lien Security Documents and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents.

 

Second Lien Standstill Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(a)(i).

 

Second Lien Substitute Facility” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, the proceeds of which are used to, among other things, Replace the Second Lien Indenture and/or any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility then in existence.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be required to be evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such Second Lien Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof) as the other Liens securing the Second Lien Obligations are subject to under this Agreement.

 

Second Lien Trustee” means the Original Second Lien Trustee, and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of a Second Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Secured Debt Documents” means the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents.

 

Secured Debt Representative” means the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee.

 

Secured Obligations” means the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations.

 

Secured Parties” means the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

Security Documents” means the Priority Lien Security Documents, the Second Lien Security Documents and the Third Lien Security Documents.

 

Series of Priority Lien Debt” means, severally, the Priority Credit Agreement and each other issue or series of Priority Lien Debt (including any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

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Series of Second Lien Debt” means, severally, the Second Lien Indenture Notes and each other issue or series of Second Lien Debt (including any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Secured Debt” means each Series of Priority Lien Debt, each Series of Second Lien Debt and each Series of Third Lien Debt.

 

Series of Third Lien Debt” means, severally, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and each other issue or series of Third Lien Debt (including any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility) for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

subsidiary” of a Person means:

 

(a)                                 any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting power of the Voting Stock of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more other subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more other subsidiaries thereof, or

 

(b)                                 any limited partnership of which such Person or any subsidiary of such Person is a general partner, or

 

(c)                                  any other Person in which such Person, or one or more other subsidiaries of such Person, or such Person and one or more other subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, has more than 50% of the outstanding Capital Stock or has the power, by contract or otherwise, to direct or cause the direction of the policies, management and affairs thereof.

 

Standstill Period” means the Second Lien Standstill Period, the Third Lien First Standstill Period and the Third Lien Second Standstill Period, as applicable.

 

Third Lien” means a Lien granted by a Third Lien Document to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any Collateral by any Grantor to secure Third Lien Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral under the security documents associated with any Third Lien Substitute Facility).

 

Third Lien Collateral” shall mean all “Collateral”, as defined in any Third Lien Document, and any other assets of any Grantor now or at any time hereafter subject to Liens which secure, but only to the extent securing, any Third Lien Obligations.

 

Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement” means from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, a collateral trust agreement entered into among SandRidge, the other Grantors, the Third Lien Trustee, the other Third Lien Representatives and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Third Lien Document.

 

Third Lien Collateral Trustee” means from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Third Lien Debt” means indebtedness under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and indebtedness incurred under any Additional Third Lien Documents and with respect to which the requirements of Section 4.04(c) have been satisfied, and all indebtedness incurred under any Third Lien Substitute Facility.

 

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Third Lien Documents” means the Initial Third Lien Documents, the Additional Third Lien Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments and agreements governing or evidencing any Third Lien Substitute Facility.

 

Third Lien First Standstill Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(a)(ii).

 

Third Lien Obligations” means Third Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the term “Third Lien Obligations” will include accrued interest, fees, costs and other charges incurred under the Third Lien Documents, whether incurred before or after commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

Third Lien Representative” means (a) in the case of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, the Third Lien Trustee and (b) in the case of any other Series of Third Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Third Lien Debt who (i) is appointed as a Third Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the security documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Third Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (ii) has become party to the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Third Lien Second Standstill Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(b).

 

Third Lien Secured Parties” means the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties and the Additional Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

Third Lien Security Documents” means the Initial Third Lien Security Documents and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents.

 

Third Lien Substitute Facility” means any facility with respect to which the requirements contained in Section 4.04(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents and the Second Lien Documents, the proceeds of which are used to, among other things, Replace any Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and/or Additional Third Lien Debt Facility then in existence.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Third Lien Substitute Facility shall be required to be evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such Third Lien Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priority as set forth herein as of the date hereof) as the other Liens securing the Third Lien Obligations are subject to under this Agreement.

 

Third Lien Trustee” means, from and after the date of execution and delivery of the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Treasury Management Arrangement” means any agreement or other arrangement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overdraft, credit or debit card, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

 

Voting Stock” of a Person means Capital Stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a

 

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majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

 

ARTICLE II
LIEN PRIORITIES

 

Section 2.01                             Relative Priorities.  (a) The grant of the Priority Liens pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, the grant of the Second Liens pursuant to the Second Lien Documents and the grant of the Third Liens pursuant to the Third Lien Documents create three separate and distinct Liens on the Collateral.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents, the Third Lien Documents or any other agreement or instrument or operation of law to the contrary, or any other circumstance whatsoever and irrespective of (i) how a Lien was acquired (whether by grant, possession, statute, operation of law, subrogation, or otherwise), (ii) the time, manner, or order of the grant, attachment or perfection of a Lien, (iii) any conflicting provision of the New York UCC or other applicable law, (iv) any defect in, or non-perfection, setting aside, or avoidance of, a Lien or a Priority Lien Document, a Second Lien Document or a Third Lien Document, (v) the modification of a Priority Lien Obligation, a Second Lien Obligation or a Third Lien Obligation, or (vi) the subordination of a Lien on Collateral securing a Priority Lien Obligation to a Lien securing another obligation of SandRidge or other Person that is permitted under the Priority Lien Documents as in effect on the date hereof or securing a DIP Financing, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby agrees that (i) any Priority Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Priority Lien Secured Party shall be senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to (A) any and all Second Liens on any Collateral and (B) any and all Third Liens on any Collateral, (ii) any Second Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Second Lien Secured Party shall be (A) junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Priority Liens on any Collateral, in any case, subject to the Priority Lien Cap as provided herein and (B) senior in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to any and all Third Liens on any Collateral and (iii) any Third Lien on any Collateral now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of any Third Lien Secured Party shall be junior and subordinate in right, priority, operation, effect and all other respects to (A) any and all Priority Liens on any Collateral and (B) any and all Second Liens on any Collateral.

 

(c)                                  It is acknowledged that, subject to the Priority Lien Cap (as provided herein), (i) the aggregate amount of the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and (iii) (A) the Priority Lien Documents may be replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise amended or modified from time to time and (B) the Priority Lien Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed, replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise amended or modified from time to time, in the case of the foregoing (A) and (B) all without affecting the subordination of the Second Liens or Third Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement defining the relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties.  The lien priorities provided for herein shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, increase, renewal, restatement or Replacement of either the Priority Lien Obligations (or any part thereof), the Second Lien Obligations (or any part thereof) or the Third Lien Obligations (or any part thereof), by the release of any Collateral or of any guarantees for

 

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any Priority Lien Obligations or by any action that any Secured Debt Representative or Secured Party may take or fail to take in respect of any Collateral.

 

Section 2.02                             Prohibition on Marshalling, Etc.  (a) Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will not assert any marshalling, appraisal, valuation, or other similar right that may otherwise be available to a junior secured creditor.

 

(b)                                 Until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee will not assert any marshalling, appraisal, valuation, or other similar right that may otherwise be available to a junior secured creditor.

 

Section 2.03                             No New Liens.  The parties hereto agree that, (a) so long as the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has not occurred, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its subsidiaries to, (i) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Third Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure (A) the Priority Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Third Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, (ii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Second Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure (A) the Priority Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Priority Lien Agent or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien or (iii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Priority Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure (A) the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens and (B) the Third Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Priority Lien Agent from taking the Lien and (b) after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, none of the Grantors shall, nor shall any Grantor permit any of its subsidiaries to, (i) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Second Lien Obligation, or take any action to perfect any additional Liens, unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of such Grantor to secure the Third Lien Obligations; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien or (ii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset of a Grantor to secure any Third Lien Obligations unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants (or offers to grant), a Lien on such asset of a Grantor to secure the Second Lien Obligations and has taken all actions required to perfect such Liens; provided, however, the refusal or inability of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to accept such Lien will not prevent the Third Lien Collateral Trustee from taking the Lien, with each such Lien as described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.03 to be subject to the provisions of this Agreement.  To the extent that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence are not complied with for any reason, without limiting any other right or remedy available to the Priority Lien Agent, the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the other Second Lien Secured Parties, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, agrees that any amounts received by or distributed to any Second Lien Secured Party or

 

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Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, pursuant to or as a result of any Lien granted in contravention of this Section 2.03 shall be subject to Section 3.05(b).

 

Section 2.04                             Similar Collateral and Agreements.  The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that it is their intention that the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral be identical.  In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree (a) to cooperate in good faith in order to determine, upon any reasonable request by the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, the specific assets included in the Priority Lien Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral and the Third Lien Collateral, the steps taken to perfect the Priority Liens, the Second Liens and the Third Liens thereon and the identity of the respective parties obligated under the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations, respectively, (b) that the Second Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Priority Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such modifications to such Second Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Priority Lien Security Documents, (iii) provisions in the Second Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Second Lien Secured Parties, and (iv) such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing publicly traded debt securities, (c) that the Third Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Priority Lien Security Documents and Second Lien Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral other than (i) with respect to the priority nature of the Liens created thereunder in such Collateral, (ii) such modifications to such Third Lien Security Documents which are less restrictive than the corresponding Priority Lien Security Documents and Second Lien Security Documents, (iii) provisions in the Third Lien Security Documents which are solely applicable to the rights and duties of the Third Lien Secured Parties, and (iv) such deletions or modifications of representations, warranties and covenants as are customary with respect to security documents establishing Liens securing publicly traded debt securities, (d) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Second Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations and (e) that at no time shall there be any Grantor that is an obligor in respect of the Third Lien Obligations that is not also an obligor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations.

 

Section 2.05                             No Duties of Priority Lien Agent.  Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to any such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, other than to transfer to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any remaining Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party.  In furtherance of the foregoing, each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties following the expiration of any applicable Standstill Period), the Priority Lien Agent shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Priority Lien Documents, without regard to (a) any Second Lien or any rights to which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Second Lien or (b) any Third Lien or any rights to which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party would

 

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otherwise be entitled as a result of such Third Lien.  Without limiting the foregoing, each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party agrees that neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties, as applicable, from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation.  Each of the Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties waives any claim such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or the Priority Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Priority Lien Obligations.

 

Section 2.06                             No Duties of Second Lien Collateral Trustee.  The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, acknowledges and agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have any duties or other obligations to such Third Lien Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, other than to transfer to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee any remaining Collateral and any proceeds of the sale or other Disposition of any such Collateral remaining in its possession following the associated Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (provided such discharge of Second Lien Obligations occurs after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations), in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party.  In furtherance of the foregoing, each Third Lien Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall be entitled, for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties, to sell, transfer or otherwise Dispose of or deal with such Collateral, as provided herein and in the Second Lien Documents, without regard to any Third Lien or any rights to which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party would otherwise be entitled as a result of such Third Lien.  Without limiting the foregoing, each Third Lien Secured Party agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation first to marshal or realize upon any type of Collateral, or to sell, Dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral, in any manner that would maximize the return to the Third Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually received by the Third Lien Secured Parties from such realization, sale, Disposition or liquidation.  Following the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may, subject to any other agreements binding on the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or such other Third Lien Secured Parties, assert their rights under the New York UCC or otherwise to any proceeds remaining following a sale, Disposition or other liquidation of Collateral by, or on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties.  Each of the Third Lien Secured Parties waives any claim such Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any of the Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or any part of the Second Lien Obligations from

 

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any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Second Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Second Lien Obligations.

 

ARTICLE III
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION

 

Section 3.01                             Limitation on Enforcement Action.  (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Section 3.05(b) and Section 4.07, none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Collateral under any Second Lien Security Document or Third Lien Security Document, as applicable, applicable law or otherwise (including but not limited to any right of setoff), it being agreed that only the Priority Lien Agent, acting in accordance with the applicable Priority Lien Documents, shall have the exclusive right (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party.  In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in their sole discretion and regardless of whether such exercise and enforcement is adverse to the interest of any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party.  Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Priority Lien Agent will have the exclusive right to deal with that portion of the Collateral consisting of deposit accounts and securities accounts (collectively “Accounts”), including exercising rights under control agreements with respect to such Accounts.  Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Second Lien Security Document, any other Second Lien Document, any Third Lien Security Document or any other Third Lien Document, as applicable, shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Priority Lien Agent or the other Priority Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 3.05, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, may, but will have no obligation to, take all such actions (not adverse to the Priority Liens or the rights of the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Second Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Second Liens in the Collateral or to perfect or continue the perfection of the Third Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Third Liens in the Collateral, as applicable.  Nothing herein shall limit the right or ability of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any Third Lien Secured Parties to (i) purchase (by credit bid or otherwise) all or any portion of the Collateral in connection with any enforcement of remedies by the Priority Lien Agent to the extent that, and so long as, the Priority Lien Secured Parties receive payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations after giving effect thereto or (ii) file a proof of claim with respect to the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable.

 

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(b)                                 Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that, subject to Section 3.05(b) and Section 4.07, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Collateral under any Third Lien Security Document, applicable law or otherwise (including but not limited to any right of setoff), it being agreed that only the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, acting in accordance with the applicable Second Lien Documents, shall have the exclusive right (and whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced), to take any such actions or exercise any such remedies, in each case, without any consultation with or the consent of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party.  In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Second Lien Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in their sole discretion and regardless of whether such exercise and enforcement is adverse to the interest of any Third Lien Secured Party.  Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to Dispose of Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with any such Disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will have the exclusive right to deal with the Accounts, including exercising rights under control agreements with respect to such Accounts.  The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Third Lien Security Document or any other Third Lien Document shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the other Second Lien Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral as set forth in this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 3.05, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee may, but will have no obligation to, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, take all such actions (not adverse to the Second Liens or the rights of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Second Lien Secured Parties) it deems necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of the Third Liens in the Collateral or to create, preserve or protect (but not enforce) the Third Liens in the Collateral.

 

Section 3.02                             Standstill Periods; Permitted Enforcement Action.  (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and notwithstanding the foregoing Section 3.01, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding:

 

(i)                                     after a period of 180 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Priority Lien Agent is not entitled, on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent written notice of the acceleration of any Second Lien Debt (the “Second Lien Standstill Period”), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided, however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Second Lien Standstill Period or anything in the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement to the contrary, in no event may the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Priority Lien Agent on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently

 

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pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Second Lien Representatives by the Priority Lien Agent); provided, further, that, at any time after the expiration of the Second Lien Standstill Period, if neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or other prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof) the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, then for so long as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, none of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Third Lien Secured Party or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding; and

 

(ii)                                  after a period of 270 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Priority Lien Agent is not entitled, on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee written notice of the acceleration of any Third Lien Debt (the “Third Lien First Standstill Period”), the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided, however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Third Lien First Standstill Period or anything in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement to the contrary, in no event may the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if (I) the Priority Lien Agent on behalf of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (II) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay or prohibition in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Third Lien Representatives by the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable); provided, further, that, at any time after the expiration of the Third Lien First Standstill Period, if none of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, then for so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, none of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Priority Lien Agent, any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding.

 

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(b)                                 Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations and notwithstanding the foregoing Section 3.01, both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, after a period of 180 days has elapsed (which period will be tolled during any period in which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee is not entitled, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, to enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral as a result of (A) any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) since the date on which the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has delivered to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee written notice of the acceleration of any Third Lien Debt (the “Third Lien Second Standstill Period”), the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties may enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral; provided, however that notwithstanding the expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period or anything in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement to the contrary, in no event may the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding, if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced, and shall be diligently pursuing (or shall have sought or requested relief from, or modification of, the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to enable the commencement and pursuit thereof), the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral or any such action or proceeding (prompt written notice thereof to be given to the Third Lien Representatives by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee); provided, further, that, at any time after the expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period, if neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have commenced the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any material portion of the Collateral or any such action or proceeding, then for so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee is diligently pursuing such rights or remedies, neither any Second Lien Secured Party nor the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take any action of a similar nature with respect to such Collateral, or commence, join with any Person at any time in commencing, or petition for or vote in favor of any resolution for, any such action or proceeding.

 

Section 3.03                             Insurance.  (a) Unless and until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of any applicable Standstill Period), the Priority Lien Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents, to adjust and settle claims in respect of Collateral under any insurance policy in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding (or any deed in lieu of condemnation) affecting the Collateral.  Unless and until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents, all proceeds of any such policy and any such award (or any payments with respect to a deed in lieu of condemnation) in respect to the Collateral shall be paid to the Priority Lien Agent pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents (including for purposes of cash collateralization of commitments, letters of credit and Hedging Obligations).  If the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party shall, at any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, receive any proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award or payment in contravention of the foregoing, it shall pay such proceeds over to the Priority Lien Agent.  In addition, if by virtue of being named as an additional insured or loss payee of any insurance policy of any Grantor covering any of the Collateral, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall have the right to adjust or settle any claim under any such insurance policy, then unless and until the Discharge of

 

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Priority Lien Obligations has occurred, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any such Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and any such Third Lien Secured Party shall follow the instructions of the Priority Lien Agent, or of the Grantors under the Priority Lien Documents to the extent the Priority Lien Documents grant such Grantors the right to adjust or settle such claims, with respect to such adjustment or settlement (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of any applicable Standstill Period).

 

(b)                                 Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period), the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Second Lien Documents, to adjust and settle claims in respect of Collateral under any insurance policy in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding (or any deed in lieu of condemnation) affecting the Collateral.  Unless and until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, and subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Second Lien Documents, all proceeds of any such policy and any such award (or any payments with respect to a deed in lieu of condemnation) in respect to the Collateral shall be paid to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Second Lien Documents and, after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to the extent required under the Third Lien Documents and then, to the extent no Third Lien Obligations are outstanding, to the owner of the subject property, to such other Person as may be entitled thereto or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.  If the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party shall, at any time following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, receive any proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award or payment in contravention of the foregoing, it shall pay such proceeds over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee.  In addition, if by virtue of being named as an additional insured or loss payee of any insurance policy of any Grantor covering any of the Collateral, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall have the right to adjust or settle any claim under any such insurance policy, then unless and until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and any such Third Lien Secured Party shall follow the instructions of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, or of the Grantors under the Second Lien Documents to the extent the Second Lien Documents grant such Grantors the right to adjust or settle such claims, with respect to such adjustment or settlement (subject to the terms of Section 3.02, including the rights of the Third Lien Secured Parties following expiration of the Third Lien Second Standstill Period).

 

Section 3.04                             Notification of Release of Collateral.  Each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall give the other Secured Debt Representatives prompt written notice of the Disposition by it of, and Release by it of the Lien on, any Collateral.  Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail the subject Collateral, the parties involved in such Disposition or Release, the place, time, manner and method thereof, and the consideration, if any, received therefor; provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not in and of itself in any way impair the effectiveness of any such Disposition or Release.

 

Section 3.05                             No Interference; Payment Over.

 

(a)                                 No Interference.  (i) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that each Second Lien Secured Party (i) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Second Lien pari passu with, or to give such Second Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Priority Lien with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, (ii) will not challenge or question in any proceeding the

 

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validity or enforceability of any Priority Lien Obligations or Priority Lien Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Priority Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement, (iii) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Party or the Priority Lien Agent acting on their behalf, (iv) shall have no right to (A) direct the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (B) consent to the exercise by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (v) will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Priority Lien Agent or other Priority Lien Secured Party with respect to any Priority Lien Collateral, (vi) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such Collateral, (vii) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (viii) will not object to forbearance by the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Party, and (ix) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations will not assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law; and

 

(ii)                                  The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that each Third Lien Secured Party (i) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to make any Third Lien pari passu with, or to give such Third Lien Secured Party any preference or priority relative to, any Priority Lien or Second Lien with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, (ii) will not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity or enforceability of any Priority Lien Obligations, Priority Lien Document, Second Lien Obligations or Second Lien Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any Priority Lien or Second Lien, or the validity or enforceability of the priorities, rights or duties established by the provisions of this Agreement, (iii) will not take or cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder or delay, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, any sale, transfer or other Disposition of the Collateral by any Priority Lien Secured Party or the Priority Lien Agent acting on their behalf or by any Second Lien Secured Party or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee acting on their behalf, (iv) shall have no right to (A) direct the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral or (B) consent to the exercise by the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party of any right, remedy or power with respect to any Collateral, (v) will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect to, and none of the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party with respect to any Priority Lien Collateral or Second Lien Collateral, as applicable, (vi) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and Discharge of Second Lien Obligations will not seek, and hereby waives any right, to have any Collateral or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other Disposition of such

 

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Collateral, (vii) will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, (viii) will not object to forbearance by the Priority Lien Agent, any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party and (ix) prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and Discharge of Second Lien Obligations will not assert, and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or claim the benefit of any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may be available under applicable law with respect to the Collateral or any similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law.

 

(b)                                 Payment Over.  (i) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that if any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall obtain possession of any Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any Collateral, pursuant to the exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral under any Second Lien Security Document or Third Lien Security Document, as applicable, or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, to the extent permitted hereunder, at any time prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations secured, or intended to be secured, by such Collateral, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Priority Lien Agent as promptly as practicable.  Furthermore, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Priority Lien Agent upon receipt of such Collateral, proceeds or payment by any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, and if directed by the Priority Lien Agent within five (5) days after receipt by the Priority Lien Agent of such written notice, shall deliver such Collateral, proceeds or payment to the Priority Lien Agent in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.  The Priority Lien Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable.  Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice that all or part of any payment with respect to any Priority Lien Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, it will promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its direct control in respect of any such Priority Lien Collateral and shall promptly turn any such Collateral then held by it over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.  All Second Liens and Third Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement.  Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this Section 3.05(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Priority Lien Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, is otherwise permitted by the Priority Lien Documents.

 

(ii)                                  The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that if any Third Lien Secured Party shall obtain possession of any Collateral or shall realize any proceeds or payment in respect of any Collateral, pursuant to the exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral under any Third Lien Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, to the extent permitted hereunder, at any time following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations secured, or intended to be secured, by

 

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such Collateral, then it shall hold such Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment, as the case may be, to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee as promptly as practicable.  Furthermore, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall, at the Grantors’ expense, promptly send written notice to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee upon receipt of such Collateral, proceeds or payment by any Third Lien Secured Party, and if directed by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee within five (5) days after receipt by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee of such written notice, shall deliver such Collateral, proceeds or payment to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.  The Second Lien Collateral Trustee is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party.  The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, it obtains written notice that all or part of any payment with respect to any Second Lien Obligations previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever, it will promptly pay over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its direct control in respect of any such Second Lien Collateral and shall promptly turn any such Collateral then held by it over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement will be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.  All Third Liens will remain attached to and enforceable against all proceeds so held or remitted, subject to the priorities set forth in this Agreement.  Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this Section 3.05(b) shall not apply to any proceeds of Collateral realized in a transaction not prohibited by the Second Lien Documents and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party is otherwise permitted by the Second Lien Documents.

 

Section 3.06                             Purchase Option.

 

(a)                                 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, on or at any time after (i) the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or (ii) the acceleration of the Priority Lien Obligations, holders of the Second Lien Debt and each of their respective designated Affiliates (the “Second Lien Purchasers”) will have the right, at their sole option and election (but will not be obligated), at any time upon prior written notice to the Priority Lien Agent, to purchase from the Priority Lien Secured Parties (x) all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations and (y) any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing that are outstanding on the date of such purchase.  Promptly following the receipt of such notice, the Priority Lien Agent will deliver to the Second Lien Trustee a statement of the amount of Priority Lien Debt, other Priority Lien Obligations (other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations) and DIP Financing provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, if any, then outstanding and the amount of the cash collateral requested by the Priority Lien Agent to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.06(b)(ii) below.  The right to purchase provided for in this Section 3.06 will expire unless, within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Second Lien Trustee of such notice from the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Trustee delivers to the Priority Lien Agent an irrevocable commitment of the Second Lien Purchasers to purchase (x) all (but not less than all) of the Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations and (y) any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing and to otherwise complete such purchase on the terms set forth under this Section 3.06.

 

(b)                                 On the date specified by the Second Lien Trustee (on behalf of the Second Lien Purchasers) in such irrevocable commitment (which shall not be less than five Business Days nor more than 20 Business Days, after the receipt by the Priority Lien Agent of such irrevocable commitment), the

 

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Priority Lien Secured Parties shall sell to the Second Lien Purchasers (x) all (but not less than all) Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations and (y) any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing that are outstanding on the date of such sale, subject to any required approval of any Governmental Authority then in effect, if any, and only if on the date of such sale, the Priority Lien Agent receives the following:

 

(i)                                     payment, as the purchase price for all Priority Lien Obligations sold in such sale, of an amount equal to the full amount of (x) all Priority Lien Obligations (other than outstanding letters of credit as referred to in clause (ii) below) other than any Priority Lien Obligations constituting Excess Priority Lien Obligations and (y) loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing then outstanding (including principal, interest, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, but excluding contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim or demand for payment has been made at or prior to such time); provided that in the case of Hedging Obligations that constitute Priority Lien Obligations the Second Lien Purchasers shall cause the applicable agreements governing such Hedging Obligations to be assigned and novated or, if such agreements have been terminated, such purchase price shall include an amount equal to the sum of any unpaid amounts then due in respect of such Hedging Obligations, calculated using the market quotation method and after giving effect to any netting arrangements;

 

(ii)                                  a cash collateral deposit in such amount as the Priority Lien Agent determines is reasonably necessary to secure the payment of any outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Obligations that may become due and payable after such sale (but not in any event in an amount greater than one hundred five percent (105%) of the amount then reasonably estimated by the Priority Lien Agent to be the aggregate outstanding amount of such letters of credit at such time), which cash collateral shall be (A) held by the Priority Lien Agent as security solely to reimburse the issuers of such letters of credit that become due and payable after such sale and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with such letters of credit and (B) returned to the Second Lien Trustee (except as may otherwise be required by applicable law or any order of any court or other Governmental Authority) promptly after the expiration or termination from time to time of all payment contingencies affecting such letters of credit; and

 

(iii)                               any agreements, documents or instruments which the Priority Lien Agent may reasonably request pursuant to which the Second Lien Trustee and the Second Lien Purchasers in such sale expressly assume and adopt all of the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the Priority Lien Secured Parties under the Priority Lien Documents and in connection with loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing on and after the date of the purchase and sale and the Second Lien Trustee (or any other representative appointed by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Indenture Notes then outstanding) becomes a successor agent thereunder.

 

(c)                                  Such purchase of the Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) and any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing shall be made on a pro rata basis among the Second Lien Purchasers giving notice to the Priority Lien Agent of their interest to exercise the purchase option hereunder according to each such Second Lien Purchaser’s portion of the Second Lien Debt outstanding on the date of purchase or such portion as such Second Lien Purchasers may otherwise agree among themselves.  Such purchase price and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in federal funds to such bank account of the Priority Lien Agent as the Priority Lien Agent may designate in writing to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for such purpose.  Interest shall be calculated to but excluding the Business Day on which such sale occurs if the amounts so paid by the Second Lien Purchasers to the bank account designated by the Priority Lien

 

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Agent are received in such bank account prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, and interest shall be calculated to and including such Business Day if the amounts so paid by the Second Lien Purchasers to the bank account designated by the Priority Lien Agent are received in such bank account later than 12:00 noon, New York City time.

 

(d)                                 Such sale shall be expressly made without representation or warranty of any kind by the Priority Lien Secured Parties as to the Priority Lien Obligations, the Collateral or otherwise and without recourse to any Priority Lien Secured Party, except that the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall represent and warrant severally as to the Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) and any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing then owing to it: (i) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party owns such Priority Lien Obligations (including unfunded commitments) and any loans provided by any of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with a DIP Financing; and (ii) that such applicable Priority Lien Secured Party has the necessary corporate or other governing authority to assign such interests.

 

(e)                                  After such sale becomes effective, the outstanding letters of credit will remain enforceable against the issuers thereof and will remain secured by the Priority Liens upon the Collateral in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, and the issuers of letters of credit will remain entitled to the benefit of the Priority Liens upon the Collateral and sharing rights in the proceeds thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Priority Lien Documents as in effect at the time of such sale, as fully as if the sale of the Priority Lien Debt had not been made, but only the Person or successor agent to whom the Priority Liens are transferred in such sale will have the right to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce the Priority Liens and only the Second Lien Purchasers in the sale will have the right to direct such Person or successor as to matters relating to the foreclosure or other enforcement of the Priority Liens.

 

ARTICLE IV
OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

Section 4.01                             Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Second Liens and Third Liens.  (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, in the event the Priority Lien Secured Parties release their Lien on any Collateral, each of the Second Lien and Third Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if (i) (A) after giving effect to such release and the filing of any additional mortgages or supplements or amendments to existing mortgages on or prior to the consummation of such release, the Collateral securing the Second Lien Obligations satisfies the minimum mortgage requirement set forth in the Second Lien Indenture (provided that any release in connection with a sale, transfer or other disposition of Collateral in a transaction or circumstance that does not violate Section 4.14 of the Second Lien Indenture (or any similar provision of any other Second Lien Document) shall not be subject to the conditions of this clause (i)(A)) and (B) after giving effect to such release and the filing of any additional Third Lien Security Documents or supplements or amendments to existing Third Lien Security Documents on or prior to the consummation of such release, the Collateral securing the Third Lien Obligations shall satisfy any minimum collateral requirements in the Third Lien Documents (provided that any release in connection with a sale, transfer or other disposition of Collateral in a transaction or circumstance that complies with the applicable provisions of the Third Lien Documents shall not be subject to the conditions of this clause (i)(B)), (ii) such release is effected in connection with the Priority Lien Collateral Agent’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Collateral, or (iii) such release is effected in connection with a sale or other Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Priority Lien Secured Parties

 

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shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Collateral; provided that, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Second Liens and Third Liens on such Collateral shall attach to (and shall remain subject and subordinate to all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations, subject to, in the case of the Second Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Cap and, in the case of the Third Liens, shall remain subject and subordinate to (I) all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations and (II) all Second Liens securing Second Lien Obligations) any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral not paid to the Priority Lien Secured Parties or that remain after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations.

 

(b)                                 Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, in the event the Second Lien Secured Parties release their Lien on any Collateral, the Third Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further action if (i) after giving effect to such release and the filing of any additional Third Lien Security Documents or supplements or amendments to existing Third Lien Security Documents on or prior to the consummation of such release, the Collateral securing the Third Lien Obligations shall satisfy any minimum collateral requirements in the Third Lien Documents (provided that any release in connection with a sale, transfer or other disposition of Collateral in a transaction or circumstance that complies with the applicable provisions of the Third Lien Documents shall not be subject to the conditions of this clause (i)), (ii) such release is effected in connection with the Second Lien Collateral Trustee’s foreclosure upon, or other exercise of rights or remedies with respect to, such Collateral, or (iii) such release is effected in connection with a sale or other Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Second Lien Secured Parties shall have consented to such sale or Disposition of such Collateral; provided that, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Third Liens on such Collateral shall attach to (and shall remain subject and subordinate to all Second Liens securing Second Lien Obligations) any proceeds of a sale, transfer or other Disposition of Collateral not paid to the Second Lien Secured Parties or that remain after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

(c)                                  Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) all such releases and other instruments as shall reasonably be requested by the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, to evidence and confirm any release of Collateral provided for in this Section 4.01.

 

Section 4.02                             Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings.  (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement is a “subordination agreement” under Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against SandRidge or any subsidiary of SandRidge.  All references in this Agreement to SandRidge or any subsidiary of SandRidge or any other Grantor will include such Person or Persons as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.  For the purposes of this Section 4.02, unless otherwise provided herein, clauses (b) through and including (o) shall be in full force and effect prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and clauses (p) through and including (cc) shall be in full force and effect following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

(b)                                 If SandRidge or any of its subsidiaries shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, or if any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons shall, move for approval of financing (“DIP Financing”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “DIP Lenders”) under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each

 

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Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, will raise any objection, contest or oppose, and each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the Liens on the Collateral securing the same (“DIP Financing Liens”), or to any use, sale or lease of cash collateral that constitutes Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (A) the Priority Lien Agent or the Priority Lien Secured Parties oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral, (B) the maximum principal amount of indebtedness permitted under such DIP Financing exceeds the sum of (I) the amount of Priority Lien Obligations refinanced with the proceeds thereof (not including the amount of any Excess Priority Lien Obligations) and (II) $150,000,000, or (C) the terms of such DIP Financing provide for the sale of a substantial part of the Collateral or require the confirmation of a plan of reorganization containing specific terms or provisions (other than repayment in cash of such DIP Financing on the effective date thereof).  To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Priority Liens, (1) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Second Liens on the Collateral to the Priority Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Second Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Third Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code and (2) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Third Liens on the Collateral to the Priority Liens, the Second Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(c)                                  Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, without the consent of the Priority Lien Agent, in its sole discretion, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing.

 

(d)                                 Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that it will not object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) a sale or other Disposition, a motion to sell or Dispose or the bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have consented to such sale or Disposition, such motion to sell or Dispose or such bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of such Collateral and all Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens will attach to the proceeds of the sale in the same respective priorities as set forth in this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens (that is granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement) or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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(f)                                   The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, will file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for adequate protection or (ii) any objection by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Priority Lien Agent or Priority Lien Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that

 

(A)                               the Second Lien Secured Parties may:

 

(I)                                   freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, and with the same relative priority to the Priority Liens and the Third Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Priority Lien Secured Parties; and

 

(II)                              freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations; and

 

(B)                               the Third Lien Secured Parties may:

 

(I)                                   freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, and with the same relative priority to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Second Lien Secured Parties; and

 

(II)                              freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

(g)                                  Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, waives any claim it or any such other Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, may now or hereafter have against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Priority Lien Agent or any Priority Lien Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(h)                                 The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation

 

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Proceeding, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, shall support or vote to accept any plan of reorganization or disclosure statement of SandRidge or any other Grantor unless (i) such plan is accepted by the Class of Priority Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest approved by the bankruptcy court, fees and expenses and cash collateralization of all letters of credit) on the effective date of such plan of reorganization, or (ii) such plan provides on account of the Priority Lien Secured Parties for the retention by the Priority Lien Agent, for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, of the Liens on the Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations, and on all proceeds thereof whenever received, and such plan also provides that any Liens retained by, or granted to, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are only on property securing the Priority Lien Obligations and shall have the same relative priority with respect to the Collateral or other property, respectively, as provided in this Agreement with respect to the Collateral. Except as provided herein, each of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties shall remain entitled to vote their claims in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

(i)                                     The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, shall seek relief, pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent.

 

(j)                                    The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party, shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Priority Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses or cash collateralization of all letters of credit to the extent of the value of the Priority Liens (it being understood that such value will be determined without regard to the existence of the Second Liens or the Third Liens on the Collateral) subject to the Priority Lien Cap.  Neither Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Second Liens or the Third Liens, as applicable, on the Collateral; provided that if the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party shall have made any such claim, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Party or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable.

 

(k)                                 Without the express written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any of Priority Lien Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the

 

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Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Priority Lien Secured Party of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code subject to the Priority Lien Cap.

 

(l)                                     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Lien encumbering any Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, any distribution or recovery they may receive in respect of any Collateral shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a representation of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.  Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints the Priority Lien Agent, and any officer or agent of the Priority Lien Agent, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 4.02(l) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Priority Lien Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 4.02(l), which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

 

(m)                             Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that the Priority Lien Agent shall have the exclusive right to credit bid the Priority Lien Obligations and further that none of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be) oppose, object to or contest such credit bid by the Priority Lien Agent.

 

(n)                                 Without the consent of the Priority Lien Agent in its sole discretion, each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees it will not file an involuntary bankruptcy claim or seek the appointment of an examiner or a trustee for SandRidge or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(o)                                 Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any right to assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) or 552 of the Bankruptcy Code as against any Priority Lien Secured Party or any of the Collateral, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

(p)                                 If SandRidge or any of its subsidiaries shall become subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, or if any receiver or trustee for such Person or Persons shall, move for approval of DIP Financing to be provided by one or more DIP Lenders under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither it nor any other Third Lien Secured Party will raise any objection, contest or oppose, and each Third Lien Secured Party will waive any claim such Person may now or hereafter have, to any such financing or to the DIP Financing Liens on the Collateral securing the same, or to any use, sale or lease of cash collateral that constitutes Collateral or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 

 

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364 of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Second Lien Secured Parties oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP Financing Liens or such use of cash collateral or (ii) the maximum principal amount of indebtedness permitted under such DIP Financing exceeds the sum of (A) the amount of Second Lien Obligations refinanced with the proceeds thereof and (B) $150,000,000.  To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are senior to, or rank pari passu with, the Second Liens, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee will, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, subordinate the Third Liens on the Collateral to the Second Liens and to such DIP Financing Liens, so long as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, retains Liens on all the Collateral, including proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, with the same priority relative to the Priority Liens and the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the case under the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(q)                                 Without the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its sole discretion, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees not to propose, support or enter into any DIP Financing.

 

(r)                                    The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that it will not object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) a sale or other Disposition, a motion to sell or Dispose or the bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of any Collateral (or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the requisite holders of Second Lien Obligations shall have consented to such sale or Disposition, such motion to sell or Dispose or such bidding procedure for such sale or Disposition of such Collateral and all Second Liens and Third Liens will attach to the proceeds of the sale in the same respective priorities as set forth in this Agreement.

 

(s)                                   The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any claim that may be had against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any DIP Financing Liens (granted in a manner that is consistent with this Agreement) or administrative expense priority under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(t)                                    The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party will file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their interest in the Collateral, nor object to, oppose or contest (or join with or support any third party objecting to, opposing or contesting) (i) any request by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party for adequate protection or (ii) any objection by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or Second Lien Secured Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection, except that the Third Lien Secured Parties may:

 

(A)                               freely seek and obtain relief granting adequate protection in the form of a replacement lien co-extensive in all respects with, but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, with the same relative priority to the Second Liens as existed prior to the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, all Liens granted in the Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the Second Lien Secured Parties; and

 

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(B)                               freely seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations.

 

(u)                                 The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each of the other of the Third Lien Secured Parties, waives any claim the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any such other Third Lien Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any election by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any Second Lien Secured Parties, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(v)                                 The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall support or vote for any plan of reorganization or disclosure statement of SandRidge or any other Grantor unless (i) such plan is accepted by the Class of Second Lien Secured Parties in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise provides for the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations (including all post-petition interest, fees and expenses) on the effective date of such plan of reorganization, or (ii) such plan provides on account of the Second Lien Secured Parties for the retention by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties, of the Liens on the Collateral securing the Second Lien Obligations, and on all proceeds thereof whenever received, and such plan also provides that any Liens retained by, or granted to, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are only on property securing the Second Lien Obligations and shall have the same relative priority with respect to the Collateral or other property, respectively, as provided in this Agreement with respect to the Collateral.  Except as provided herein, the Third Lien Secured Parties shall remain entitled to vote their claims in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.

 

(w)                               The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that until the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations has occurred, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any Third Lien Secured Party shall seek relief, pursuant to Section 362(d) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, from the automatic stay of Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or from any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Collateral, without the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee.

 

(x)                                 The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Second Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Second Liens (it being understood that such value will be determined without regard to the existence of the Third Liens on the Collateral).  Neither Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party for allowance or payment in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Third Lien Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Third Liens on the Collateral; provided that if the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party shall have made any such claim, such claim (i) shall have been approved or (ii) will be approved contemporaneously with the approval of any such claim by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party.

 

(y)                                 Without the express written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with

 

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or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be), in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Grantor, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of any Liens held by any of Second Lien Secured Party or the value of any claims of any such holder under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Second Lien Secured Party of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(z)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding a determination is made that any Lien encumbering any Collateral is not enforceable for any reason, then the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that, any distribution or recovery they may receive in respect of any Collateral shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Second Lien Secured Parties in the same form as received without recourse, representation or warranty (other than a representation of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee that it has not otherwise sold, assigned, transferred or pledged any right, title or interest in and to such distribution or recovery) but with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.  The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby appoints the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, and any officer or agent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, with full power of substitution, the attorney-in-fact of each Third Lien Secured Party for the limited purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 4.02(z) and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Second Lien Collateral Trustee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 4.02(z), which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

 

(aa)                          The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have the exclusive right to credit bid the Second Lien Obligations and further that neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party shall (or shall join with or support any third party in opposing, objecting to or contesting, as the case may be) oppose, object to or contest such credit bid by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee.

 

(bb)                          Without the consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in its sole discretion, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees it will not file an involuntary bankruptcy claim or seek the appointment of an examiner or a trustee for SandRidge or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(cc)                            The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, waives any right to assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) or 552 of the Bankruptcy Code as against any Second Lien Secured Party or any of the Collateral, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

Section 4.03                             Reinstatement.  If any Priority Lien Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Grantor any amount (a “Recovery”) for any reason whatsoever, then the Priority Lien Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Recovery and the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall be entitled to a reinstatement of Priority Lien Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts.  Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that if, at any time, a Second Lien Secured Party or a Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, receives notice of any Recovery, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, shall promptly pay over to the Priority Lien Agent any payment received by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any

 

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Collateral subject to any Priority Lien securing such Priority Lien Obligations and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Priority Lien then held by it over to the Priority Lien Agent, and the provisions set forth in this Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made.  If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to any such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto from such date of reinstatement.  Any amounts received by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party and then in its possession or under its control on account of the Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, after the termination of this Agreement shall, in the event of a reinstatement of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.03, be held in trust for and paid over to the Priority Lien Agent for the benefit of the Priority Lien Secured Parties for application to the reinstated Priority Lien Obligations until the discharge thereof.  This Section 4.03 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.04                             Refinancings; Additional Priority Lien Debt; Additional Second Lien Debt; Initial Third Lien Indebtedness; Additional Third Lien Debt.

 

(a)                                 The Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations and the Third Lien Obligations may be Replaced, by any Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility, as the case may be, in each case, without notice to, or the consent of any Secured Party, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided, that (i) the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall receive on or prior to incurrence of a Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility (A) an Officers’ Certificate from SandRidge stating that (I) the incurrence thereof is permitted by each applicable Secured Debt Document to be incurred and (II) the requirements of Section 4.06 have been satisfied, and (B) a Priority Confirmation Joinder from the holders or lenders of any indebtedness that Replaces the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations (or an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on their behalf), (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Priority Lien Obligations, after giving effect to such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, shall not exceed the Priority Lien Cap and (iii) on or before the date of such incurrence, such Priority Substitute Credit Facility, Second Lien Substitute Facility or Third Lien Substitute Facility is designated by SandRidge, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt”, “Second Lien Debt” or “Third Lien Debt”, as applicable, for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents and this Agreement; provided that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated as more than one of Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt.

 

(b)                                 SandRidge will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, as applicable, incurred by SandRidge after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Secured Debt Documents.  SandRidge may effect such designation by delivering to the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, each of the following:

 

(i)                                     an Officers’ Certificate stating that SandRidge intends to incur (A) Additional Priority Lien Obligations which will be Priority Lien Debt, (B) Additional Second Lien Obligations which will be Second Lien Debt, (C) Initial Third Lien Obligations which will be Third Lien Debt or (D) or Additional Third Lien Obligations which will be Third Lien Debt, which in each case, will be permitted by each applicable Secured Debt Document to be incurred and secured by a Priority Lien,

 

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Second Lien or Third Lien, as applicable, equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Priority Lien Debt, Second Lien Debt or Third Lien Debt, as applicable;

 

(ii)                                  an authorized agent, trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders or lenders of any Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, must be designated as an additional holder of Secured Obligations hereunder and must, prior to such designation, sign and deliver on behalf of the holders or lenders of such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, a Priority Confirmation Joinder, and, to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such transaction, a new intercreditor agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof; and

 

(iii)                               evidence that SandRidge has duly authorized, executed (if applicable) and recorded (or caused to be recorded) in each appropriate governmental office all relevant filings and recordations deemed necessary by SandRidge and the holder of such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, or its Secured Debt Representative, to ensure that the Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations are secured by the Collateral in accordance with the Priority Lien Security Documents, Second Lien Security Documents or the Third Lien Security Documents, as applicable (provided that such filings and recordings may be authorized, executed and recorded following any incurrence on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Priority Lien Representative, Second Lien Representative or Third Lien Representative for such Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, as applicable).

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the deliveries set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) of Section 4.04(b) shall not be required (and shall be deemed satisfied) in connection with an issuance of Additional Notes constituting Second Lien Indenture Notes.

 

(c)                                  SandRidge will be permitted to enter into an Initial Third Lien Debt Facility to the extent such Initial Third Lien Debt Facility is permitted by the Priority Credit Agreement, the other Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents.  Any Third Lien Debt incurred pursuant to such Initial Third Lien Debt Facility may be secured by a Third Lien under and pursuant to the Initial Third Lien Security Documents provided the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, acting for itself and on behalf of the Initial Third Lien Secured Parties, becomes a party to this Agreement by satisfying the conditions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of the immediately succeeding paragraph.

 

In order for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to become a party to this Agreement,

 

(i)                                     the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have executed and delivered a Priority Confirmation Joinder pursuant to which (a) such Third Lien Collateral Trustee becomes a Secured Debt Representative hereunder and (b) the Third Lien Debt and the related Initial Third Lien Secured Parties become subject hereto and bound hereby;

 

(ii)                                  SandRidge shall have delivered to the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (A) true and complete copies of each Initial Third Lien Document and (B) an Officer’s Certificate certifying such copies as being true and correct and identifying the obligations to be designated as Initial Third Lien Obligations and the initial aggregate principal amount thereof; and

 

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(iii)                               without limiting Section 4.06, the Initial Third Lien Documents relating to such Third Lien Debt shall provide, in a manner satisfactory to the Priority Lien Agent, that each Initial Third Lien Secured Party shall be subject to and bound by the provisions of this Agreement in its capacity as a holder of such Third Lien Debt.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow SandRidge or any other Grantor to incur additional indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of each applicable Secured Debt Document.

 

Each of the then-exiting Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall be authorized to execute and deliver such documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as such holders, lenders, agent, trustee or other representative may reasonably request to give effect to any such Replacement or any incurrence of Additional Priority Lien Obligations, Additional Notes, Additional Second Lien Obligations, Initial Third Lien Obligations or Additional Third Lien Obligations, it being understood that the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or (if permitted by the terms of the applicable Secured Debt Documents) the Grantors, without the consent of any other Secured Party or (in the case of the Grantors) one or more Secured Debt Representatives, may amend, supplement, modify or restate this Agreement to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such amendments or supplements to effect such Replacement or incurrence all at the expense of the Grantors.  Upon the consummation of such Replacement or incurrence and the execution and delivery of the documents and agreements contemplated in the preceding sentence, the holders or lenders of such indebtedness and any authorized agent, trustee or other representative thereof shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.05                             Amendments to Second Lien Documents and Third Lien Documents.  Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, without the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, no Second Lien Document or Third Lien Document may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and/or refinanced or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement, restatement or modification and/or refinancing, or the terms of any new Second Lien Document or Third Lien Document, as applicable, would (i) adversely affect the lien priority rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties or the rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties to receive payments owing pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents, (ii) except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, add any Liens securing the Collateral granted under the Second Lien Security Documents or the Third Lien Security Documents, (iii) confer any additional rights on the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party in a manner adverse to the Priority Lien Secured Parties, or (iv) contravene the provisions of this Agreement or the Priority Lien Documents.

 

Section 4.06                             Legends.  Each of

 

(a)                                 the Priority Lien Agent acknowledges with respect to the (i) Priority Credit Agreement and the Credit Agreement Security Documents and (ii) the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents, if any,

 

(b)                                 the Second Lien Collateral Trustee acknowledges with respect to (i) the Second Lien Indenture and the Indenture Second Lien Security Documents, and (ii) the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Second Lien Security Documents, if any, and

 

(c)                                  the Third Lien Collateral Trustee acknowledges with respect to (i) the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and the Initial Third Lien Security Documents, if any, and (ii) the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents, if any, that

 

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the Second Lien Indenture, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility (if any), the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility (if any), the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility (if any), the Second Lien Documents (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties), the Third Lien Documents (other than control agreements to which the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are parties) and each associated Security Document (other than control agreements to which both the Priority Lien Agent and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee are parties or, in the case of Third Lien Security Documents, other than control agreements to which the Priority Lien Agent or the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, as applicable, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee are parties) granting any security interest in the Collateral will contain the appropriate legend set forth on Annex I.

 

Section 4.07                             Second Lien Secured Parties and Third Lien Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured Creditors; Judgment Lien Creditor.  Both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any of the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties may take any actions and exercise any and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims; provided, however, that the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties may not take any of the actions prohibited by Section 3.05(a) or Section 4.02 or any other provisions in this Agreement; provided, further, that in the event that any of the Second Lien Secured Parties or Third Lien Secured Parties becomes a judgment lien creditor in respect of any Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as applicable, such judgment lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all purposes (including in relation to the Priority Lien Obligations and the Second Lien Obligations, as applicable) as the Second Liens and Third Liens, as applicable, are subject to this Agreement.

 

Section 4.08                             Postponement of Subrogation.  (a) Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby agrees that no payment or distribution to any Priority Lien Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until, in the case of the Second Lien Secured Parties, the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, and in the case of the Third Lien Secured Parties, the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations shall have occurred.  Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section 4.03, each Priority Lien Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any Second Lien Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Priority Lien Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Priority Lien Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Priority Lien Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

 

(b)                                 Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, agrees that no payment or distribution to any Second Lien Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle any Third Lien Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof.  Following the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, but subject to the reinstatement as provided in Section 4.03, each Second Lien Secured Party will execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as any Third Lien Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Second Lien Obligations resulting from payments or distributions to such Second Lien Secured Party by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by such Second Lien Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.

 

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Section 4.09                             Acknowledgment by the Secured Debt Representatives.  Each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, hereby acknowledges that this Agreement is a material inducement to enter into a business relationship, that each has relied on this Agreement to enter into the Priority Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Indenture and the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, as applicable, and all documentation related thereto, and that each will continue to rely on this Agreement in their related future dealings.

 

ARTICLE V
GRATUITOUS BAILMENT FOR PERFECTION OF CERTAIN SECURITY INTERESTS

 

Section 5.01                             General.  (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Priority Lien on any Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any Account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such Account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Agent, the Priority Lien Agent will serve as gratuitous bailee for (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Second Lien of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Third Lien of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral.  It is agreed that the obligations of the Priority Lien Agent and the rights of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Priority Lien Agent will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Second Lien or Third Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Second Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Second Lien and the Third Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Third Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral or any such Account by the Priority Lien Agent.  The Priority Lien Agent acting pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall not have by reason of the Priority Lien Security Documents, the Second Lien Security Documents, the Third Lien Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party.  Subject to Section 4.03, from and after the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral or any such Account (in each case to the extent the Second Lien Collateral Trustee has a Lien on such Collateral or Account after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

(b)                                 Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Second Lien on any Collateral that can be perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any Account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such Account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will serve as gratuitous bailee for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the sole purpose of perfecting the Third Lien of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on such Collateral.  It is agreed that the obligations of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the rights of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third

 

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Lien Secured Parties in connection with any such bailment arrangement will be in all respects subject to the provisions of Article II.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will be deemed to make no representation as to the adequacy of the steps taken by it to perfect the Third Lien on any such Collateral and shall have no responsibility, duty, obligation or liability to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party or any other Person for such perfection or failure to perfect, it being understood that the sole purpose of this Article is to enable the Third Lien Secured Parties to obtain a perfected Third Lien in such Collateral to the extent, if any, that such perfection results from the possession or control of such Collateral or any such Account by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee.  The Second Lien Collateral Trustee acting pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall not have by reason of the Second Lien Security Documents, the Third Lien Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document or theory, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any Third Lien Secured Party.  Subject to Section 4.03, from and after the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall take all such actions in its power as shall reasonably be requested by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee (at the sole cost and expense of the Grantors) to transfer possession or control of such Collateral or any such Account (in each case to the extent the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has a Lien on such Collateral or Account after giving effect to any prior or concurrent releases of Liens) to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Third Lien Secured Parties.

 

Section 5.02                             Deposit Accounts.  (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, to the extent that any Account is under the control of the Priority Lien Agent at any time, the Priority Lien Agent will act as gratuitous bailee for (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Second Lien Secured Parties and (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Third Lien Secured Parties in such Accounts and the cash and other assets therein as provided in Section 5.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Second Lien Secured Parties or the Third Lien Secured Parties (including, without limitation, any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 5.02(a)).  Unless the Second Liens on such Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Agent shall, at the request of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, cooperate with the Grantors and the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of any other Accounts to be transferred to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (or for other arrangements with respect to each such Accounts satisfactory to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to be made).

 

(b)                                 Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, to the extent that any Account is under the control of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee at any time, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee will act as gratuitous bailee for the Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Third Lien Secured Parties in such Accounts and the cash and other assets therein as provided in Section 3.01 (but will have no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Third Lien Secured Parties (including, without limitation, any duty, responsibility or obligation as to the maintenance of such control, the effect of such arrangement or the establishment of such perfection) except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 5.02(b)).  Unless the Third Liens on such Collateral shall have been or concurrently are released, after the occurrence of Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall, at the request of the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, cooperate with the Grantors and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee (at the expense of the Grantors) in permitting control of any other Accounts to be transferred to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee (or for other arrangements with respect to each such Accounts satisfactory to the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to be made).

 

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ARTICLE VI
APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS; DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS

 

Section 6.01          Application of Proceeds.  (a) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, Collateral or Proceeds received in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral will be applied:

 

(i)            first, to the payment in full in cash of all Priority Lien Obligations that are not Excess Priority Lien Obligations,

 

(ii)           second, to the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations,

 

(iii)          third, to the payment in full in cash of all Excess Priority Lien Obligations,

 

(iv)          fourth, to the payment in full in cash of all Third Lien Obligations, and

 

(v)           fifth, to SandRidge or as otherwise required by applicable law.

 

(b)           Following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, Collateral or Proceeds received in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to any portion of the Collateral will be applied:

 

(i)            first, to the payment in full in cash of all Second Lien Obligations,

 

(ii)           second, to the payment in full in cash of all Excess Priority Lien Obligations,

 

(iii)          third, to the payment in full in cash of all Third Lien Obligations, and

 

(iv)          fourth, to SandRidge or as otherwise required by applicable law.

 

Section 6.02          Determination of Amounts.  Whenever a Secured Debt Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Priority Lien Obligations (or the existence of any commitment to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien Obligations), Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations, or the existence of any Lien securing any such obligations, or the Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Secured Debt Representatives and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however, that if a Secured Debt Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Secured Debt Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of SandRidge.  Each Secured Debt Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to SandRidge or any of their subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other Person as a result of such determination.

 

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ARTICLE VII
NO RELIANCE; NO LIABILITY; OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE;
CONSENT OF GRANTORS; ETC.

 

Section 7.01          No Reliance; Information.  The Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties shall have no duty to disclose to any Third Lien Secured Party, to any Second Lien Secured Party or to any Priority Lien Secured Party, as the case may be, any information relating to SandRidge or any of the other Grantors, or any other circumstance bearing upon the risk of non-payment of any of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, as the case may be, that is known or becomes known to any of them or any of their Affiliates.  In the event any Priority Lien Secured Party, any Second Lien Secured Party or any Third Lien Secured Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to, any Third Lien Secured Party, any Second Lien Secured Party or any Priority Lien Secured Party, as the case may be, it shall be under no obligation (a) to make, and shall not make or be deemed to have made, any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of the information so provided, (b) to provide any additional information or to provide any such information on any subsequent occasion or (c) to undertake any investigation.

 

Section 7.02          No Warranties or Liability.

 

(a)           The Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII, (i) neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Second Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Third Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

(b)           The Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII, (i) neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Priority Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Third Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Third Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Third Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

(c)           The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article VIII, (i) neither the Priority Lien Agent nor any other Priority Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any of the Priority Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon and (ii) neither the Second Lien Collateral Trustee nor any other Second Lien Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or

 

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enforceability of any of the Second Lien Documents, the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon.

 

(d)           (i) The Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, any other Second Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, (ii) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties shall have no express or implied duty to the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Secured Party, and (iii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no express or implied duty to the Priority Lien Agent, any other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party, in each case to act or refrain from acting in a manner which allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of a default or an event of default under any Priority Lien Document, any Second Lien Document and any Third Lien Document (other than, in each case, this Agreement), regardless of any knowledge thereof which they may have or be charged with.

 

(e)           Each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Priority Lien Agent or such Priority Lien Secured Party takes or omits to take (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Priority Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Priority Lien Obligations.  The Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf each other Third Lien Secured Party, hereby waives any claim that may be had against the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party arising out of any actions which the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or such Second Lien Secured Party takes or omits to take following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations (including actions with respect to the creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to realize upon, any Collateral, and actions with respect to the collection of any claim for all or only part of the Second Lien Obligations from any account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement and the Second Lien Documents or the valuation, use, protection or release of any security for such Second Lien Obligations.

 

Section 7.03          Obligations Absolute.  The Lien priorities provided for herein and the respective rights, interests, agreements and obligations hereunder of the Priority Lien Agent and the other Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Second Lien Secured Parties, and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and the other Third Lien Secured Parties shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

 

(a)           any lack of validity or enforceability of any Secured Debt Document;

 

(b)           any change in the time, place or manner of payment of, or in any other term of (including the Replacing of), all or any portion of the Priority Lien Obligations, it being specifically acknowledged that a portion of the Priority Lien Obligations consists or may consist of indebtedness that is revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed;

 

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(c)           any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of any Secured Debt Document;

 

(d)           the securing of any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations with any additional collateral or guarantees, or any exchange, release, voiding, avoidance or non-perfection of any security interest in any Collateral or any other collateral or any release of any guarantee securing any Priority Lien Obligations, Second Lien Obligations or Third Lien Obligations;

 

(e)           the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of SandRidge or any other Grantor; or

 

(f)            any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, SandRidge or any other Grantor in respect of the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations.

 

Section 7.04          Grantors Consent.  Each Grantor hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations of the Grantors under the Secured Debt Documents will in no way be diminished or otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements (except as expressly provided herein).

 

ARTICLE VIII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 8.01          Representations and Warranties of Each Party.  Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as follows:

 

(a)           Such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)           This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party.

 

(c)           The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority of which the failure to obtain could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Priority Credit Agreement), (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any Governmental Authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such party.

 

Section 8.02          Representations and Warranties of Each Representative.  Each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is authorized under the Priority Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement and the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, as the case may be, to enter into this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.01          Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

(a)           if to the Original Priority Lien Agent, to it at:

 

Royal Bank of Canada

20 King Street West, 4th Floor

Toronto, Ontario M5K 1C4

Fax: 416.842.4023

Attention: manager Agency Services

 

(b)           if to the Original Second Lien Collateral Trustee, to it at:

 

U.S. Bank National Association

Corporate Trust Services

EX-TX-WSFH

555 San Felipe Street, 11th Floor

Houston, Texas 77056

Fax: 713.235.9213

Attention: Mauri Cowen

 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Thompson & Knight LLP

333 Clay Street, Suite 3300

Houston, Texas 77002

Fax: 832.397.8012

Attention: Cassandra Mott

 

(c)           if to any other Secured Debt Representative, to such address as specified in the Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt (if a Business Day) and on the next Business Day thereafter (in all other cases) if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by telecopy or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 9.01. As agreed to in writing among SandRidge, the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable person provided from time to time by such person.

 

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Section 9.02          Waivers; Amendment.  (a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.02, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.  No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

(b)           Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each Secured Debt Representative; provided, however, that this Agreement may be amended from time to time as provided in Section 4.04.  Any amendment of this Agreement that is proposed to be effected without the consent of a Secured Debt Representative as permitted by the proviso to the preceding sentence shall be submitted to such Secured Debt Representative for its review at least 5 Business Days prior to the proposed effectiveness of such amendment.

 

Section 9.03          Actions Upon Breach; Specific Performance.  (a) (i) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, if any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and any Priority Lien Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor and (ii) following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, if any Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, commences or participates in any action or proceeding against any Grantor or the Collateral, such Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, may interpose as a defense or dilatory plea the making of this Agreement, and any Second Lien Secured Party may intervene and interpose such defense or plea in its or their name or in the name of such Grantor.

 

(b)           (i) Prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, should any Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Priority Lien Agent, (A) may obtain relief against such Second Lien Secured Party or Third Lien Secured Party, as applicable, by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by each of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Second Lien Secured Party and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party that (I) the Priority Lien Secured Parties’ damages from its actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (II) each Second Lien Secured Party and Third Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Priority Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (B) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) following the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations but prior to the Discharge of Second Lien Obligations, should any Third Lien Secured Party, contrary to this Agreement, in any way take, attempt to or threaten to take any action with respect to the Collateral (including any attempt to realize upon or enforce any remedy with respect to this

 

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Agreement), or take any other action in violation of this Agreement or fail to take any action required by this Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Secured Party (in its own name or in the name of the relevant Grantor) or the relevant Grantor, with the prior written consent of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, (A) may obtain relief against such Third Lien Secured Party by injunction, specific performance and/or other appropriate equitable relief, it being understood and agreed by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Third Lien Secured Party that (I) the Second Lien Secured Parties’ damages from its actions may at that time be difficult to ascertain and may be irreparable, and (II) each Third Lien Secured Party waives any defense that the Grantors and/or the Second Lien Secured Parties cannot demonstrate damage and/or be made whole by the awarding of damages, and (B) shall be entitled to damages, as well as reimbursement for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.04          Parties in Interest.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party beneficiaries of, this Agreement.

 

Section 9.05          Survival of Agreement.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.06          Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.07          Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.  The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

Section 9.08          Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.  (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)           Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

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(c)           Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.08.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d)           Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01.  Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

Section 9.09          WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

Section 9.10          Headings.  Article, Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

Section 9.11          Conflicts.  In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Secured Debt Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

 

Section 9.12          Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.  The provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the distinct and separate relative rights of the Priority Lien Secured Parties, the Second Lien Secured Parties and the Third Lien Secured Parties.  None of SandRidge, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement (provided that nothing in this Agreement (other than Sections 4.01, 4.02, 4.04, or 4.05) is intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Priority Credit Agreement, the Second Lien Indenture or the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, as applicable), and except as expressly provided in this Agreement neither SandRidge nor any other Grantor may rely on the terms hereof (other than Sections 4.01, 4.02, 4.04, or 4.05, Article VII and Article IX).  Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of SandRidge or any other Grantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations under the Secured Debt Documents as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Secured Debt Document, the Grantors shall not be required to act or refrain from acting pursuant to this Agreement, any Priority Lien Document, any Second Lien Document or any Third Lien Document with respect to any Collateral in any manner that would cause a default under any Priority Lien Document.

 

Section 9.13          Certain Terms Concerning the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee.  (a) The Second Lien Collateral Trustee is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as such and pursuant to direction set forth in the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement; and in so doing, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for the terms or

 

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sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose.  The Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties and obligations as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties and obligations on its part to be performed or observed.  In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the Second Lien Indenture and the other Second Lien Documents (including without limitation Article 5 and Section 7.8 of the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement).

 

(b)           The Third Lien Collateral Trustee is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as such and pursuant to direction set forth in the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement; and in so doing, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose.  The Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties and obligations as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties and obligations on its part to be performed or observed.  In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under any Initial Third Lien Debt Facility and the Third Lien Documents.

 

Section 9.14          Certain Terms Concerning the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee.  None of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Secured Party, or for any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms of this Agreement.  None of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall have individual liability to any Person if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Secured Party (or SandRidge) any amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, as the case may be, is acting in good faith.  Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that each of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and the Third Lien Collateral Trustee is entering into this Agreement solely in its capacity under the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents and the Third Lien Documents, respectively, and not in its individual capacity.  (a) The Priority Lien Agent shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Representative or any other Third Lien Secured Party; (b) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Third Lien Representative or any other Third Lien Secured Party; and (c) the Third Lien Collateral Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to (i) the Priority Lien Agent or any other Priority Lien Secured Party or (ii) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or any other Second Lien Representative or any other Second Lien Secured Party.

 

Section 9.15          Authorization of Secured Agents.  By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Priority Lien Security Documents, each Priority Lien Secured Party authorizes the Priority Lien Agent to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith.  By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Second Lien Security Documents, each Second Lien Secured Party authorizes the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith.  By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and the other Third Lien Security Documents, each Third Lien Secured Party authorizes the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to enter into this Agreement and to act on its behalf as collateral agent hereunder and in connection herewith.

 

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Section 9.16          Further Assurances.  Each of the Priority Lien Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Priority Lien Secured Party, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Second Lien Secured Parties, the Third Lien Collateral Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the other Third Lien Secured Parties, and each Grantor party hereto, for itself and on behalf of its subsidiaries, agrees that it will execute, or will cause to be executed, any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, as may be required under any applicable law, or which the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement, including the relative Lien priorities provided for herein.

 

Section 9.17          Relationship of Secured Parties.  Nothing set forth herein shall create or evidence a joint venture, partnership or an agency or fiduciary relationship among the Secured Parties.  None of the Secured Parties nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible to any other Secured Party or to any other Person for any Grantor’s solvency, financial condition or ability to repay the Priority Lien Obligations, the Second Lien Obligations or the Third Lien Obligations, or for statements of any Grantor, oral or written, or for the validity, sufficiency or enforceability of the Priority Lien Documents, the Second Lien Documents or the Third Lien Documents, or any security interests granted by any Grantor to any Secured Party in connection therewith.  Each Secured Party has entered into its respective financing agreements with the Grantors based upon its own independent investigation, and none of the Priority Lien Agent, the Second Lien Collateral Trustee or the Third Lien Collateral Trustee makes any warranty or representation to the other Secured Debt Representatives or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent nor does it rely upon any representation of the other agents or the Secured Parties for which it acts as agent with respect to matters identified or referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 9.18          Third Lien Provisions.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, until such time as the Third Lien Collateral Trustee has, pursuant to the terms hereof (including but not limited Section 4.04(c)), entered into, and, for itself and on behalf of the Third Lien Secured Parties, agreed to be bound by the terms of, this Agreement and executed a Priority Joinder Confirmation, the provisions of this Agreement relating to the Third Lien Obligations (including, but not limited to, the definitions of “Additional Third Lien Debt Facility”, “Additional Third Lien Documents”, “Additional Third Lien Obligations”, “Additional Third Lien Secured Parties”, “Additional Third Lien Security Documents”, “Third Lien”, “Third Lien Collateral”, “Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement”, “Third Lien Collateral Trustee”, “Third Lien Debt”, “Third Lien Documents”, “Third Lien First Standstill Period”, “Third Lien Obligations”, “Third Lien Representative”, “Third Lien Second Standstill Period”, “Third Lien Secured Parties”, “Third Lien Security Documents” and “Third Lien Substitute Facility” and provisions regarding priority, enforcement actions, Standstill Periods, release of Liens, Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings, reinstatement, amendments to Third Lien Documents and application of proceeds) shall not be operative.

 

[SIGNATURES BEGIN NEXT PAGE]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Priority Lien Agent

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Susan Khokher

 

Name:

Susan Khokher

 

Title:

Manager, Agency

 

Signature Page
Intercreditor Agreement

 



 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mauri J. Cowen

 

Name:

Mauri J. Cowen

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page
Intercreditor Agreement

 



 

 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED AS OF THE DATE FIRST ABOVE WRITTEN:

 

 

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Name:

Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

SANDRIDGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

SANDRIDGE EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION, LLC

 

SANDRIDGE MIDSTREAM, INC.

 

SANDRIDGE OPERATING COMPANY

 

INTEGRA ENERGY COMPANY, L.L.C.

SANDRIDGE GATHERING LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Name:

Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page
Intercreditor Agreement

 



 

ANNEX I

 

Provision for the Second Lien Indenture, any Additional Second Lien Debt Facility, the Second Lien Documents, the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility, any Additional Third Lien Debt Facility and the Third Lien Documents

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, between Royal Bank of Canada, as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by SandRidge Energy, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”).  Each holder of [Additional Second Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations][Additional Third Lien Obligations] (as defined therein), by its acceptance of such [Additional Second Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations][Additional Third Lien Obligations] i) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, ii) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and iii) authorizes and instructs the [Second/Third] Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) on behalf of each [Second/Third] Lien Secured Party (as defined therein) to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as [Second/Third] Lien Collateral Trustee on behalf of such [Second/Third] Lien Secured Parties.  The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Priority Lien Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) to extend credit to SandRidge Energy, Inc. and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Provision for all Indenture Second Lien Security Documents, any Additional Second Lien Security Documents, the Initial Third Lien Security Documents and the Additional Third Lien Security Documents that Grant a Security Interest in Collateral

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, between Royal Bank of Canada, as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by SandRidge Energy, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”).  Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) the [Second Lien Collateral Trustee] [Third Lien Collateral Trustee] (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement and (iv) acknowledges (or is deemed to acknowledge) that a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement was delivered, or made available, to such Person.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).  In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

 

Annex I - 1



 

EXHIBIT A
to Intercreditor Agreement

 

[FORM OF]
PRIORITY CONFIRMATION JOINDER

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”) between Royal Bank of Canada, as Priority Lien Agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the Second Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by SandRidge Energy, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries.

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.  This Priority Confirmation Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 4.04 [(a)][(b)][(c)] of the Intercreditor Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as representative being entitled to the rights and obligations of being [Additional [Priority/Second/Third] Lien Obligations][Initial Third Lien Obligations] under the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

1.  Joinder.  The undersigned, [               ], a [               ], (the “New Representative”) as [trustee] [collateral trustee] [administrative agent] [collateral agent] under that certain [describe applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the Additional Priority, Second or [Initial/Additional] Third Lien Obligations] hereby:

 

(a)           represents that the New Representative has been authorized to become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the [Priority Lien Secured Parties under a Priority Substitute Credit Facility] [Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties under an Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility] [Indenture Second Lien Secured Parties under the Second Lien Substitute Facility] [Additional Second Lien Secured Parties under the Additional Second Lien Debt Facility] [Initial Third Lien Secured Parties under the Initial Third Lien Debt Facility] [Additional Third Lien Secured Parties under the Additional Third Lien Debt Facility] as [a Priority Lien Agent under a Priority Substitute Credit Facility] [a Second Lien Collateral Trustee under a Second Lien Substitute Facility] [a Third Lien Collateral Trustee under a Third Lien Substitute Facility] [Secured Debt Representative] [Priority Lien Representative]  [Second Lien Representative] [Third Lien Representative] under the Intercreditor Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof; and

 

(b)           agrees that its address for receiving notices pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be as follows:

 

[Address];

 

2.             Priority Confirmation.

 

[Option A: to be used if additional debt constitutes a Series of Priority Lien Debt] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Priority Lien Debt [that constitutes a Priority Lien Substitute Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Priority Lien Representative] [Priority Lien Agent] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

Exhibit A - 1



 

(a)           all Priority Lien Obligations will be and are secured in accordance with the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement by all Priority Liens at any time granted by SandRidge or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, and that all such Priority Liens will be enforceable by the Priority Lien Agent with respect to such Series of Priority Lien Debt for the benefit of all Priority Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

 

(b)           the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Priority Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Priority Lien Representative] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

 

(c)           the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Priority Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Priority Lien Representative] appoints the Priority Lien Agent and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Priority Lien Agent of, and directs the Priority Lien Agent to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Priority Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. [or]

 

[Option B: to be used if additional debt constitutes a Series of Second Lien Debt] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt [that constitutes Second Lien Substitute Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Second Lien Representative] [Second Lien Collateral Trustee] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

(a)           all Second Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Second Liens at any time granted by SandRidge or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Second Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Second Lien Debt, and that all such Second Liens will be enforceable by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee with respect to such Series of Second Lien Debt for the benefit of all Second Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

 

(b)           the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Second Lien Representative] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

 

(c)           the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Second Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Second Lien Representative] appoints the Second Lien Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee of, and directs the Second Lien Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Second Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. [or]

 

[Option C: to be used if additional debt constitutes a Series of Third Lien Debt] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Third Lien Debt [that constitutes Third Lien Substitute Facility] for which the undersigned is acting as [Third Lien Representative] [Third Lien Collateral Trustee] hereby agrees, for the benefit of all Secured Parties

 

Exhibit A - 2



 

and each future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to being treated as Secured Obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement, that:

 

(a)           all Third Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Third Liens at any time granted by SandRidge or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Third Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Third Lien Debt, and that all such Third Liens will be enforceable by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee with respect to such Series of Third Lien Debt for the benefit of all Third Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably;

 

(b)           the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Third Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Third Lien Representative] [Third Lien Collateral Trustee] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens and the order of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens, Second Liens and Third Liens; and

 

[(c)          the New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of Third Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Third Lien Representative] appoints the Third Lien Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Third Lien Collateral Trustee of, and directs the Third Lien Collateral Trustee to perform, its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreement and the Third Lien Collateral Trust Agreement, together with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.](1)

 

3.             Full Force and Effect of Intercreditor Agreement.  Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

4.             Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions.  The provisions of Article IX of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Priority Confirmation Joinder.

 

5.             Expenses.  SandRidge agree to reimburse each Secured Debt Representative for its reasonable out of pocket expenses in connection with this Priority Confirmation Joinder, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel.

 


(1)  Necessary only in the case of an incurrence of Additional Third Lien Obligations.

 

Exhibit A - 3



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Priority Confirmation Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of [              , 20    ].

 

 

[insert name of New Representative]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

The Priority Lien Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder [and agrees to act as Priority Lien Agent for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby]:

 

 

 

 

as Priority Lien Agent

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

The Second Lien Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder [and agrees to act as Second Lien Collateral Trustee for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby]:

 

 

 

 

as Second Lien Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

[The Third Lien Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Priority Confirmation Joinder [and agrees to act as Third Lien Collateral Trustee for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby]:

 

 

 

 

as Third Lien Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Exhibit A - 4



 

 

Acknowledged and Agreed to by:

 

 

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Exhibit A - 5



 

EXHIBIT B
to Intercreditor Agreement

 

SECURITY DOCUMENTS

 

PART A.

 

List of Credit Agreement Security Documents

 

1.                                      Security Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015 among SandRidge Energy, Inc., each of the other Grantors party thereto, and the Priority Lien Agent as Administrative Agent for the Priority Lien Secured Parties.

 

2.                                      Each mortgage and deed of trust entered into as of June 10, 2015 and thereafter, assigned to the Priority Lien Agent or executed and delivered by SandRidge Energy, Inc. or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Agent, to secure the Priority Lien Obligations, except to the extent released by the Priority Lien Agent in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority Lien Security Documents.

 

3.                                      Each UCC Financing Statement filed in connection with the documents listed in items 1 and 2 of this Part A.

 

PART B.

 

List of Indenture Second Lien Security Documents

 

1.                                      Security Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, by and among SandRidge Energy, Inc., each of the other Grantors party thereto, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined therein).

 

2.                                      Each mortgage and deed of trust entered into after the date hereof, executed and delivered by SandRidge Energy, Inc. or any other Grantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Second Lien Collateral Trustee, to secure the Second Lien Obligations, except to the extent released by the Second Lien Collateral Trustee in accordance with this Agreement and the Second Lien Security Documents.

 

3.                                      Each UCC Financing Statement filed in connection with the documents listed in items 1 and 2 of this Part B.

 

PART C.

 

List of Initial Third Lien Security Documents

 

1.                                      None as of the date hereof.

 

Exhibit B - 1


Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

COLLATERAL TRUST AGREEMENT

 

dated as of June 10, 2015

 

among

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.,

as the Company,

 

the Guarantors from time to time party hereto,

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee under the Indenture,

 

the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party hereto

 

and

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Trustee

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE 1         DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

1

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Defined Terms

1

Section 1.2

Rules of Interpretation

10

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2         THE TRUST ESTATE

11

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Declaration of Trust

11

Section 2.2

Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably

12

Section 2.3

Similar Collateral and Agreements

12

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3         OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

12

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee

12

Section 3.2

Release or Subordination of Liens

13

Section 3.3

Enforcement of Liens

14

Section 3.4

Application of Proceeds

14

Section 3.5

Powers of the Collateral Trustee

15

Section 3.6

Documents and Communications

16

Section 3.7

For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations

16

Section 3.8

Additional Parity Lien Debt

16

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4         OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER GRANTORS

18

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Release of Liens on Collateral

18

Section 4.2

Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives

20

Section 4.3

Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record

21

Section 4.4

Release of Liens in Respect of Notes

21

Section 4.5

Release of Liens in Respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes

21

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5         IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

21

 

 

 

Section 5.1

No Implied Duty

21

Section 5.2

Appointment of Agents and Advisors

22

Section 5.3

Other Agreements

22

Section 5.4

Solicitation of Instructions

22

Section 5.5

Limitation of Liability

23

Section 5.6

Documents in Satisfactory Form

23

Section 5.7

Entitled to Rely

23

Section 5.8

Parity Lien Debt Default

23

Section 5.9

Actions by Collateral Trustee

24

Section 5.10

Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee

24

Section 5.11

Rights of the Collateral Trustee

24

Section 5.12

Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral

24

Section 5.13

Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties

25

 

i



 

Section 5.14

No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials

25

Section 5.15

Other Relationships with the Company or Guarantors

26

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6         RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

26

 

 

 

Section 6.1

Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee

26

Section 6.2

Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee

26

Section 6.3

Succession

27

Section 6.4

Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee

27

Section 6.5

Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives

27

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7         MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

28

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Amendment

28

Section 7.2

Voting

30

Section 7.3

Further Assurances

31

Section 7.4

Successors and Assigns

31

Section 7.5

Delay and Waiver

32

Section 7.6

Notices

32

Section 7.7

Entire Agreement

33

Section 7.8

Compensation; Expenses

33

Section 7.9

Indemnity

34

Section 7.10

Severability

35

Section 7.11

Headings

35

Section 7.12

Obligations Secured

35

Section 7.13

Governing Law

35

Section 7.14

Consent to Jurisdiction

36

Section 7.15

Waiver of Jury Trial

36

Section 7.16

Counterparts, Electronic Signatures

37

Section 7.17

Effectiveness

37

Section 7.18

Grantors and Additional Grantors

37

Section 7.19

Insolvency

38

Section 7.20

Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives

38

Section 7.21

Intercreditor Agreement

38

Section 7.22

Force Majeure

38

Section 7.23

Representations and Warranties

39

 

Exhibit A

Form of Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate

A-1

Exhibit B

Form of Collateral Trust Joinder — Additional Debt

B-1

Exhibit C

Form of Collateral Trust Joinder — Additional Grantor

C-1

 

ii



 

This Collateral Trust Agreement (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified form time to time in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof, this “Agreement”) is dated as of June 10, 2015 and is by and among SandRidge Energy, Inc. (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party hereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (as defined below), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party hereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

The Company intends to issue 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Initial Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of $1,250,000,000 pursuant to an Indenture dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (in such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity, the “Trustee”).

 

The Company and the Guarantors intend to secure their Obligations under the Indenture, any future Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations, with Liens on all present and future Collateral to the extent that such Liens have been provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

This Agreement sets forth the terms on which each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) has appointed the Collateral Trustee to act as the collateral trustee for the present and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations to receive, hold, maintain, administer and distribute the Collateral at any time delivered to the Collateral Trustee or the subject of the Parity Lien Security Documents, and to enforce the Parity Lien Security Documents and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee with respect thereto or thereunder and the proceeds thereof.

 

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to them above or in Article 1 below.

 

AGREEMENT

 

In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

Section 1.1          Defined Terms. The following terms will have the following meanings:

 

Act of Parity Lien Debtholders” means, as to any matter at any time, a direction in writing delivered to the Collateral Trustee by or with the written consent of the holders of Parity Lien Debt representing the Required Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

1



 

Additional Notes” has the meaning given to such term in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Additional Parity Lien Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b).

 

Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate” means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

 

Additional Secured Debt Designation” means the written agreement of the holders of any Series of Parity Lien Debt or their Parity Lien Representative, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the benefit of each existing and future holder of Priority Lien Debt, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and each existing and future holder of Priority Liens:

 

(1)           that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any Guarantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

(2)           that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

 

(3)           consenting to and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person: (1) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person; (2) any other Person that owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the Voting Stock of such specified Person (or any of such specified Person’s direct or indirect parent’s Voting Stock); or (3) any other Person 10% or more of the Voting Stock of which is beneficially owned or held directly or indirectly by such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized by law to close, or are in fact closed, in New York City or in the city where the corporate trust office of the Trustee specified in the Indenture is located.

 

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, units, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock, other equity

 

2



 

interests whether now outstanding or issued after the date hereof, partnership interests (whether general or limited), limited liability company interests, 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, including any Preferred Stock, and any rights (other than debt securities or other Indebtedness convertible into Capital Stock), warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such Capital Stock.

 

Collateral” means all properties and assets of the Company and the Guarantors now owned or at any time hereafter acquired in which Liens have been granted, or purported to be granted, to the Collateral Trustee to secure any or all of the Parity Lien Obligations, and from and after the time the Collateral Trustee is required to release its Liens pursuant to Section 3.2 upon any properties or assets, shall exclude such properties or assets; provided that if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition of any properties or assets of the Company or any Guarantor, such assets or properties will cease to be excluded from the Collateral if the Company or any Guarantor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or properties.

 

Collateral Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Collateral Trust Joinder” means (i) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to any Additional Parity Lien Debt, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B, and (ii) with respect to the provisions of this Agreement relating to the addition of additional Grantors, an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Credit Agreement” means the “Priority Credit Agreement” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Credit Agreement Agent” means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the “Agent” or “Administrative Agent” under the Credit Agreement or any other representative then most recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Credit Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.

 

Credit Facility” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), commercial paper facilities or other debt instruments, indentures or agreements providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financings (including through the sale of receivables to the lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from the lenders against such receivables), letters of credit, capital markets financings and/or private placements involving bonds or other debt securities, or other debt obligations, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restructured, supplemented, replaced or refinanced from time to time in whole or in part from time to time, including without limitation any amendment increasing the amount of Indebtedness incurred or available to be borrowed thereunder, extending the maturity of any Indebtedness incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby or deleting, adding or substituting one or more parties thereto (whether or not such added or substituted parties are banks or other institutional lenders).

 

3



 

Excess Priority Lien Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Grantor” means each of and “Grantors” means, collectively, the Company and the Guarantors and any other Person (if any) that at any time provides collateral security for any Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof, in whole or in part; provided that the term “Guarantee” does not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company who has Guaranteed payment of any Parity Lien Obligations, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case until their respective Guarantee of all Parity Lien Obligations is released in accordance with the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents.

 

Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture or to such term or other similar term in any applicable Parity Lien Document.

 

Indemnified Liabilities” means any and all liabilities (including all environmental liabilities), obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, taxes, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, performance, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of any Parity Lien Debt or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any law (including environmental laws) applicable to or enforceable against the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor or any of the Collateral and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any claim, action, investigation or proceeding in any respect relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not suit is brought.

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).

 

Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

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

 

4



 

Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:

 

(1)           any case commenced by or against the Company or any Guarantor under Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any Guarantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Company or any Guarantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Company or any Guarantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

 

(2)           any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Company or any Guarantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

(3)           any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Company or any Guarantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims.

 

Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Guarantors, the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the holders of the Notes and any other Parity Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time.

 

Junior Lien” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Junior Lien Debt” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien Debt” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Junior Lien Documents” has the meaning assigned to the term “Third Lien Documents” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Lien” means any mortgage or deed of trust, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), privilege, security interest, assignment, deposit, arrangement, hypothecation, claim, preference, priority or other encumbrance for security purposes upon or with respect to any property of any kind (including any conditional sale, capital lease or other title retention agreement, any leases in the nature thereof, and any agreement to give any security interest), real or personal, movable or immovable, now owned or hereafter acquired.

 

Mortgage” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(d)(1).

 

Mortgaged Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(d)(1).

 

Notes” means, collectively, the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes for which the requirements set forth in Section 3.8 of this Agreement have been satisfied.

 

Note Documents” means the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees thereof, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Notes Security Documents.

 

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Notes Security Agreement” means the Second Lien Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the Collateral Trustee, on behalf of itself and the holders of the Notes, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced from time to time.

 

Notes Security Documents” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Notes Security Agreement and all security agreements, pledge agreements, hypothecs, collateral assignments, Mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, collateral agency agreements, debentures, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee (including, without limitation, the financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant state), in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section 7.1.

 

Obligations” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Parity Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Agreement, signed on behalf of the Company by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, including:

 

(a)           a statement that the Person making such certificate has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b)           a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate are based;

 

(c)           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 satisfied; and

 

(d)           a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

Parity Lien” means a Lien granted by the Company or any Grantor in favor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to a Parity Lien Security Document, at any time, upon any property of the Company or such Grantor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Parity Lien Debt” means:

 

(1)           the Initial Notes and Guarantees thereof; and

 

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(2)           any other Indebtedness (other than intercompany indebtedness owing to the Company or its Subsidiaries) of the Company or any Guarantor (including Additional Notes and Guarantees thereof) that is secured equally and ratably with the Notes by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided that in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (2) of this definition, that:

 

(a)           on or before the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company or any Guarantor, such Indebtedness is designated by the Company, in an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate executed and delivered in accordance with Section 3.8(b), as “Parity Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Indenture and this Agreement; provided further that no such Indebtedness may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt;

 

(b)           other than in the case of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture, such Indebtedness is governed by an indenture, credit agreement or other agreement that includes an Additional Secured Debt Designation and, in each case, the Parity Lien Representative of such Parity Lien Debt (other than Additional Notes) shall have executed a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement in the form provided therein; and

 

(c)           all other requirements set forth in Section 3.8 have been complied with;

 

provided, further that in the case of any Additional Notes, on or before the date on which Indebtedness in respect of Additional Notes is incurred, the Company will deliver to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Indebtedness is permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be incurred and secured with a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt.

 

Parity Lien Debt Default” means any “Event of Default” as defined in the Indenture, or any similar event or condition set forth in any other Parity Lien Document that causes, or permits holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, and whether or not notice has been given or time has lapsed) to cause, the Parity Lien Debt outstanding thereunder to become immediately due and payable.

 

Parity Lien Documents” means, collectively, the Note Documents and any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other Series of Parity Lien Debt and the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

Parity Lien Obligations” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.

 

Parity Lien Representative” means:

 

(1)           in the case of the Notes, the Trustee; or

 

(2)           in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who (A) is appointed to act for the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Parity Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement

 

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governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (B)  has become a party to this Agreement by executing a Collateral Trust Joinder.

 

Parity Lien Secured Parties” has the meaning assigned to the term “Second Lien Secured Parties” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Parity Lien Security Documents” means this Agreement, each Collateral Trust Joinder, the Indenture (insofar as the same grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Notes Security Documents, and all other security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of any of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and Section 7.1.

 

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

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

 

Priority Lien” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Collateral Agent” means Royal Bank of Canada, as agent under the Credit Agreement and any successor thereof in such capacity under the Credit Agreement, or if the Credit Agreement ceases to exist, the collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of Priority Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Documents pursuant to which such Priority Lien Obligations were issued and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Documents” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Representative” means (1) the Credit Agreement Agent or (2) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the Trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt.

 

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Reaffirmation Agreement” means an agreement reaffirming the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to Exhibit A of this Agreement

 

Required Parity Lien Debtholders” means, at any time, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Parity Lien Debt then outstanding, calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2. For purposes of this definition, Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

Secured Debt” means Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt and Junior Lien Debt.

 

Secured Debt Document” means the Priority Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Documents and the Junior Lien Documents.

 

Series of Parity Lien Debt” means, severally, the Notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

 

Series of Priority Lien Debt” means, severally, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement and any other Credit Facility that constitutes Priority Lien Debt.

 

Subsidiary” of a Person means:

 

(1)           any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting power of the Voting Stock of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, or

 

(2)           any limited partnership of which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner, or

 

(3)           any other Person in which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, has more than 50% of the outstanding Capital Stock or has the power, by contract or otherwise, to direct or cause the direction of the policies, management and affairs thereof.

 

Title Datedown Product” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(d)(3).

 

Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Trust Estate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other applicable jurisdiction.

 

Voting Stock” of a Person means Capital Stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such

 

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Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

 

Section 1.2          Rules of Interpretation.

 

(a)           All capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

(b)           Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to any agreement or instrument will be deemed to include a reference to that agreement or instrument as assigned, amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time or replaced in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c)           The use in this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents of the word “include” or “including,” when following any general statement, term or matter, will not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but will be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

 

(d)           References to “Sections,” “clauses,” “recitals” and the “preamble” will be to Sections, clauses, recitals and the preamble, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Articles” will be to Articles of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided. References to “Exhibits” will be to Exhibits to this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any references contained herein to any section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Indenture (including any definition contained therein) shall be deemed to be a reference to such section, clause, paragraph, definition or other provision of the Indenture as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that any reference to any such section, clause, paragraph or other provision shall refer to such section, clause, paragraph or other provision of the Indenture (including any definition contained therein) as amended or modified from time to time if such amendment or modification has been made in accordance with the Indenture. Unless otherwise set forth herein, references to principal amount shall include, without duplication, any reimbursement obligations with respect to a letter of credit and the face amount of any outstanding letter of credit (whether or not such amount is, at the time of determination, drawn or available to be drawn).

 

This Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents will be construed without regard to the identity of the party who drafted it and as though the parties participated equally in drafting it. Consequently, each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party will not be applicable either to this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

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ARTICLE 2
THE TRUST ESTATE

 

Section 2.1          Declaration of Trust.

 

To secure the payment of the Parity Lien Obligations and in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein, each of the Grantors hereby confirms the grant of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee hereby accepts and agrees to hold, in trust under this Agreement for the benefit of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties, on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all Collateral and on all Liens now or hereafter granted to the Collateral Trustee by each Grantor under any Parity Lien Security Document for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, together with all of the Collateral Trustee’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Parity Lien Security Documents, and all interests, rights, powers and remedies of the Collateral Trustee thereunder or in respect thereof and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof (collectively, the “Trust Estate”).

 

The Collateral Trustee and its successors and assigns under this Agreement will hold the Trust Estate in trust for the benefit solely and exclusively of all current and future Parity Lien Secured Parties as security for the payment of all present and future Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time:

 

(1)           all Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations have been released as provided in Section 4.1;

 

(2)           the Collateral Trustee holds no other property in trust as part of the Trust Estate;

 

(3)           no monetary obligation (other than indemnification and other contingent obligations not then due and payable and letters of credit that have been cash collateralized at the lower of (A) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (B) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) is outstanding and payable under this Agreement to the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity); and

 

(4)           the Company delivers to the Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all Parity Liens of the Collateral Trustee have been released in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Parity Lien Documents and that the Grantors are not required by any Parity Lien Document to grant any Parity Lien upon any property, then the Trust Estate arising hereunder will terminate, except that all provisions set forth in Sections 7.8 and 7.9 that are enforceable by the Collateral Trustee or any of its co-trustees or agents (whether in an individual or representative capacity) will remain enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

The parties further declare and covenant that the Trust Estate will be held and distributed by the Collateral Trustee subject to the further agreements herein.

 

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Section 2.2          Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably.  The parties to this Agreement agree that the payment and satisfaction of all of the Parity Lien Obligations will be secured equally and ratably by the Parity Lien established in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, notwithstanding the time of incurrence of any Parity Lien Obligations or time or method of creation or perfection of any Parity Liens securing such Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Section 2.3          Similar Collateral and Agreements.  The parties to this Agreement agree that it is their intention that the Parity Liens be identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than the Notes Security Documents) shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents as the respective Notes Security Documents creating Liens on the Collateral.

 

ARTICLE 3
OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

 

Section 3.1          Appointment and Undertaking of the Collateral Trustee.

 

(a)           Each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Collateral Trustee) acting through its respective Parity Lien Representative hereby appoints the Collateral Trustee to serve as collateral trustee hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Subject to, and in accordance with, this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will, as collateral trustee, for the benefit solely and exclusively of the present and future Parity Lien Secured Parties:

 

(1)           accept, enter into, hold, maintain, administer and enforce all Parity Lien Security Documents, including all Collateral subject thereto, and all Liens created thereunder, perform its obligations hereunder and under the Parity Lien Security Documents and protect, exercise and enforce the interests, rights, powers and remedies granted or available to it under, pursuant to or in connection with the Parity Lien Security Documents;

 

(2)           take all lawful and commercially reasonable actions permitted under the Parity Lien Security Documents that it may deem necessary or advisable to protect or preserve its interest in the Collateral subject thereto and such interests, rights, powers and remedies;

 

(3)           deliver and receive notices pursuant to this Agreement and the Parity Lien Security Documents;

 

(4)           sell, assign, collect, assemble, foreclose on, institute legal proceedings with respect to, or otherwise exercise or enforce the rights and remedies of a secured party (including a mortgagee, trust deed beneficiary and insurance beneficiary or loss payee) with respect to the Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents and its other interests, rights, powers and remedies;

 

(5)           remit as provided in Section 3.4 all cash proceeds received by the Collateral Trustee from the collection, foreclosure or enforcement of its interest in the

 

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Collateral under the Parity Lien Security Documents or any of its other interests, rights, powers or remedies;

 

(6)           execute and deliver amendments to the Parity Lien Security Documents as from time to time authorized pursuant to Section 7.1 accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the amendment was permitted under Section 7.1;

 

(7)           release or subordinate any Lien granted to it by any Parity Lien Security Document upon any Collateral if and as required by Section 3.2; and

 

(8)           enter into and perform its obligations and protect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(b)           Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and consents to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth in Section 3.1(a) and agrees to each of the other provisions of this Agreement applicable to the Collateral Trustee.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not commence any exercise of remedies or any foreclosure actions or otherwise take any action or proceeding against any of the Collateral (other than actions as necessary to prove, protect or preserve the Liens securing the Parity Lien Obligations to the extent permitted pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement) unless and until it shall have been directed by written notice of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and then only in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates may serve as Collateral Trustee.

 

Section 3.2          Release or Subordination of Liens.  The Collateral Trustee will not release or subordinate any Lien of the Collateral Trustee or consent to the release or subordination of any Lien of the Collateral Trustee, except:

 

(a)           as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the release or subordination was permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document and otherwise setting forth the requirements of Section 4.1(b)(1) and 4.1(b)(2);

 

(b)           as required by Article 4;

 

(c)           to release or subordinate Liens on Collateral to the extent permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document; provided that the Collateral Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate confirming the foregoing;

 

(d)           as ordered pursuant to applicable law under a final and nonappealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or

 

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(e)           for the subordination of the Trust Estate and the Parity Liens to the extent required by the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that the Collateral Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate confirming the foregoing.

 

Section 3.3          Enforcement of Liens. If the Collateral Trustee at any time receives written notice from a Parity Lien Representative stating that any event has occurred that constitutes a default under any Parity Lien Document entitling the Collateral Trustee to foreclose upon, collect or otherwise enforce its Liens under the Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will promptly deliver written notice thereof to each Parity Lien Representative. Thereafter, the Collateral Trustee may await direction by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, will act, or decline to act, as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, in the exercise and enforcement of the Collateral Trustee’s interests, rights, powers and remedies in respect of the Collateral or under the Parity Lien Security Documents or applicable law and, following the initiation of such exercise of remedies, the Collateral Trustee will act, or decline to act, with respect to the manner of such exercise of remedies as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. Unless it has been directed to the contrary by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee in any event may (but will not be obligated to) take or refrain from taking such action with respect to any default under any Parity Lien Document as it may deem advisable and in the best interest of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, all in the Collateral Trustee’s sole discretion.

 

Section 3.4          Application of Proceeds.

 

(a)           Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon, or exercise of any right or remedy with respect to, any Collateral and the proceeds of any title insurance or other insurance policy required under any Parity Lien Document or otherwise covering the Collateral, and any condemnation proceeds with respect to the Collateral, in the following order of application:

 

FIRST, to the payment of all amounts payable under this Agreement on account of the Collateral Trustee’s and/or the Trustee’s fees and any costs, expenses, reasonable legal fees or other liabilities of any kind incurred by the Collateral Trustee or any co-trustee or agent of the Collateral Trustee in connection with any Parity Lien Document (including, but not limited to, indemnification obligations);

 

SECOND, to the respective Parity Lien Representatives equally and ratably for application to the payment of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable in such order as may be provided in the Parity Lien Documents in an amount sufficient to pay in full in cash all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are then due and payable (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the Parity Lien Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding but excluding contingent indemnity

 

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obligations for which no claim has been made), and including the discharge or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of credit, if any, constituting Parity Lien Debt;

 

THIRD, to the repayment of Excess Priority Lien Obligations;

 

FOURTH, to the repayment of Junior Lien Debt and any other Obligations secured by a permitted Junior Lien on the Collateral sold or realized upon; and

 

FIFTH, any surplus remaining after the payment in full in cash of the amounts described in the preceding clauses will be paid to the Company or the applicable Guarantor, as the case may be, and as directed in writing by the Company, its successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

(b)           This Section 3.4 is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each present and future Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee as holder of Parity Liens. The Parity Lien Representative of each future issuance of Additional Notes and each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder and an Additional Secured Debt Designation as provided in Section 3.8 at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

(c)           In connection with the application of proceeds pursuant to Section 3.4(a), except as otherwise directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, the Collateral Trustee may sell any non-cash proceeds for cash prior to the application of the proceeds thereof.

 

(d)           In making the determinations and allocations in accordance with Section 3.4(a), the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon information supplied by the relevant Parity Lien Representative as to the amounts of unpaid principal and interest and other amounts outstanding with respect to its respective Parity Lien Debt and any other Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Section 3.5          Powers of the Collateral Trustee.

 

(a)           The Collateral Trustee is irrevocably authorized and empowered to enter into and perform its obligations and protect, perfect, exercise and enforce its interest, rights, powers and remedies under the Parity Lien Security Documents and applicable law and in equity and to act as set forth in this Article 3 or, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, as requested in any lawful directions given to it from time to time in respect of any matter by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

(b)           No Parity Lien Representative or holder of Parity Lien Obligations (other than the Collateral Trustee) will have any liability whatsoever for any act or omission of the Collateral Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee will have no liability whatsoever for any act or omission of any Parity Lien Representative or any holder of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

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Section 3.6          Documents and Communications.  The Collateral Trustee will permit each Parity Lien Representative and each holder of Parity Lien Obligations upon reasonable written notice and at reasonable times from time to time to inspect and copy, at the cost and expense of the party requesting such copies, any and all Parity Lien Security Documents and other documents, notices, certificates, instructions or communications received by the Collateral Trustee in its capacity as such.

 

Section 3.7          For Sole and Exclusive Benefit of Holders of Parity Lien Obligations.  The Collateral Trustee will accept, hold, administer and enforce all Liens on the Collateral at any time transferred or delivered to it and all other interests, rights, powers and remedies at any time granted to or enforceable by the Collateral Trustee and all other property of the Trust Estate solely and exclusively for the benefit of the present and future holders of present and future Parity Lien Obligations, and will distribute all proceeds received by it in realization thereon or from enforcement thereof solely and exclusively pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.4.

 

Section 3.8          Additional Parity Lien Debt.

 

(a)           The Collateral Trustee will, as trustee hereunder, perform its undertakings set forth in Section 3.1(a) with respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting Additional Notes or a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof; provided that:

 

(1)           such Parity Lien Obligations are identified as Parity Lien Debt in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.8(b); and

 

(2)           the designated Parity Lien Representative identified pursuant to Section 3.8(b) signs a Collateral Trust Joinder and an Additional Secured Debt Designation and delivers the same to the Collateral Trustee.

 

(b)           The Company will be permitted to designate as an additional holder of Parity Lien Debt hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes, the registered holder of Parity Lien Debt incurred by the Company or any Guarantor after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents. The Company may only effect such designation by delivering to the Collateral Trustee an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate that:

 

(1)           states that the Company or applicable Grantor intends to incur additional Parity Lien Debt (“Additional Parity Lien Debt”) that is permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be secured with a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt;

 

(2)           specifies the name, address and contact information of the Parity Lien Representative for such series of Additional Parity Lien Debt for purposes of Section 7.6;

 

(3)           attaches as Exhibit 1 to such Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate a Reaffirmation Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1 to

 

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Exhibit A of this Agreement, which Reaffirmation Agreement has been duly executed by the Company and each Guarantor; and

 

(4)           states that the Company has caused a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and the related Collateral Trust Joinder to be delivered to each then existing Parity Lien Representative.

 

Although the Company shall be required to deliver a copy of each Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate, each Collateral Trust Joinder and each Additional Secured Debt Designation to each then existing Parity Lien Representative, the failure to so deliver a copy of the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate, Collateral Trust Joinder and/or Additional Secured Debt Designation to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the status of such debt as Additional Parity Lien Debt if the other requirements of this Section 3.8 are complied with. Each of the Collateral Trustee and the other then existing Parity Lien Representatives shall have the right to request that the Company provide a legal opinion or opinions of counsel (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) as to the Additional Parity Lien Debt being secured by a valid and perfected security interest in the Collateral; provided that (i) such legal opinion or opinions need not address any collateral of a type not previously covered by any legal opinion delivered by or on behalf of the Company and (ii) nothing shall preclude such legal opinion or opinions from being delivered on a post-closing basis after the incurrence of such Additional Parity Lien Debt if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow the Company or any Guarantor to incur additional Indebtedness (including Additional Notes) unless otherwise permitted by the terms of all applicable Parity Lien Documents.

 

(c)           With respect to any Parity Lien Obligations constituting Additional Notes or a Series of Parity Lien Debt that is issued or incurred after the date hereof, the Company and each of the Guarantors agrees to take such actions (if any) as may from time to time reasonably be requested by the Collateral Trustee, any Parity Lien Representative or any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, and enter into such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements to the then existing Guarantees and Parity Lien Security Documents (or execute and deliver such additional Parity Lien Security Documents) as may from time to time be reasonably requested by such Persons (including as contemplated by Section 3.8(d) below), to ensure that the Additional Notes or the Additional Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, are secured by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Parity Lien Security Documents, and each Parity Lien Secured Party (by its acceptance of the benefits hereof) hereby agrees to, and authorizes the Collateral Trustee to enter into, any such technical amendments, modifications and/or supplements (and additional Parity Lien Security Documents). The Company and each Guarantor hereby further agree that, if there are any recording, filing or other similar fees payable in connection with any of the actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 3.8(c) or Section 3.8(d), all such amounts shall be paid by, and shall be for the account of, the Company and the respective Guarantors, on a joint and several basis.

 

(d)           Without limitation of the foregoing, upon reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee, any Parity Lien Representative or any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, each Grantor agrees to take the following actions with respect to any real property Collateral (including Oil and Gas Properties (as defined in the Indenture as in effect on the date hereof))

 

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with respect to all Additional Parity Lien Debt (it being understood that any such actions may be taken following the incurrence of any such Additional Parity Lien Debt on a post-closing basis if permitted by the Parity Lien Representative for such Additional Parity Lien Debt):

 

(1)           each applicable Grantor shall enter into, and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a mortgage modification or new mortgage, debenture, hypothec, deed of trust, deed to secure Indebtedness or similar document, instrument or agreement with regard to each real property subject to a mortgage, debenture, hypothec, deed of trust, deed to secure Indebtedness or similar document, instrument or agreement (each such mortgage, debenture, hypothec, deed of trust, deed to secure Indebtedness or similar document, instrument or agreement a “Mortgage” and each such property a “Mortgaged Property”), in proper form for recording in all applicable jurisdictions, in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee;

 

(2)           each applicable Grantor will cause to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee a local counsel opinion (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that the Collateral Trustee has a valid and perfected Lien with respect to each such Mortgaged Property; and

 

(3)           each applicable Grantor will cause a title company to have delivered to the Collateral Trustee an endorsement to each title insurance policy for any real property Collateral (excluding Oil and Gas Properties), if any, then in effect for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, date down(s) or other evidence (which may include a new title insurance policy) (each such delivery, a “Title Datedown Product”), in each case insuring that (i) the priority of the Liens of the applicable Mortgage(s) as security for the Parity Lien Obligations has not changed and, if a new Mortgage is entered into, that the Lien of such new Mortgage securing the Parity Lien Debt then being incurred shall have the same priority as any existing Mortgage securing then existing Parity Lien Obligations, (ii) since the later of the original date of such title insurance policy and the date of the Title Datedown Product delivered most recently prior to (and not in connection with) such additional Indebtedness, there has been no change in the condition of title and (iii) there are no intervening liens or encumbrances which may then or thereafter take priority over the Lien of the applicable Mortgage(s), in each case other than with respect to Liens permitted by each Parity Lien Document.

 

The Company will deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee confirming that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied.

 

ARTICLE 4
OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE COMPANY AND THE OTHER GRANTORS

 

Section 4.1          Release of Liens on Collateral.

 

(a)           The Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will be automatically released:

 

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(1)           in whole, upon (A) payment in full in cash and discharge of all outstanding Parity Lien Debt and all other Parity Lien Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable at the time all of the Parity Lien Debt is paid in full in cash and discharged (other than contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made), (B) termination or expiration of all commitments to extend credit under all Parity Lien Documents and (C) the cancellation or termination or cash collateralization (at the lower of (1) 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount and (2) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for release of Liens under the terms of the applicable Parity Lien Documents) of all outstanding letters of credit issued pursuant to any Parity Lien Documents;

 

(2)           as to any Collateral of a Guarantor that is (A) released as a Guarantor under each Parity Lien Document and (B) is not obligated (as primary obligor or guarantor) with respect to any other Parity Lien Obligations and so long as the respective release does not violate the terms of any Parity Lien Document which then remains in effect;

 

(3)           as to any Collateral of the Company or a Guarantor that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Company or any Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or disposition) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company in a transaction or other circumstance that does not violate Section 4.14 of the Indenture (other than the obligation to apply proceeds of such Asset Sale (as defined in the Indenture) as provided in such Section 4.14 of the Indenture) and is permitted by all of the other Parity Lien Documents, at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition or to the extent of the interest sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of; provided that the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral will not be released if the sale or other disposition is subject to Article 5 of the Indenture;

 

(4)           as to a release of less than all or substantially all of the Collateral, if consent to the release of all Parity Liens on such Collateral has been given by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders;

 

(5)           in whole, if the Liens on such Collateral have been released in accordance with the terms of each Series of Parity Lien Debt;

 

(6)           as to a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral, if (A) consent to the release of that Collateral has been given by the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt at the time outstanding as provided for in the applicable Parity Lien Documents and (B) the Company has delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Collateral Trustee certifying that all such necessary consents have been obtained; or

 

(7)           if and to the extent, and in the manner, required by Section 4.01(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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(b)           The Collateral Trustee agrees for the benefit of the Company and the other Grantors that if the Collateral Trustee at any time receives:

 

(1)           an Officers’ Certificate (which the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon) stating that (A) the signing officer has read Article 4 of this Agreement and understands the provisions and the definitions relating hereto, (B) such officer has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent in this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and all other Parity Lien Documents, if any, relating to the release of the Collateral have been complied with, (C) in the opinion of such officer, such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with and (D) such release of Collateral did not violate the terms of any applicable Parity Lien Document; and

 

(2)           the proposed instrument or instruments releasing such Lien as to such property in recordable form, if applicable;

 

then, promptly following receipt by the Collateral Trustee of the items required by this Section 4.1(b), upon request of the Company, the Collateral Trustee will execute (with such acknowledgements and/or notarizations as are required) and deliver evidence of such release to the Company or other applicable Grantor; provided that, in the case of a release of Liens under Section 4.1(a)(7), the Collateral Trustee shall execute and deliver such proposed instruments releasing its Liens contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of such similar instruments by the Priority Lien Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(c)           The Collateral Trustee hereby agrees that:

 

(1)           in the case of any release pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(3), if the terms of any such sale, transfer or other disposition require the payment of the purchase price to be contemporaneous with the delivery of the applicable release, then, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and at the written request of and at the expense of the Company or other applicable Grantor, the Collateral Trustee will either (A) be present at and deliver the release at the closing of such transaction or (B) deliver the release under customary escrow arrangements that permit such contemporaneous payment and delivery of the release; and

 

(2)           at any time when a Parity Lien Debt Default has occurred and is continuing, within one Business Day of the receipt by it of any Act of Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(4), the Collateral Trustee will deliver a copy of such Act of Parity Lien Debtholders to each Parity Lien Representative.

 

Section 4.2          Delivery of Copies to Parity Lien Representatives.  The Company will deliver to each Parity Lien Representative a copy of each Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1(b), together with copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee with such Officers’ Certificate. The Parity Lien Representatives will not be obligated to take notice thereof or to act thereon. Each Parity Lien Representative shall, within

 

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one Business Day of the receipt by it of the Officers’ Certificate and proposed release instrument(s) delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1(b), deliver a copy of such notice to each registered holder of the Series of Parity Lien Debt for which it acts as Parity Lien Representative.

 

Section 4.3          Collateral Trustee not Required to Serve, File or Record.  Subject to Section 3.2, the Collateral Trustee is not required to serve, file, register or record any instrument releasing or subordinating its Liens on any Collateral; provided that if the Company or any other Grantor shall make a written demand for a termination statement under Section 9-513(c) of the UCC, the Collateral Trustee shall comply with the written request of the Company or Grantor to comply with the requirements of such UCC provision (which written request must be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate relating to the same); provided, further, that the Collateral Trustee must first confirm with the Parity Lien Representatives that the requirements of such UCC provisions have been satisfied.

 

Section 4.4          Release of Liens in Respect of Notes.  In addition to any release pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under the Indenture or any other Obligations under the Note Documents, and the right of the holders of the Notes to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged as provided for in Section 13.06 of the Indenture.

 

Section 4.5          Release of Liens in Respect of any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes.  In addition to any release pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt other than the Notes, the Collateral Trustee’s Parity Lien will no longer secure such Series of Parity Lien Debt if such Parity Lien Debt has been paid in full, all commitments to extend credit in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt have been terminated and all other Parity Lien Obligations related thereto that are outstanding and unpaid at the time such Series of Parity Lien Debt is paid are also paid in full, or if otherwise released by the terms of such Parity Lien Debt or the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 5
IMMUNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

 

Section 5.1          No Implied Duty.  The Collateral Trustee will not have any fiduciary duties nor will it have responsibilities or obligations other than those expressly assumed by it in this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement. No implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement, or otherwise exist against the Collateral Trustee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentences, the use of the term “trustee” in this Agreement with reference to the Collateral Trustee 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. The Collateral Trustee will not be required to take any action that is contrary to applicable law or any provision of this Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Section 5.2          Appointment of Agents and Advisors.  The Collateral Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, accountants, appraisers or other experts or advisors selected by it in good faith as it may reasonably require and will not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any of them.

 

Section 5.3          Other Agreements.  The Collateral Trustee has accepted its appointment as collateral trustee hereunder and is bound by the Parity Lien Security Documents executed by the Collateral Trustee as of the date of this Agreement, and the Collateral Trustee shall at the request of the Company execute additional Parity Lien Security Documents delivered to it after the date of this Agreement (including to secure Obligations arising under Additional Parity Lien Debt to the extent such Obligations are permitted to be incurred and secured under the Parity Lien Documents); provided that such additional Parity Lien Security Documents do not adversely affect the rights, privileges, benefits and immunities of the Collateral Trustee or conflict with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement. The Collateral Trustee will not otherwise be bound by, or be held obligated by, the provisions of any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing Parity Lien Debt (other than this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents to which it is a party).

 

Section 5.4          Solicitation of Instructions.

 

(a)           The Collateral Trustee may at any time solicit written confirmatory instructions, in the form of an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, an Officers’ Certificate, a legal opinion from counsel to the Company or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, as to any action that it may be requested or required to take, or that it may propose to take, in the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, and the Collateral Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on any such certificate,  opinion or order.  In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Collateral Trustee may rely, and will be protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Collateral Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but, in the case of any document which is specifically required to be furnished to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof, the Collateral Trustee shall examine the document to determine whether it conforms to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(b)           No written direction given to the Collateral Trustee by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders that in the sole judgment of the Collateral Trustee imposes, purports to impose or might reasonably be expected to impose upon the Collateral Trustee any obligation or liability not set forth in or arising under this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents will be binding upon the Collateral Trustee unless the Collateral Trustee elects, at its sole option, to accept such direction.

 

(c)           The Collateral Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement at the request, order or direction of the Required

 

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Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, unless such holders shall have furnished to the Collateral Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

 

Section 5.5          Limitation of Liability.  The Collateral Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other Parity Lien Security Document, except as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the Collateral Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

Section 5.6          Documents in Satisfactory Form.  The Collateral Trustee will be entitled to require that all agreements, certificates, opinions, instruments and other documents at any time submitted to it, including those expressly provided for in this Agreement, be delivered to it in a form and with substantive provisions reasonably satisfactory to it.  The Collateral Trustee (i) makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of any Parity Lien Document and (ii) is not responsible for any statement in any Parity Lien Document other than its certificate of authentication and any representations and warranties made by it.

 

Section 5.7          Entitled to Rely.  The Collateral Trustee may seek and rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any judicial order or judgment, upon any advice, opinion or statement of legal counsel, independent consultants and other experts selected by it in good faith and upon any certification, instruction, notice or other writing delivered to it by the Company or any Guarantor in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement or delivered to it by any Parity Lien Representative as to the holders of Parity Lien Obligations for whom it acts, without being required to determine the authenticity thereof or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of service thereof. The Collateral Trustee may act in reliance upon any instrument comporting with the provisions of this Agreement or any signature believed by it in good faith to be genuine and may assume that any Person purporting to give notice or receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any document in connection with the provisions hereof or the other Parity Lien Security Documents has been duly authorized to do so. To the extent an Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel is required or permitted under this Agreement to be delivered to the Collateral Trustee in respect of any matter, the Collateral Trustee may rely conclusively on an Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel as to such matter and such Officers’ Certificate or opinion of counsel shall be full warranty and protection to the Collateral Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents.  The Collateral Trustee (a) shall not be responsible to any Parity Lien Secured Party for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties of any other Person contained herein, in the Parity Lien Documents or in any document, certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or therewith or for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability, priority of sufficiency of this Agreement, the Parity Lien Documents or the financial condition of the Company, the Guarantors or any of them and (b) shall not be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observation of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or any Parity Lien Document.

 

Section 5.8          Parity Lien Debt Default.  The Collateral Trustee will not be required to inquire as to the occurrence or absence of any Parity Lien Debt Default and will not be affected

 

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by or required to act upon any notice or knowledge as to the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default unless and until it is directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders.

 

Section 5.9          Actions by Collateral Trustee.  As to any matter not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents, the Collateral Trustee will act or refrain from acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders and will be fully protected if it does so, and any action taken, suffered or omitted pursuant to hereto or thereto shall be binding on the holders of Parity Lien Obligations.

 

Section 5.10        Security or Indemnity in favor of the Collateral Trustee.  The Collateral Trustee will not be required to advance or expend any funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers or rights hereunder unless it has been provided with security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any and all liability or expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take such action.

 

Section 5.11        Rights of the Collateral Trustee.  In the event of any conflict between any terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement and those set forth in any other Parity Lien Security Document, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall supersede and control the terms and provisions of such other Parity Lien Security Document. In the event there is any bona fide, good faith disagreement between the other parties to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents resulting in adverse claims being made in connection with Collateral held by the Collateral Trustee and the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents do not unambiguously mandate the action the Collateral Trustee is to take or not to take in connection therewith under the circumstances then existing, or the Collateral Trustee is in doubt as to what action it is required to take or not to take hereunder or under the other Parity Lien Security Documents, it will be entitled to refrain from taking any action (and will incur no liability for doing so) until directed otherwise in writing by a request signed jointly by the parties hereto entitled to give such direction or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.12        Limitations on Duty of Collateral Trustee in Respect of Collateral.

 

(a)           Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of Collateral in its possession, the Collateral Trustee will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Liens on the Collateral; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Trustee will execute, file or record UCC-3 continuation statements and other documents and instruments to preserve, protect or perfect the security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee (subject to the priorities set forth herein) if it shall receive a specific written request to execute, file or record the particular continuation statement or other specific document or instrument by any Parity Lien Representative. The Collateral Trustee shall deliver to each other Parity Lien Representative a copy of any such written request. The Collateral Trustee will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the

 

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custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and the Collateral Trustee will not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Trustee in good faith.

 

(b)           Except as provided in Section 5.12(a), the Collateral Trustee will not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of any Grantor to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral. The Collateral Trustee hereby disclaims any representation or warranty to the current and future holders of the Parity Lien Obligations concerning the perfection of the security interests granted to it or in the value of any Collateral. The Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to the Trustee or any holder of Parity Lien Debt to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this or any other Parity Lien Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreement or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Company or any Guarantor.

 

Section 5.13        Assumption of Rights, Not Assumption of Duties.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:

 

(1)           each of the parties thereto will remain liable under each of the Parity Lien Security Documents (other than this Agreement) to the extent set forth therein to perform all of their respective duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not be executed;

 

(2)           the exercise by the Collateral Trustee of any of its rights, remedies or powers hereunder will not release such parties from any of their respective duties or obligations under the other Parity Lien Security Documents; and

 

(3)           the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of the Company or any Grantor.

 

Section 5.14        No Liability for Clean Up of Hazardous Materials.  In the event that the Collateral Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial 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 Trustee’s sole discretion may cause the Collateral Trustee to be considered an “owner or operator” under any environmental laws or otherwise cause the Collateral Trustee to incur, or be exposed to, any environmental liability or any liability under any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Trustee reserves the right, instead of taking such action, either to resign as Collateral Trustee or to arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court appointed receiver. The Collateral Trustee will not be liable to any Person for any environmental liability or any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Trustee’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to

 

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any kind of discharge or release or threatened discharge or release of any hazardous materials into the environment.

 

Section 5.15        Other Relationships with the Company or Guarantors.  U.S. Bank National Association and its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Company or any Guarantor and its Affiliates as though it was not the Collateral Trustee hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Trustee. The Trustee and the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, U.S. Bank National Association or its Affiliates (and any successor Collateral Trustee and its Affiliates) may receive information regarding the Company or any Guarantor or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Company, such Guarantor or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Collateral Trustee shall not be under any obligation to provide such information to the Trustee or the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations. Nothing herein shall impose or imply any obligation on the part of U.S. Bank National Association (or any successor Collateral Trustee) to advance funds.

 

ARTICLE 6
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.1          Resignation or Removal of Collateral Trustee.  Subject to the appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee as provided in Section 6.2 and the acceptance of such appointment by the successor Collateral Trustee:

 

(a)           the Collateral Trustee may resign at any time by giving not less than 30 days’ notice of resignation to each Parity Lien Representative and the Company; and

 

(b)           the Collateral Trustee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders by giving not less than 30 days’ notice to the Collateral Trustee.

 

Section 6.2          Appointment of Successor Collateral Trustee.  Upon any such resignation or removal, a successor Collateral Trustee may be appointed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders. If no successor Collateral Trustee has been so appointed and accepted such appointment within 30 days after the predecessor Collateral Trustee gave notice of resignation or was removed, the retiring Collateral Trustee may (at the expense of the Company), at its option, appoint a successor Collateral Trustee, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor Collateral Trustee, which must be a bank or trust company:

 

(1)           authorized to exercise corporate trust powers; and

 

(2)           having a combined capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000.

 

The Collateral Trustee will fulfill its obligations hereunder until a successor Collateral Trustee meeting the requirements of this Section 6.2 has accepted its appointment as Collateral Trustee and the provisions of Section 6.3 have been satisfied.

 

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Section 6.3          Succession.  When the Person so appointed as successor Collateral Trustee accepts such appointment:

 

(1)           such Person will succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the predecessor Collateral Trustee, and the predecessor Collateral Trustee will be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder; and

 

(2)           the predecessor Collateral Trustee will (at the expense of the Company) promptly transfer all Liens and collateral security and other property of the Trust Estate within its possession or control to the possession or control of the successor Collateral Trustee and will execute instruments and assignments as may be necessary or desirable or reasonably requested by the successor Collateral Trustee to transfer to the successor Collateral Trustee all Liens, interests, rights, powers and remedies of the predecessor Collateral Trustee in respect of the Parity Lien Security Documents or the Trust Estate.

 

Thereafter the predecessor Collateral Trustee will remain entitled to enforce the immunities granted to it in Article 5 and the provisions of Sections 7.8 and 7.9, and said provisions will survive termination of this Agreement for the benefit of the predecessor of the Collateral Trustee.

 

Section 6.4          Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Collateral Trustee. Any Person into which the Collateral Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Collateral Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the business of the Collateral Trustee shall be the successor of the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3, provided that (i) without the execution or filing of any paper with any party hereto or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, except where an instrument of transfer or assignment is required by law to effect such succession, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, such Person satisfies the eligibility requirements specified in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 6.2 and (ii) prior to any such merger, conversion or consolidation, the Collateral Trustee shall have notified the Company and each Parity Lien Representative thereof in writing.

 

Section 6.5          Concerning the Collateral Trustee and the Parity Lien Representatives.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by each Parity Lien Representative not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as trustee, representative or agent for the benefit of the related holders of the applicable Series of Parity Lien Debt in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it under the related Parity Lien Documents, and in no event shall such Parity Lien Representative, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by U.S. Bank

 

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National Association, not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as Collateral Trustee, and in no event shall U.S. Bank National Association, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement has been signed by U.S. Bank National Association not in its individual capacity or personally but solely in its capacity as Trustee, and in no event shall U.S. Bank National Association or any other Parity Lien Representative, in its individual capacity, have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of any other party under this Agreement, any Parity Lien Document or in any of the certificates, reports, documents, data notices or agreements delivered by such other party pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(d)           In entering into this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Indenture relating to the rights, exculpations or conduct of, affecting the liability of or otherwise affording protection to the “Collateral Trustee” thereunder. In no event will the Collateral Trustee be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors or any Parity Lien Representative.

 

(e)           Except as otherwise set forth herein, neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) solely upon the instructions of the applicable Required Parity Lien Debtholders as provided in the Indenture or the related Parity Lien Document; provided that neither the Collateral Trustee nor any Parity Lien Representative shall be required to take any action that (i) it in good faith believes exposes it to personal liability unless it receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the applicable holders of the Parity Lien Obligations with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or applicable law.

 

ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 7.1          Amendment.

 

(a)           Except as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, no amendment or supplement to the provisions of any Parity Lien Security Document will be effective without the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed by an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders, except that:

 

(1)           any amendment or supplement that has the effect solely of:

 

(A)          adding or maintaining Collateral, securing additional Parity Lien Debt that was otherwise permitted by the terms of the Parity Lien

 

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Documents to be secured by the Collateral or preserving, perfecting or establishing the Liens thereon or the rights of the Collateral Trustee therein; or

 

(B)          providing for the assumption of the Company or any Guarantor’s obligations under any Parity Lien Document in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company or such Guarantor to the extent permitted by the terms of the Indenture and the other Parity Lien Documents, as applicable;

 

will become effective when executed and delivered by the Company or any other applicable Grantor party thereto and, if required for effectiveness pursuant to its terms, the Collateral Trustee;

 

(2)           no amendment or supplement that reduces, impairs or adversely affects the right of any holder of Parity Lien Obligations:

 

(A)          to vote its outstanding Parity Lien Debt as to any matter described as subject to an Act of Parity Lien Debtholders or direction by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders (or amends the provisions of this clause (2) or the definition of “Act of Parity Lien Debtholders” or “Required Parity Lien Debtholders”),

 

(B)          to share in the order of application described in Section 3.4 in the proceeds of enforcement of or realization on any Collateral; or

 

(C)          to require that Liens securing Parity Lien Obligations be released only as set forth in the provisions described in Sections 4.1, 4.4 or 4.5,

 

will become effective without the consent of the requisite percentage or number of holders of each Series of Parity Lien Debt adversely affected thereby under the applicable Parity Lien Document; and

 

(3)           no amendment or supplement that imposes any obligation upon the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative or adversely affects the rights of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative, respectively, in its individual capacity as such will become effective without the consent of the Collateral Trustee or such Parity Lien Representative, respectively.

 

Any amendment or supplement to the provisions of the Parity Lien Security Documents that releases Collateral will be effective only in accordance with the requirements set forth in the applicable Parity Lien Document referenced in Section 4.1 hereof. Any amendment or supplement that results in the Collateral Trustee’s Liens upon the Collateral no longer securing the Notes and the other Obligations under the Indenture and other Note Documents may only be effected in accordance with Section 4.4 hereof.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 7.1(a) but subject to Sections 7.1(a)(2) and 7.1(a)(3):

 

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(1)           any mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee acting as directed in writing by the Required Parity Lien Debtholders, unless such amendment or supplement would not be permitted under the terms of this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Priority Lien Documents;

 

(2)           any amendment or waiver of, or any consent under, any provision of any security document that secures Priority Lien Obligations will apply automatically to any comparable provision of any comparable Parity Lien Security Document without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by the Company or any Guarantor, the Collateral Trustee or any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations; and

 

(3)           any mortgage or other Parity Lien Security Document may be amended or supplemented with the approval of the Collateral Trustee (but without the consent of or notice to any holder of Parity Lien Obligations and without any action by any holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations) (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or (ii) to make other changes that do not have an adverse effect on the validity of the Lien created thereby.

 

(c)           The Collateral Trustee will not enter into any amendment or supplement unless it has received an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such amendment or supplement will not result in a breach of any provision or covenant contained in this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any of the Parity Lien Documents. Prior to executing any amendment or supplement pursuant to this Section 7.1, the Collateral Trustee will be entitled to receive an opinion of counsel of the Company to the effect that the execution of such document is authorized or permitted hereunder, and with respect to amendments adding Collateral, an opinion of counsel of the Company addressing customary creation and perfection, and if such additional Collateral consists of equity interests of any Person which equity interests constitute certificated securities, priority matters with respect to such additional Collateral (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and qualifications).

 

Section 7.2          Voting.  In connection with any matter under this Agreement requiring a vote of holders of Parity Lien Debt, each Series of Parity Lien Debt will cast its votes in accordance with the Parity Lien Documents governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt. The amount of Parity Lien Debt to be voted by a Series of Parity Lien Debt will equal (1) the aggregate principal amount of Parity Lien Debt held by such Series of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn), plus (2) other than in connection with an exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Indebtedness of such Series of Parity Lien Debt (to the extent such unfunded commitments have not been terminated by the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt). Following and in accordance with the outcome of the applicable vote under its Parity Lien Documents, the Parity Lien Representative of each Series of Parity Lien Debt will vote the total amount of Parity Lien Debt under that Series of Parity Lien Debt as a block in respect of any vote under this Agreement.  In connection with this Section 7.2, the Collateral Trustee may conclusively rely upon information supplied by the relevant Parity Lien Representative as to the amounts of Parity Lien Debt held by each Series of Parity Lien Debt.

 

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Section 7.3          Further Assurances.

 

(a)           The Company and each of the Guarantors will do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Trustee from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Trustee holds, for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets that are acquired or otherwise become, or are required by any Parity Lien Document to become, Collateral after the date hereof), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Parity Lien Documents and in connection with any merger, consolidation or sale of assets of the Company or any Guarantor, the property and assets of the Person which is consolidated or merged with or into the Company or any Guarantor, to the extent that they are property or assets of the types which would constitute Collateral under the security documents, shall be treated as after-acquired property and the Company or such Guarantor shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Parity Liens, in the manner and to the extent required under the Parity Lien Documents.

 

(b)           Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Company and each of the Guarantors will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as may be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided that no such security document, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Company and the Guarantors than the Parity Lien Document executed and delivered (or required to be executed and delivered promptly after the date hereof) by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with the issuance of the Notes on or about the date hereof.

 

(c)           From and after the date hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, deliver such documents and takes such actions as are required by Article 13 of the Indenture.

 

(d)           Upon the request of the Collateral Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors will permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives, at reasonable times and intervals upon reasonable prior notice, to visit their offices and sites and inspect any of the Collateral and to discuss matters relating to the Collateral with their respective officers and independent public accountants. The Company and the Guarantors shall, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice, permit the Collateral Trustee or any of its agents or representatives to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of the Company and the Guarantors and their Subsidiaries, all at the Company’s expense.

 

Section 7.4          Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)           Except as provided in Section 5.2 and 6.1 through 6.4, the Collateral Trustee may not, in its capacity as such, delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights

 

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hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Collateral Trustee hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

 

(b)           Neither the Company nor any Guarantor may delegate any of its duties or assign any of its rights hereunder, and any attempted delegation or assignment of any such duties or rights will be null and void. All obligations of the Company and the Guarantors hereunder will inure to the sole and exclusive benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative and each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each of whom will be entitled to enforce this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary hereof, and all of their respective successors and assigns.

 

Section 7.5          Delay and Waiver.  No failure to exercise, no course of dealing with respect to the exercise of, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy arising under this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents will impair any such right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy will preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

Section 7.6          Notices.  Any communications, including notices and instructions, between the parties hereto or notices provided herein to be given may be given to the following addresses:

 

If to the Collateral Trustee:

U.S. Bank National Association

 

Corporate Trust Services

 

EX-TX-WSFH

 

5555 San Felipe Street, 11th Floor

 

Houston, Texas 77056

 

Telephone: (713) 235-9206

 

Facsimile: (713) 235-9213

 

Attention: Mauri J. Cowen

 

 

 

with a copy to:

 

 

 

Thompson & Knight LLP

 

333 Clay St., Suite 3300

 

Houston, Texas 77002

 

Telephone: (713) 951-5803

 

Facsimile: (832) 397-8012

 

Attention: Cassandra G. Mott

 

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If to the Company or any other Grantor:

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

 

Facsimile: 405-429-5983

 

Attention: General Counsel

 

 

If to the Trustee:

U.S. Bank National Association

 

Corporate Trust Services

 

EX-TX-WSFH

 

5555 San Felipe Street, 11th Floor

 

Houston, Texas 77056

 

Telephone: (713) 235-9206

 

Facsimile: (713) 235-9213

 

Attention: Mauri J. Cowen

 

 

 

with a copy to:

 

 

 

Thompson & Knight LLP

 

333 Clay St., Suite 3300

 

Houston, Texas 77002

 

Telephone: (713) 951-5803

 

Facsimile: (832) 397-8012

 

Attention: Cassandra G. Mott

 

and if to any other Parity Lien Representative, to such address as it may specify by written notice to the parties named above.

 

All notices and communications will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, or delivered by facsimile to the relevant address or number set forth above or, as to holders of Parity Lien Debt, its address shown on the register kept by the office or agency where the relevant Parity Lien Debt may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange. Failure to mail or delivery by facsimile a notice or communication to a holder of Parity Lien Debt or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders of Parity Lien Debt.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed or delivered by facsimile in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

Section 7.7          Entire Agreement.  This Agreement states the complete agreement of the parties relating to the undertaking of the Collateral Trustee set forth herein and supersedes all oral negotiations and prior writings in respect of such undertaking.

 

Section 7.8          Compensation; Expenses.  The Grantors jointly and severally agree to pay, promptly upon demand:

 

(1)           such compensation to the Collateral Trustee and its agents as the Company and the Collateral Trustee may agree in writing from time to time;

 

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(2)                                 all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recordation, administration or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Security Document or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto;

 

(3)                                 all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel and any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers or other professional advisors and agents engaged by the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, closing, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents or any consent, amendment, waiver or other modification relating hereto or thereto and any other document or matter requested by the Company or any Guarantor;

 

(4)                                 all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in creating, perfecting, preserving, releasing or enforcing the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral, including filing and recording fees, expenses and taxes, stamp or documentary taxes, search fees, and title insurance premiums;

 

(5)                                 all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee and its agents in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Parity Lien Security Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby or the exercise of rights or performance of obligations by the Collateral Trustee thereunder; and

 

(6)                                 after the occurrence of any Parity Lien Debt Default, all costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Trustee, its agents and any Parity Lien Representative in connection with the preservation, collection, foreclosure or enforcement of the Collateral subject to the Parity Lien Security Documents or any interest, right, power or remedy of the Collateral Trustee or in connection with the collection or enforcement of any of the Parity Lien Obligations or the proof, protection, administration or resolution of any claim based upon the Parity Lien Obligations in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, including all fees and disbursements of attorneys, accountants, auditors, consultants, appraisers and other professionals engaged by the Collateral Trustee, its agents or the Parity Lien Representatives.

 

The agreements in this Section 7.8 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.9                              Indemnity.

 

(a)                                 The Grantors jointly and severally agree to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless the Collateral Trustee, each Parity Lien Representative, each holder of Parity Lien Obligations and each of their respective Affiliates and each and all of their directors, officers, partners, trustees, employees, attorneys and agents, and (in each case) their respective heirs, representatives, successors and assigns (each of the foregoing, an “Indemnitee”) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided that no Indemnitee will be entitled to

 

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indemnification hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liability to the extent such Indemnified Liability is found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. THIS INDEMNITY COVERS ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES.

 

(b)                                 All amounts due under this Section 7.9 will be payable within 10 days upon written demand.

 

(c)                                  To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in Section 7.9(a) may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they violate any law or public policy, each of the Grantors will contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.

 

(d)                                 No Grantor will ever assert any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for any lost profits or special, indirect or consequential damages or (to the fullest extent a claim for punitive damages may lawfully be waived) any punitive damages arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Document or any agreement or instrument or transaction contemplated hereby or relating in any respect to any Indemnified Liability, and each of the Grantors hereby forever waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any claim for any such lost profits or special, indirect, consequential or (to the fullest extent lawful) punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

 

(e)                                  The agreements in this Section 7.9 will survive repayment of all other Parity Lien Obligations and the removal or resignation of the Collateral Trustee and termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.10                       Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect or in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in all other respects and of all remaining provisions, and of such provision in all other jurisdictions, will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 7.11                       Headings.  Section headings herein have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Agreement and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 7.12                       Obligations Secured.  All obligations of the Grantors set forth in or arising under this Agreement will be Parity Lien Obligations and are secured by all Liens granted by the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

Section 7.13                       Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES (BUT GIVING EFFECT TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATION LAW).

 

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Section 7.14                       Consent to Jurisdiction.  All judicial proceedings brought against any party hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the other Parity Lien Security Documents may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State, County and City of New York. By executing and delivering this Agreement, each party hereto irrevocably:

 

(1)                                 submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction;

 

(2)                                 waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (1) of this Section 7.14, and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court;

 

(3)                                 agrees that service of all process in any such proceeding in any such court may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such party at its address provided in accordance with Section 7.6;

 

(4)                                 agrees that service as provided in clause (3) above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such party in any such proceeding in any such court and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect; and

 

(5)                                 agrees each party hereto retains the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to bring proceedings against any party in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.15                       Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE INTENTS AND PURPOSES OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN

 

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ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH PARTY HERETO HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH PARTY HERETO WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 7.15 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER WILL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS OF OR TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN SECURITY DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING THERETO. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

 

Section 7.16                       Counterparts, Electronic Signatures.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which when so executed and delivered will be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together will constitute but one and the same instrument. The parties hereto may sign this Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder and transmit the executed copy by electronic means, including facsimile or noneditable *.pdf files. The electronic copy of the executed Agreement and any Collateral Trust Joinder is and shall be deemed an original signature.

 

Section 7.17                       Effectiveness.  This Agreement will become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by each party of written notification of such execution and written or telephonic authorization of delivery thereof.

 

Section 7.18                       Grantors and Additional Grantors.  Each Grantor represents and warrants that it has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. The Company will cause each Person that hereafter becomes a Grantor or is required by any Parity Lien Document to become a party to this Agreement to become a party to this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, by causing such Person to execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee a Collateral Trust Joinder, whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date hereof. The Company shall promptly provide each Parity Lien Representative with a copy of each Collateral Trust Joinder executed and delivered pursuant to this Section 7.18; provided that the failure to so deliver a copy of the Collateral Trust Joinder to any then existing Parity Lien Representative shall not affect the inclusion of such Person as a Grantor if the other requirements of this Section 7.18 are complied with.

 

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Section 7.19                       Insolvency.  This Agreement will be applicable both before and after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against any Grantor. The relative rights, as provided for in this Agreement, will continue after the commencement of any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the commencement of any such case, as provided in this Agreement.

 

Section 7.20                       Rights and Immunities of Parity Lien Representatives.  The Trustee and the Collateral Trustee will be entitled, to the extent applicable to such entity, to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the Indenture and any future Parity Lien Representative will be entitled to all of the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities set forth in the credit agreement, indenture or other agreement governing the applicable Parity Lien Debt with respect to which such Person will act as representative, in each case as if specifically set forth herein. In no event will any Parity Lien Representative be liable for any act or omission on the part of the Grantors or the Collateral Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 7.21                       Intercreditor Agreement. Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee as provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) and instructs (or is deemed to instruct) the Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement as “Second Lien Collateral Trustee” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement). The Collateral Trustee agrees to enter into any amendments or joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement, without the consent of any Holder or the Trustee, to add additional Indebtedness as Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt (to the extent permitted to be incurred and secured by the applicable Secured Debt Documents) and add other parties (or any authorized agent or trustee therefor) holding such Indebtedness thereto and to establish that the Lien on any Collateral securing such Indebtedness ranks equally with the Liens on such Collateral securing the other Priority Lien Debt, Parity Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, as applicable, then outstanding. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Credit Agreement to extend credit to the Company, as the borrower under the Credit Agreement, and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of this provision and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, to the extent that any Lien on any Collateral is perfected by the possession or control of such Collateral or of any account in which such Collateral is held, and if such Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of the Priority Lien Representative, or of agents or bailees of the Priority Lien Representative, the perfection actions and related deliverables described in this Agreement or the other Parity Lien Security Documents shall not be required.

 

Section 7.22                       Force Majeure.  The Collateral Trustee shall not be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters or similar acts beyond its control.

 

38



 

Section 7.23                       Representations and Warranties.  The Collateral Trustee, the Company, each Guarantor and each Parity Lien Representative represents and warrants to the others as of the date hereof (or, in the case of any Parity Lien Representative that becomes a party hereto after the date hereof, on the date that it becomes party hereto), that: (a) neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor its performance of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement to which it is now subject; (b) it has all requisite authority to execute, delivery and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and (c) this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject only to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws and general principles of equity.

 

Section 7.1                              Incorporation by Reference.  Article 13 of the Indenture is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement as if the provisions thereof were fully set forth herein.

 

Section 7.2                              Additional Persons Bound Hereby.  Each Parity Lien Secured Party (other than the Parity Lien Representative) and each holder of any Parity Lien Debt (other than the Parity Lien Representative) agrees, by virtue of becoming a Parity Lien Secured Party or a holder of any Parity Lien Debt, as applicable, that it shall be bound by the terms of this Agreement as if it were a party hereto.

 

39



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Agreement to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of the day and year first above written.

 

COMPANY:

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

 

Name:

Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTORS:

 

SANDRIDGE OPERATING COMPANY

 

 

INTEGRA ENERGY, L.L.C.

 

 

SANDRIDGE EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION, LLC

 

 

SANDRIDGE MIDSTREAM, INC.

 

 

SANDRIDGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

SANDRIDGE GATHERING LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

 

Name:

Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement]

 



 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee under the Indenture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mauri J. Cowen

 

 

Name:

Mauri J. Cowen

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mauri J. Cowen

 

 

Name:

Mauri J. Cowen

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Collateral Trust Agreement]

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF
ADDITIONAL PARITY LIEN DEBT CERTIFICATE

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”), among SandRidge Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate is being executed and delivered in order to designate additional secured debt as Parity Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

The undersigned, the duly appointed [specify title] of the Company hereby certifies on behalf of [the Company or applicable Grantor] that:

 

(A)                               [the Company or applicable Grantor] intends to incur additional Parity Lien Debt (“Additional Parity Lien Debt”) which will be permitted by each applicable Parity Lien Document to be secured by a Parity Lien equally and ratably with all previously existing and future Parity Lien Debt;

 

(B)                               the name and address of the Parity Lien Debt Representative for the Additional Parity Lien Debt for purposes of Section 7.6 of the Collateral Trust Agreement is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fax:

 

 

 

(C)                               Attached as Exhibit 1 hereto is a Reaffirmation Agreement duly executed by the Company and each Guarantor, and

 

(D)                               the Company has caused a copy of this Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate and the related Collateral Trust Joinder to be delivered to each existing Parity Lien Representative.

 

A-1



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate to be duly executed by the undersigned officer as of                      , 20     .

 

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT

 

The undersigned, the duly appointed Collateral Trustee under the Collateral Trust Agreement, hereby acknowledges receipt of an executed copy of this Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate.

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

A-2



 

EXHIBIT 1 TO ADDITIONAL PARITY LIEN DEBT CERTIFICATE

 

FORM OF
REAFFIRMATION AGREEMENT

 

                                   , 20    

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”), among SandRidge Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Reaffirmation Agreement is being executed and delivered as of                      , 20     in connection with an Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate of even date herewith which Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate has designated additional Parity Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Each of the undersigned hereby consents to the designation of additional secured debt as Parity Lien Debt as set forth in the Additional Parity Lien Debt Certificate of even date herewith and hereby confirms its respective guarantees, pledges, grants of security interests and other obligations, as applicable, under and subject to the terms of each of the Parity Lien Documents to which it is party, and agrees that, notwithstanding the designation of such additional indebtedness or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, such guarantees, pledges, grants of security interests and other obligations, and the terms of each Parity Lien Document to which it is a party, shall continue to be in full force and effect.

 

Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article 7 of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Reaffirmation Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Reaffirmation Agreement to be duly executed as of the date written above.

 

 

[names of the Company and Guarantors]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

A-3



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF
COLLATERAL TRUST JOINDER – ADDITIONAL DEBT

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”), among SandRidge Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Collateral Trust Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 3.8 of the Collateral Trust Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt for which the undersigned is acting as agent being entitled to the benefits of being additional Parity Lien Debt under the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

[1.                                  Joinder. The undersigned,                                    , a                                 , (the “New Representative”) as [trustee, administrative agent] under that certain [described applicable indenture, credit agreement or other document governing the additional secured debt] hereby agrees to become party as a Parity Lien Representative under the Collateral Trust Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Collateral Trust Agreement as of the date thereof.](1)

 

[1][2.]               Additional Secured Debt Designation

 

The undersigned, on behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the [Additional Notes][Series of Parity Lien Debt] for which the undersigned is acting as Parity Lien Representative hereby agrees, for the enforceable benefit of each existing and future holder of Priority Lien Obligations, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, all holders of each current and future Series of Parity Lien Debt, each other current and future Parity Lien Representative and each current and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations and as a condition to being treated as Parity Lien Debt under the Collateral Trust Agreement that:

 

(a)                                 all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any other Grantor to secure any Obligations in respect of any [Additional Notes][Series of Parity Lien Debt], whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

(b)                                 the undersigned and each holder of Obligations in respect of the [Additional Notes][Series of Parity Lien Debt] for which the undersigned is acting as Parity Lien Representative are bound by the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement and the

 


(1) Delete if Additional Parity Lien Debt constitutes Additional Notes.

 

B-1



 

Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

 

(c)                                  the Collateral Trustee shall perform its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement, the other Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

3.                                      Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions.  The provisions of Article 7 of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Collateral Trust Joinder.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of                                   , 20      .

 

 

[insert name of the new representative or the Trustee]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

The Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Collateral Trust Joinder and agrees to act as Collateral Trustee for the [New Representative][Trustee] and the holders of the Obligations represented thereby:

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

B-2



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF
COLLATERAL TRUST JOINDER – ADDITIONAL GRANTOR

 

Reference is made to the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”), among SandRidge Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture (as defined therein), the other Parity Lien Representatives from time to time party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Collateral Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Collateral Trust Agreement. This Collateral Trust Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 7.18 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

1.                                      Joinder.  The undersigned,                                     , a                                    , hereby agrees to become party as a Grantor under the Collateral Trust Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be bound by the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement as fully as if the undersigned had executed and delivered the Collateral Trust Agreement as of the date thereof.

 

2.                                      Governing Law and Miscellaneous Provisions.  The provisions of Article 7 of the Collateral Trust Agreement will apply with like effect to this Collateral Trust Joinder.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Collateral Trust Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of                                   , 20      .

 

 

[                                                                             ]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

The Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Collateral Trust Joinder and agrees to act as Collateral Trustee with respect to the Collateral pledged by the new Grantor:

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

C-1


Exhibit 10.3

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

 

Reference is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015, between Royal Bank of Canada, as Priority Lien Agent (as defined therein), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined therein) and acknowledged and agreed by SandRidge Energy, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”).  Each Person that is secured hereunder, by accepting the benefits of the security provided hereby, (i) consents (or is deemed to consent), to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees (or is deemed to agree) that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) authorizes (or is deemed to authorize) the Second Lien Collateral Trustee (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of such Person to enter into, and perform under, the Intercreditor Agreement and (iv) acknowledges (or is deemed to acknowledge) that a copy of the Intercreditor Agreement was delivered, or made available, to such Person.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, this Agreement, the Liens created hereby and the rights, remedies, duties and obligations provided for herein are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent provided therein, the applicable Security Documents (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).  In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

 

 

 

 

SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

 

dated as of June 10, 2015

 

from

 

the Grantors referred to herein,

 

to

 

U.S. Bank National Association,
as Collateral Trustee

 

 

 

 



 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 1.

Terms Generally

2

Section 2.

Grant of Security

2

Section 3.

Security for Notes Obligations

4

Section 4.

Grantors Remain Liable

4

Section 5.

Delivery and Control of Security Collateral

4

Section 6.

Maintaining Deposit and Securities Accounts

6

Section 7.

Representations and Warranties

7

Section 8.

Further Assurances

8

Section 9.

Collections on Receivables and Related Contracts

10

Section 10.

As to Intellectual Property

10

Section 11.

Voting Rights; Dividends; Etc.

10

Section 12.

Additional Shares

11

Section 13.

Collateral Trustee Appointed Attorney-in-Fact

11

Section 14.

Collateral Trustee May Perform

12

Section 15.

The Collateral Trustee’s Duties

12

Section 16.

Remedies

13

Section 17.

Subordination of Liens

15

Section 18.

Amendments; Waivers; Additional Grantors; Etc.

15

Section 19.

Notices, Etc.

15

Section 20.

Continuing Security Interest; Assignments under the Indenture and the Collateral Trust Agreement

15

Section 21.

Release

16

Section 22.

Terms Generally; References and Titles

16

Section 23.

Execution in Counterparts

17

Section 24.

Governing Law

17

Section 25.

Consent to Jurisdiction

17

Section 26.

Waiver of Jury Trial

18

Section 27.

Intercreditor Agreement

18

 

Schedules and Exhibits

 

Schedule I

 

Location, Type of Organization, Jurisdiction of Organization and Organizational Identification Number; Changes Within Last Five Years

Schedule II

 

Pledged Equity

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Security Agreement Supplement

 

i



 

SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of June 10, 2015 made by SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the other Persons listed on the signature pages hereof and the Additional Grantors (as defined in Section 18) (the Company, the Persons so listed and the Additional Grantors being collectively the “Grantors”), to U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as collateral trustee (the “Collateral Trustee”) for the Secured Parties (as hereinafter defined)).

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

(1)                                 The Grantors have entered into (i) that certain Indenture, dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Indenture”; capitalized terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined) by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (together with its successors in such capacity, the “Trustee”), on behalf of the holders (the “Holders”) of the Notes (as defined below) pursuant to which the Company is issuing $1,250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”) and (ii) that certain Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Collateral Trust Agreement”; capitalized terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein or in the Indenture being used herein as therein defined) by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee and as Collateral Trustee.

 

(2)                                 Each Grantor (other than the Company) has jointly and severally guaranteed on a senior secured basis the payment when due of all Secured Obligations (as hereinafter defined) owed to the Holders under the Indenture in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

(3)                                 The Grantors are entering into this Agreement in order to grant to the Collateral Trustee for the ratable benefit of (a) the Collateral Trustee, (b) the Holders as the initial Parity Lien Secured Parties (as defined in the Collateral Trust Agreement) hereunder and (c) all other Parity Lien Secured Parties from time to time pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement ((a), (b) and (c), collectively, the “Secured Parties”) a security interest in the Collateral (as hereinafter defined) to secure the payment and performance in full when due of the Parity Lien Obligations (as defined in the Collateral Trust Agreement).

 

(4)                                 Each Grantor is the owner of the shares of stock or other equity interests (the “Initial Pledged Equity”) set forth opposite such Grantor’s name on and as otherwise described in Schedule II hereto and issued by the Persons named therein.

 

(5)                                 Each Grantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the execution, delivery and performance of their Notes Obligations under the Indenture, the Notes and the other Note Documents and their other Parity Lien Obligations under the other Parity Lien Documents (as defined in the Collateral Trust Agreement) from time to time, and each is, therefore, willing to execute and deliver this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to induce the Holders to purchase the Notes and in order to induce the other Parity Lien Secured Parties from time to time to make extensions of credit pursuant to the other Parity Lien Documents from time to time, each Grantor agrees with the Collateral Trustee for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties as follows:

 



 

Section 1.                                           Terms Generally.

 

(a)                                 Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement, the Indenture, or the Collateral Trust Agreement, terms defined in Article 8 or 9 of the UCC (as defined below) and/or in the Federal Book Entry Regulations (as defined below) are used in this Agreement as such terms are defined in such Article 8 or 9 and/or the Federal Book Entry Regulations. “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect, from time to time, in the State of New York; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority. “Federal Book Entry Regulations” means (a) the federal regulations contained in Subpart B (“Treasury/Reserve Automated Debt Entry System (TRADES)”) governing book-entry securities consisting of U.S. Treasury bonds, notes and bills and Subpart D (“Additional Provisions”) of 31 C.F.R. Part 357, 31 C.F.R. § 357.2, § 357.10 through § 357.14 and § 357.41 through § 357.44 and (b) to the extent substantially identical to the federal regulations referred to in clause (a) above (as in effect from time to time), the federal regulations governing other book-entry securities.

 

(b)                                 The following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Collateral Trust Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preliminary statements hereto.

 

Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Intercreditor Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the legend appearing on the first page of this Agreement above the preamble.

 

Priority Lien Documents” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Priority Lien Representative” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Required Parity Lien Debtholders” has the meaning set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Section 2.                                           Grant of Security.  Each Grantor grants to the Collateral Trustee, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to the following, in each case, as to each type of property described below, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, wherever located, and whether now or hereafter existing or arising (collectively, the “Collateral”):

 

(a)                                 all Equipment;

 

(b)                                 all Inventory:

 

(c)                                  all Accounts, Chattel Paper (including tangible chattel paper and electronic chattel paper), Instruments (including promissory notes), Securities Accounts, General Intangibles (including payment intangibles, hedging agreements and rights as administrative agent or other agent under any loan agreements relating to Pledged Debt (as defined below)) and all Supporting Obligations (any and all of such Accounts, Chattel Paper, Instruments, General Intangibles and other obligations, to the extent not referred to in clause (d), (e) or (f) below, being the “Receivables”, and any and all such Supporting Obligations, Security Documents, Liens, leases, letters of credit and other contracts being the “Related Contracts”);

 

2



 

(d)                                 the following (the “Security Collateral”):

 

(i)                                     the Initial Pledged Equity and the certificates, if any, representing the Initial Pledged Equity, and all dividends, distributions, return of capital, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the Initial Pledged Equity and all subscription warrants, rights or options issued thereon or with respect thereto;

 

(ii)                                  all additional shares of stock and other equity interests in Restricted Subsidiaries, from time to time acquired by such Grantor in any manner (such shares and other equity interests, together with the Initial Pledged Equity, being the “Pledged Equity”), and the certificates, if any, representing such additional shares or other equity interests, and all dividends, distributions, return of capital, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such shares or other equity interests and all subscription warrants, rights or options issued thereon or with respect thereto;

 

(iii)                               all Indebtedness from time to time owed to such Grantor (such Indebtedness, the “Pledged Debt”) and the instruments, if any, evidencing such Indebtedness, and all interest, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such Indebtedness; and

 

(iv)                              all other Investment Property (including all (A) Securities, whether Certificated Securities or Uncertificated Securities, (B) Security Entitlements, (C) Securities Accounts, (D) Commodity Contracts and (E) Commodity Accounts) in which such Grantor has now, or acquires from time to time hereafter, any right, title or interest in any manner, and the certificates or instruments, if any, representing or evidencing such investment property, and all dividends, distributions, return of capital, interest, distributions, value, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such investment property and all subscription warrants, rights or options issued thereon or with respect thereto;

 

(e)                                  all Deposit Accounts;

 

(f)                                   all intellectual property:

 

(g)                                  all Documents (other than title documents with respect to vessels or vehicles);

 

(h)                                 all books and records (including customer lists, credit files, printouts and other computer output materials and records) of such Grantor pertaining to any of the Collateral; and

 

(i)                                     all proceeds of, collateral for, income, royalties and other payments now or hereafter due and payable with respect to, and Supporting Obligations relating to, any and all of the Collateral (including proceeds, collateral and Supporting Obligations that constitute property of the types described in clauses (a) through (g) of this Section 2 and this clause (i)) and, to the extent not otherwise included, all (A) payments under insurance (whether or not the Collateral Trustee is the loss payee thereof), or any indemnity, warranty or guaranty, payable by reason of loss or damage to or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing Collateral, (B) tort claims, including all Commercial Tort Claims and (C) cash;

 

provided that the following property is excluded from the foregoing security interests and shall not constitute “Collateral”: (A) voting equity interests in any Person that is a controlled foreign corporation under Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (a “CFC”), to the extent (but only to the extent)

 

3



 

required to prevent the Collateral from including more than 66% of all voting equity interests in such CFC, (B) Equipment leased by a Grantor under a lease or otherwise financed pursuant to a purchase-money financing arrangement that prohibits the granting of a Lien on such Equipment, (C) any general intangible, investment property or other rights arising under any contract, instrument, license or other document or under any law, regulation, permit, order or decree of any governmental authority if (but only to the extent that) the grant of a security interest therein would constitute a violation of a legally effective restriction in respect of such general intangible, investment property or other rights in favor of a third party, unless and until all required consents shall have been obtained (for the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions described herein are not negative pledge or similar undertakings in favor of a lender or other financial counterparty), (D) equity interests in Cholla Pipeline, LP, Integra Energy, L.L.C. and Sagebrush Pipeline, LLC unless and until any requisite consent of other holders of equity interests therein are obtained, (E) to the extent that (and only to the extent that) the grant of a security interest therein would constitute a material violation of applicable law, any other property (any and all such excluded property being the “Excluded Property”) and (F) any assets or property that is provided to issuers of letters of credit pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents rather than generally to the holders of Priority Lien Obligations or to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations as a whole.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, none of the covenants or representations and warranties herein shall apply or be deemed to apply to any assets or property constituting Excluded Property. Each Grantor shall, if requested to do so by the Collateral Trustee in its sole discretion or at the direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any such required consent that is reasonably obtainable with respect to Collateral which the Collateral Trustee reasonably determines to be material.

 

Section 3.                                           Security for Notes Obligations.  This Agreement secures, in the case of each Grantor, the payment of all Parity Lien Obligations of any Grantor (all such Parity Lien Obligations being the “Secured Obligations”).

 

Section 4.                                           Grantors Remain Liable.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding:

 

(a)                                 each Grantor shall remain liable under the contracts and agreements included in such Grantor’s Collateral to the extent set forth therein to perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed;

 

(b)                                 the exercise by the Collateral Trustee of any of the rights hereunder shall not release any Grantor from any of its duties or obligations under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral; and

 

(c)                                  no Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral by reason of this Agreement or any other Parity Lien Document, nor shall any Secured Party be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of any Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder.

 

Section 5.                                           Delivery and Control of Security Collateral.  (a)  Subject to Section 5(i) below and the Intercreditor Agreement, all certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Security Collateral shall be delivered to and held by or on behalf of the Collateral Trustee pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee.  Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee shall have the right, at any time in its discretion and without notice to any Grantor, to transfer to or to register in the name of the Collateral Trustee or any of its nominees any or all of the Security Collateral, subject only to the revocable rights specified in Section 11(a).  In addition, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee shall have the right, upon

 

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the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Security Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations.

 

(b)                                 Subject to Section 5(i) below and the Intercreditor Agreement, with respect to any Security Collateral in which any Grantor has any right, title or interest and that constitutes an uncertificated security, such Grantor will cause the issuer thereof either:

 

(i)                                     to register the Collateral Trustee as the registered owner of such security or

 

(ii)                                  to agree in an authenticated record with such Grantor and the Collateral Trustee that such issuer will comply with instructions with respect to such security originated by the Collateral Trustee without further consent of such Grantor, such authenticated record to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee.

 

With respect to any Security Collateral in which any Grantor has any right, title or interest and that is not an uncertificated security, upon the request of the Collateral Trustee in its sole discretion or at the direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, such Grantor will notify each such issuer of Pledged Equity that such Pledged Equity is subject to the security interest granted hereunder. Each Grantor that is the issuer of any Security Collateral or Pledged Equity belonging to another Grantor acknowledges the security interest granted hereunder in such Security Collateral and will take the actions described above in this subsection (b).

 

(c)                                  Subject to Section 5(i) below and the Intercreditor Agreement, with respect to any Security Collateral in which any Grantor has any right, title or interest and that constitutes a security entitlement in which the Collateral Trustee is not the entitlement holder, such Grantor will cause the securities intermediary with respect to such security entitlement either:

 

(i)                                     to identify in its records the Collateral Trustee as the entitlement holder of such security entitlement against such securities intermediary or

 

(ii)                                  to agree in an authenticated record with such Grantor and the Collateral Trustee that such securities intermediary will comply with entitlement orders (that is, notifications communicated to such securities intermediary directing transfer or redemption of the financial asset to which such Grantor has a security entitlement) originated by the Collateral Trustee without further consent of such Grantor, such authenticated record to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee (such agreements together being the “Securities Account Control Agreements”).

 

(d)                                 Subject to Section 5(i) below and the Intercreditor Agreement, no Grantor will add any securities intermediary that maintains a Securities Account for such Grantor or open any new securities account with any then-existing securities intermediary unless:

 

(i)                                     the Collateral Trustee shall have received at least 10 days’ prior written notice of such securities intermediary or such new Securities Account, and

 

(ii)                                  the Collateral Trustee shall have received, in the case of a securities intermediary that is not the Collateral Trustee, a Securities Account Control Agreement authenticated by such new securities intermediary and such Grantor, or a supplement to an existing Securities Account Control Agreement with such then-existing securities intermediary, covering such new Securities Account.

 

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No Grantor shall terminate any securities intermediary or terminate any Securities Account, except that a Grantor may terminate a Securities Account, and terminate a securities intermediary with respect to such Securities Account if it gives the Collateral Trustee at least 10 days’ prior written notice of such termination.

 

(e)                                  Subject to Section 5(i) below and the Intercreditor Agreement, upon any termination by a Grantor of any Securities Account or any securities intermediary with respect thereto, such Grantor will immediately:

 

(i)                                     transfer all property held in such terminated Securities Account to another Securities Account, and

 

(ii)                                  notify all Obligors that were making payments to such Securities Account to make all future payments to another Securities Account, in each case so that the Collateral Trustee shall have a continuously perfected security interest in such funds and property.

 

(f)                                   So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Grantor shall have sole right to direct the disposition of funds with respect to each of its Securities Accounts.

 

(g)                                  Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee may transfer, direct the transfer of, or sell property credited to any Securities Account to satisfy the Grantor’s obligations under the Parity Lien Documents if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(h)                                 Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, upon the request of the Collateral Trustee upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, such Grantor will notify each such issuer of Pledged Debt that such Pledged Debt is subject to the security interest granted hereunder.

 

(i)                                     Clauses (a) through (e) above shall not be applicable to any Collateral except Pledged Equity constituting certificated securities prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default.

 

Section 6.                                           Maintaining Deposit and Securities Accounts.  Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, only upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

(a)                                 Each Grantor will maintain all Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts only with the Collateral Trustee (or prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, with the applicable Priority Lien Representative to be held by such Priority Lien Representative, as gratuitous bailee for perfection for the Collateral Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and Section 27 hereof, with references in this Section 6 to the Collateral Trustee being deemed to refer to such Priority Lien Representative in such capacity in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) or with banks (the “Pledged Account Banks”) that have agreed, in a record authenticated by the Grantor, the Collateral Trustee and the Pledged Account Banks, to:

 

(i)                                     comply with instructions originated by the Collateral Trustee directing the disposition of funds in the Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts without the further consent of the Grantor and

 

(ii)                                  waive or subordinate in favor of the Collateral Trustee all claims of the Pledged Account Banks (including claims by way of a security interest, lien or right of setoff or right of recoupment) to the Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts, which authenticated record shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, and as negotiated in good faith by, the Collateral Trustee

 

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(such agreements together being the “Account Control Agreements”), provided that each Grantor shall promptly (but in any case within 30 days) provide any such Account Control Agreement following the occurrence of an Event of Default.

 

(b)                                 Each Grantor will promptly instruct each Person obligated at any time to make any payment to such Grantor for any reason (an “Obligor”) to make such payment to a Deposit Account.

 

(c)                                  Except for any Deposit Account holding Cash Collateral (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility), no Grantor will add any bank that maintains a Deposit Account for such Grantor or open any new deposit account with any then-existing Pledged Account Bank unless:

 

(i)                                     the Collateral Trustee shall have received at least 10 days’ prior written notice of such additional bank or such new Deposit Account, and

 

(ii)                                  the Collateral Trustee shall have received, in the case of a bank or Pledged Account Bank that is not the Collateral Trustee, an Account Control Agreement authenticated by such new bank and such Grantor, or a supplement to an existing Account Control Agreement with such then existing Pledged Account Bank, covering such new Deposit Account.

 

No Grantor shall terminate any bank as a Pledged Account Bank or terminate any Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, except that a Grantor may terminate a Deposit Account, and terminate a bank as a Pledged Account Bank with respect to such Deposit Account if it gives the Collateral Trustee at least 10 days’ prior written notice of such termination.

 

(d)                                 Upon any termination by a Grantor of any Deposit Account or any Pledged Account Bank with respect thereto, such Grantor will immediately:

 

(i)                                     transfer all funds held in such terminated Deposit Account to another Deposit Account, and

 

(ii)                                  notify all Obligors that were making payments to such Deposit Account to make all future payments to another Deposit Account, in each case so that the Collateral Trustee shall have a continuously perfected security interest in such funds and property.

 

(e)                                  So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Grantor shall have sole right to direct the disposition of funds with respect to each of its Deposit Accounts.

 

(f)                                   Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trustee may, at any time and without notice to, or consent from, a Grantor, transfer, or direct the transfer of, funds from the Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts to satisfy the Grantor’s obligations under the Parity Lien Documents if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(g)                                  Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Collateral Trustee shall be authorized to send to each Pledged Account Bank a Notice of Exclusive Control as defined in and under any Account Control Agreement.

 

Section 7.                                           Representations and Warranties.  Each Grantor represents and warrants as of the Issue Date follows:

 

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(a)                                 Such Grantor’s exact legal name, as defined in Section 9-503(a) of the UCC, is correctly set forth in Schedule I. Such Grantor is located (within the meaning of Section 9-307 of the UCC), is the type of organization and is organized in the state or jurisdiction set forth in Schedule I. The information set forth in Schedule I with respect to such Grantor is true and accurate in all respects. Such Grantor has not, within the prior five years, changed its name, location, chief executive office, place where it maintains its agreements, type of organization, jurisdiction of organization or organizational identification number from those set forth in Schedule I except as disclosed in Schedule I.

 

(b)                                 To the extent required by the terms hereof, all Security Collateral consisting of certificated securities has been delivered into the control of the Collateral Trustee.

 

(c)                                  Such Grantor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral of such Grantor free and clear of any Lien, claim, option or right of others, except for the security interest created under this Agreement or as permitted under the Indenture. No effective financing statement or other instrument similar in effect covering all or any part of such Collateral or listing such Grantor or any trade name of such Grantor as debtor is on file in any recording office, except such as may have been filed in favor of the Collateral Trustee relating to the Note Documents or as otherwise permitted under the Indenture.

 

(d)                                 With respect to the Pledged Equity that is an uncertificated security, such Grantor has caused, to the extent required by the terms hereof, the issuer thereof either:

 

(i)                                     to register the Collateral Trustee as the registered owner of such security or

 

(ii)                                  to agree in an authenticated record with such Grantor and the Collateral Trustee that such issuer will comply with instructions with respect to such security originated by the Collateral Trustee without further consent of such Grantor.

 

If such Grantor is an issuer of Pledged Equity, such Grantor confirms that it has received notice of such security interest.

 

(e)                                  The Initial Pledged Equity pledged by such Grantor constitutes the percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity of the issuers thereof indicated on Schedule II.

 

(f)                                   (i) To the extent required by the terms hereof, all filings and other actions (including (A) actions necessary to obtain control of Collateral as provided in Sections 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 and 9-107 of the UCC and (B) actions necessary to perfect the Collateral Trustee’s security interest with respect to Collateral evidenced by a certificate of ownership) necessary to perfect the security interest in the Collateral of such Grantor created under this Agreement have been duly made or taken and are in full force and effect, and (ii) this Agreement creates in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties a valid and, together with such filings and other actions, perfected second priority security interest in the Collateral of such Grantor (subject to Permitted Collateral Liens), securing the payment of the Secured Obligations except as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby.

 

Section 8.                                           Further Assurances.  (a)  From time to time, at the expense of such Grantor, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, each Grantor will promptly execute and deliver, or otherwise authenticate, all further instruments and documents, and take all further action that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request or as it may request at the direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, in order to perfect and protect any pledge or security interest granted or purported to be granted by such Grantor hereunder or to enable the Collateral Trustee to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any

 

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Collateral of such Grantor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, each Grantor will promptly with respect to Collateral of such Grantor:

 

(i)                                     upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, mark conspicuously each document included in Inventory, each Chattel Paper included in Receivables, each Related Contract, and, at the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or as it may request at the direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, each of its records pertaining to such Collateral with a legend, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee, indicating that such document, Chattel Paper, Related Contract or Collateral is subject to the security interest granted hereby;

 

(ii)                                  execute or authenticate and file such financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request or as it may request at the direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, in order to perfect and preserve the security interest granted or purported to be granted by such Grantor hereunder;

 

(iii)                               [reserved];

 

(iv)                              upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the acquisition of any electronic Chattel Paper, investment property, letter-of-credit rights and transferable records as provided in Sections 9-105, 9-106 and 9-107 of the UCC by any Grantor, the Company shall promptly notify the Collateral Trustee of such acquisition, and upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or as it may request at the direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, take all action necessary or desirable to ensure that the Collateral Trustee has control of such Collateral consisting of electronic Chattel Paper, investment property, letter-of-credit rights and transferable records as provided in Sections 9-105, 9-106 and 9-107 of the UCC;

 

(v)                                 upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or as it may request at the direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, take all action to ensure that the Collateral Trustee’s security interest is noted on any certificate of ownership related to any Collateral evidenced by a certificate of ownership; and

 

(vi)                              deliver to the Collateral Trustee evidence that all other action that the Collateral Trustee may deem reasonably necessary or desirable or as it may request at the direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement in order to perfect and protect the security interest created by such Grantor under this Agreement has been taken.

 

(b)                                 Each Grantor authorizes the Collateral Trustee to file one or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, including one or more financing statements indicating that such financing statements cover all assets or all personal property (or words of similar effect) of such Grantor, in each case without the signature of such Grantor, and regardless of whether any particular asset described in such financing statements falls within the scope of the UCC or the granting clause of this Agreement. A photocopy or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement covering the Collateral or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by law. Each Grantor ratifies its authorization for the Collateral Trustee to have filed such financing statements, continuation statements or amendments filed prior to the date hereof.

 

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(c)                                  Each Grantor will furnish to the Collateral Trustee from time to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral of such Grantor and such other reports in connection with such Collateral as the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request or as it may request at the direction of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement, all in reasonable detail.

 

Section 9.                                           Collections on Receivables and Related Contracts.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9, each Grantor will continue to collect, at its own expense, all amounts due or to become due to such Grantor under Receivables and Related Contracts. In connection with such collections, such Grantor may take such action as such Grantor may deem necessary or advisable to enforce collection of the Receivables and Related Contracts; provided, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, that the Collateral Trustee shall have the right at any time, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and upon written notice to such Grantor of its intention to do so, to notify the Obligors under any Receivables and Related Contracts of the assignment of such Receivables and Related Contracts to the Collateral Trustee and to direct such Obligors to make payment of all amounts due or to become due to such Grantor thereunder directly to the Collateral Trustee and, upon such notification and at the expense of such Grantor, to enforce collection of any such Receivables and Related Contracts, to adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as such Grantor might have done, and to otherwise exercise all rights with respect to such Receivables and Related Contracts, including those set forth set forth in Section 9-607 of the UCC.

 

Section 10.                                    As to Intellectual Property.  (a)  Subject to Section 10(c) below, with respect to its intellectual property, each Grantor will execute or otherwise authenticate an intellectual property security agreement, in a form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee, for recording the security interest granted hereunder to the Collateral Trustee in such intellectual property with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office and any other governmental authorities necessary to perfect the security interest hereunder in such intellectual property.

 

(b)                                 Subject to Section 10(c) below, should any Grantor obtain an ownership interest in any item of the type set forth in Section 2(f) that is not on the date hereof a part of the intellectual property:

 

(i)                                     this Agreement shall automatically apply thereto, and

 

(ii)                                  any such item and, in the case of trademarks, the goodwill symbolized thereby, shall automatically become part of the intellectual property subject to this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  This Section 10 shall only be applicable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.

 

Each Grantor shall give prompt written notice to the Collateral Trustee identifying such items, and such Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee with such written notice, or otherwise authenticate, an intellectual property security agreement supplement in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee covering such items, which supplement shall be recorded with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office and any other governmental authorities necessary to perfect the security interest hereunder in such items.

 

Section 11.                                    Voting Rights; Dividends; Etc.  (a)  Except as set forth in clause (b):

 

(i)                                     Each Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Security Collateral owned by such Grantor or any part thereof for any

 

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purpose; provided that such Grantor will not exercise or refrain from exercising any such right if such action would have a material adverse effect on the value of the Security Collateral.

 

(ii)                                  Each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest and other distributions paid in respect of the Security Collateral owned by such Grantor if and to the extent that the payment thereof is not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Parity Lien Documents.

 

(iii)                               The Collateral Trustee will execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to each Grantor all such proxies and other instruments as such Grantor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and other rights that it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (i) above and to receive the dividends or interest payments that it is authorized to receive and retain pursuant to paragraph (ii) above.

 

(b)                                 Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default that has not been waived:

 

(i)                                     All rights of each Grantor:

 

(A)                               to exercise or refrain from exercising the voting and other consensual rights that it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 11(a)(i) shall, upon notice to such Grantor by the Collateral Trustee, cease and

 

(B)                               to receive the dividends, interest and other distributions that it would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) shall automatically cease,

 

and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Trustee, which shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise or refrain from exercising such voting and other consensual rights and to receive and hold as Security Collateral such dividends, interest and other distributions.

 

(ii)                                  All dividends, interest and other distributions that are received by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of paragraph (i) of this Section 11(b), subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Trustee, shall be segregated from other funds of such Grantor and shall be forthwith paid over to the Collateral Trustee as Security Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement).

 

(iii)                               The Collateral Trustee shall be authorized to send to each Securities Intermediary as defined in and under any Securities Account Control Agreement a Notice of Exclusive Control as defined in and under such Securities Account Control Agreement.

 

Section 12.                                    Additional Shares.  Each Grantor will pledge hereunder, immediately upon its acquisition (directly or indirectly) thereof, any additional equity interests or other securities of each issuer of the Pledged Equity to the extent constituting Collateral.

 

Section 13.                                    Collateral Trustee Appointed Attorney-in-Fact.  Each Grantor irrevocably appoints the Collateral Trustee such Grantor’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or otherwise, from time to time, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in the Collateral Trustee’s discretion, to take any action and to execute any instrument that the Collateral Trustee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement:

 

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(a)                                 to obtain and adjust insurance required to be paid to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

(b)                                 to ask for, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compromise, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in respect of any of the Collateral,

 

(c)                                  to receive, indorse and collect any drafts or other instruments, documents and Chattel Paper, in connection with clause (a) or (b) above, and

 

(d)                                 to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings that the Collateral Trustee may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of the Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of the Collateral Trustee with respect to any of the Collateral.

 

Section 14.                                    Collateral Trustee May Perform.  If any Grantor fails to perform any agreement contained herein, the Collateral Trustee may, but without any obligation to do so and without notice, itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the expenses of the Collateral Trustee incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by such Grantor in accordance with Section 7.8 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

Section 15.                                    The Collateral Trustee’s Duties.  (a)  The powers conferred on the Collateral Trustee hereunder are solely to protect the Secured Parties’ interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Collateral Trustee shall have no duty as to any Collateral, as to ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Collateral, whether or not any Secured Party has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. The Collateral Trustee shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property.

 

(b)                                 Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Collateral Trustee may from time to time, when the Collateral Trustee deems it to be necessary or desirable, appoint one or more subagents for the Collateral Trustee hereunder with respect to all or any part of the Collateral. If the Collateral Trustee so appoints any such subagent with respect to any Collateral:

 

(i)                                     the assignment and pledge of such Collateral and the security interest granted in such Collateral by each Grantor hereunder shall be deemed for purposes of this Agreement to have been made to such subagent, in addition to the Collateral Trustee, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as security for the Secured Obligations of such Grantor,

 

(ii)                                  such subagent shall automatically be vested, in addition to the Collateral Trustee, with all rights, powers, privileges, interests and remedies of the Collateral Trustee hereunder with respect to such Collateral, and

 

(iii)                               the term “Collateral Trustee,” when used herein in relation to any rights, powers, privileges, interests and remedies of the Collateral Trustee with respect to such Collateral, shall include such subagent;

 

provided that no such subagent shall be authorized to take any action with respect to any such Collateral unless and except to the extent expressly authorized in writing by the Collateral Trustee.

 

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(c)                                  The Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon the instructions of the Required Parity Lien Debtholders in requiring or requesting the performance of certain actions or the delivery of certain information to be delivered at the request of, or to the extent required by, the Collateral Trustee hereunder.  The Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon any written notice, statement, certificate, order or other document or any telephone message believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper person, and, with respect to all matters pertaining to this Agreement and its duties hereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by it.

 

(d)                                 In addition to the rights of the Collateral Trustee hereunder, the Collateral Trustee shall have the rights, protections and immunities given to it as Collateral Trustee under the Indenture and the Collateral Trust Agreement, and such are incorporated by reference herein, mutatis mutandis.

 

Section 16.                                    Remedies.  Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

(a)                                 The Collateral Trustee may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a Secured Party upon default under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) and also may:

 

(i)                                     require each Grantor to, and each Grantor will at its expense and upon request of the Collateral Trustee forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by the Collateral Trustee and make it available to the Collateral Trustee at a place and time to be designated by the Collateral Trustee that is reasonably convenient to both parties;

 

(ii)                                  without notice except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any of the Collateral Trustee’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Collateral Trustee may deem commercially reasonable;

 

(iii)                               occupy any premises owned or leased by any of the Grantors where the Collateral or any part thereof is assembled or located for a reasonable period in order to effectuate its rights and remedies hereunder or under law, without obligation to such Grantor in respect of such occupation; and

 

(iv)                              exercise any and all rights and remedies of any of the Grantors under or in connection with the Collateral, or otherwise in respect of the Collateral, including:

 

(A)                               any and all rights of such Grantor to demand or otherwise require payment of any amount under, or performance of any provision of, the Receivables, the Related Contracts and the other Collateral,

 

(B)                               withdraw, or cause or direct the withdrawal, of all funds with respect to the Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, and

 

(C)                               exercise all other rights and remedies with respect to the Receivables, the Related Contracts and the other Collateral, including those set forth in Section 9-607 of the UCC.

 

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To the extent that notice of sale shall be required by law, at least 10 days’ notice to such Grantor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Trustee shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Trustee may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

 

(b)                                 Any cash held by or on behalf of the Collateral Trustee and all cash proceeds received by or on behalf of the Collateral Trustee in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral may, in the discretion of the Collateral Trustee, be held by the Collateral Trustee as collateral for, and/or then or at any time thereafter applied (after payment of any amounts payable to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to Section 7.8 of the Collateral Trust Agreement) in whole or in part by the Collateral Trustee for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties against, all or any part of the Secured Obligations, in accordance with Section 3.4 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

(c)                                  The Collateral Trustee may, without notice to any Grantor, except as required by law and at any time or from time to time, charge, set-off and otherwise apply all or any part of the Secured Obligations against any funds held with respect to the Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts or in any other deposit account or securities account.

 

(d)                                 In the event of any sale or other disposition of any of the intellectual property of any Grantor, the goodwill symbolized by any trademarks subject to such sale or other disposition shall be included therein, and such Grantor shall supply to the Collateral Trustee or its designee such Grantor’s know-how and expertise, and documents and things relating to any intellectual property subject to such sale or other disposition, and such Grantor’s customer lists and other records and documents relating to such intellectual property and to the manufacture, distribution, advertising and sale of products and services of such Grantor.

 

(e)                                  The Grantors recognize that the Collateral Trustee may deem it impracticable to effect a public sale of all or any part of the Security Collateral and that the Collateral Trustee may, therefore, determine to make one or more private sales of any such securities to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. The Grantors acknowledge that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the seller than the prices and other terms which might have been obtained at a public sale and, notwithstanding the foregoing, agree that such private sales shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner and that the Collateral Trustee shall have no obligation to delay sale of any such securities for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer of such securities to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any offer to sell such securities that has been:

 

(i)                                     publicly advertised on a bona fide basis in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation in the financial community of New York, New York (to the extent that such an offer may be so advertised without prior registration under such Securities Act), or

 

(ii)                                  made privately in the manner described above to not less than 15 bona-fide offerees, shall be deemed to involve a “public disposition” for the purposes of Section 9.610(c) of the UCC (or any successor or similar, applicable statutory provision), notwithstanding that such sale may not constitute a “public offering” under the Securities Act, and that the Collateral Trustee or any other Secured Party may, in such event, bid for the purchase of such securities.

 

14



 

Section 17.                                    Subordination of Liens.  Each Grantor confirms that:  (a)  any and all Liens securing debts, liabilities and other Obligations owed to such Grantor by any other Grantor (“Subordinated Liens”) shall be subordinate to any and all Liens under the Security Documents securing the Secured Obligations (“Senior Liens”) as if the Senior Liens were created, filed, recorded and otherwise perfected prior in time to the creation, filing, recording and other perfection of the Subordinated Liens, and

 

(b)                                 by reason of this Agreement, the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, has a perfected, second-priority Lien on each Subordinated Lien and the right, to the exclusion of any Grantor, to enforce, exercise remedies, grant waivers, release and take any and all other actions with respect to such Subordinated Lien.

 

Section 18.                                    Amendments; Waivers; Additional Grantors; Etc.  (a)  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by any Grantor herefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be entered into in accordance with Article 9 of the Indenture and Section 7.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. No failure on the part of the Collateral Trustee or any other Secured Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising any right hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

 

(b)                                 Upon the execution and delivery, or authentication, by any Person of a security agreement supplement in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (each a “Security Agreement Supplement”):

 

(i)                                     such Person shall be referred to as an “Additional Grantor” and shall be and become a Grantor hereunder, and each reference in this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Documents to “Grantor” shall also mean and be a reference to such Additional Grantor, and each reference in this Agreement and the other Parity Lien Documents to “Collateral” shall also mean and be a reference to the Collateral of such Additional Grantor, and

 

(ii)                                  the supplemental Schedules attached to each Security Agreement Supplement shall be incorporated into and become a part of and supplement the respective Schedule hereto, and the Collateral Trustee may attach such supplemental Schedules to such Schedules; and each reference to such Schedules shall mean and be a reference to such Schedules as supplemented pursuant to each Security Agreement Supplement.

 

Section 19.                                    Notices, Etc.  All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be delivered in the manner provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement, in the case of the Company or the Collateral Trustee, addressed to it at its address specified in Section 7.6 of the Collateral Trust Agreement and, in the case of each Grantor other than the Company, addressed to it at the address of the Company or the address set forth on the signature page to the Security Agreement Supplement pursuant to which it became a party hereto; or, as to any party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties. All such notices and other communications shall be effective when and as provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement. Delivery by telecopier of an executed counterpart of any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or of any Security Agreement Supplement or Schedule hereto shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart thereof.

 

Section 20.                                    Continuing Security Interest; Assignments under the Indenture and the Collateral Trust Agreement.  This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall:

 

15



 

(a)                                 remain in full force and effect until the payment in full of all Secured Obligations,

 

(b)                                 be binding upon each Grantor, its successors and assigns and

 

(c)                                  inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Collateral Trustee hereunder and under the Collateral Trust Agreement, to the benefit of the Secured Parties and their respective successors, transferees and assigns.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (c), any Secured Party may assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement or the other applicable Parity Lien Documents to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to such Secured Party herein or otherwise, in each case as provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement or the applicable Parity Lien Documents.

 

Section 21.                                    Release.  (a)  The Collateral shall be released from the Lien and security interest created by this Agreement, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, at any time or from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.06 of the Indenture and Section 4.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.  Upon such release, all rights in the Collateral so released shall revert to the Grantors.

 

(b)                                 Upon any release of Collateral as provided in this Section 21, the Collateral Trustee will, at the expense of the applicable Grantor, execute and deliver to such Grantor such documents as it shall reasonably request to evidence the release of such Collateral, as the case may be.

 

Section 22.                                    Terms Generally; References and Titles.  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” Unless the context requires otherwise:

 

(a)                                 any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein);

 

(b)                                 any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns;

 

(c)                                  the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof;

 

(d)                                 all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement;

 

(e)                                  any reference to any law or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time; and

 

(f)                                   the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

16



 

References to any document, instrument, or agreement shall include:

 

(i)                                     all exhibits, schedules, and other attachments thereto, and

 

(ii)                                  shall include all documents, instruments, or agreements issued or executed in replacement thereof.

 

Titles appearing at the beginning of any subdivision are for convenience only and do not constitute any part of such subdivision and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in such subdivisions. The phrases “this section,” “this clause” and “this subsection” and similar phrases refer only to the sections, clauses or subsections hereof in which such phrases occur. The word “or” is not exclusive.  Accounting terms have the meanings assigned to them by GAAP, as applied by the accounting entity to which they refer. References to “days” shall mean calendar days, unless the term “Business Day” is used. Unless otherwise specified, references herein to any particular Person also refer to its successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 23.                                    Execution in Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 24.                                    Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

Section 25.                                    Consent to Jurisdiction.  All judicial proceedings brought against any party hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State, County and City of New York. By executing and delivering this Agreement, each party hereto irrevocably:

 

(a)                                 submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction;

 

(b)                                 waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 25, and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court;

 

(c)                                  agrees that service of all process in any such proceeding in any such court may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such party at its address provided in accordance with Section 7.6 of the Collateral Trust Agreement;

 

17



 

(d)                                 agrees that service as provided in paragraph (c) of this Section 25 is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such party in any such proceeding in any such court and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect; and

 

(e)                                  agrees each party hereto retains the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to bring proceedings against any party in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 26.                                    Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE INTENTS AND PURPOSES OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN DOCUMENTS. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER PARITY LIEN DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH PARTY HERETO HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH PARTY HERETO WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 26 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER WILL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS OF OR TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARITY LIEN DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING THERETO. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

 

Section 27.                                    Intercreditor Agreement .

 

(a)                                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (i) the liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Trustee hereunder are expressly subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Trustee (and the other Secured Parties) hereunder is subject to the limitations and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern.

 

(b)                                 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (a) and subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, with respect to the Collateral, any obligation of any Grantor hereunder or under any other Parity Lien Document with respect to the delivery or control of any Collateral, the provisions of voting rights, the turning over of proceeds to the Collateral Trustee or the obtaining of any consent of any Person, in each case in connection with any Collateral shall, until the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations, be deemed to be satisfied if such Grantor complies with the requirements of the similar provision of the applicable Priority Lien Document, including, for avoidance of doubt, by delivering any possessory Collateral or granting control over any Collateral to the Priority

 

18



 

Lien Representative. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for purposes of any representation in this Agreement, delivery of Collateral to, or the granting of control over Collateral to, the Priority Lien Representative shall be deemed to include delivery of Collateral to, or the granting of control over Collateral to, the Collateral Trustee.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any request, decision or determination made, or documents or other items deemed satisfactory, desirable,  necessary, appropriate or advisable, by the Priority Lien Representative with respect to the equivalent section under the Priority Lien Documents, shall be deemed to have been made, or deemed satisfactory, desirable, necessary, appropriate or advisable by the Collateral Trustee.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, prior to the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations no Grantor shall be required to take any actions other than the filing of UCC financing statements unless it is so required to take such action under the Priority Lien Documents.

 

[SIGNATURES BEGIN NEXT PAGE]

 

19



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Name:

Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

SANDRIDGE OPERATING COMPANY

 

INTEGRA ENERGY, L.L.C.

 

SANDRIDGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

SANDRIDGE GATHERING LLC

 

SANDRIDGE EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION, LLC

 

SANDRIDGE MIDSTREAM, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Name:

Eddie M. LeBlanc

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page
Security Agreement

 



 

Schedule I to the Security Agreement

 

LOCATION, TYPE OF ORGANIZATION, JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

 

Grantor

 

Location

 

Type of
Organization

 

Jurisdiction of
Organization

 

Organizational I.D.
No.

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Corporation

 

Delaware

 

20-8084793

SandRidge Operating Company

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Corporation

 

Texas

 

75-2541245

Integra Energy, L.L.C.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Limited Liability Company

 

Texas

 

75-2887527

SandRidge Holdings, Inc.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Corporation

 

Delaware

 

20-5878401

SandRidge Gathering LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Limited Liability Company

 

Delaware

 

5610465

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Limited Liability Company

 

Delaware

 

87-0776535

SandRidge Midstream, Inc.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Corporation

 

Texas

 

75-2541148

 

CHANGES IN NAME, LOCATION, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE, PLACE WHERE IT MAINTAINS AGREEMENTS, TYPE OF ORGANIZATION, JURISDICTION OR ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IN LAST FIVE YEARS

 

Grantor

 

Changes

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

None

SandRidge Operating Company

 

None

Integra Energy, L.L.C.

 

None

SandRidge Holdings, Inc.

 

None

SandRidge Gathering LLC

 

Entity formed in September 2014

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

None

SandRidge Midstream, Inc.

 

None

 

Schedule I - 1



 

Schedule II to the Security Agreement

 

PLEDGED EQUITY

 

Grantor

 

Issuer

 

Class of Equity

 

Certificate
No(s)

 

Number of
Shares

 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Shares

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Black Bayou Exploration, L.L.C.

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Cornhusker Energy, L.L.C.

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

FAE Holdings 389322R, LLC

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Lariat Services, Inc.

 

Common Stock

 

1

 

100,000

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

MidContinent Resources, LLC

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Mistmada Oil Company, Inc.

 

Common Stock

 

1

 

1,000

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Sabino Exploration, LLC

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

SandRidge CO2, LLC (f/k/a PSCO2, LLC; f/k/a PSCO2, L.P.)

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

SandRidge Holdings, Inc.

 

Common Stock

 

1

 

100

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

SandRidge Midstream, Inc. (f/k/a ROC Gas Company; f/k/a Riata Operating Company)

 

Common Stock

 

1

 

100,000

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

SandRidge Operating Company (f/k/a Alsate Management and Investment Company; f/k/a Alsate Exploration, Inc.)

 

Common Stock

 

1

 

100,000

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

SandRidge Realty, LLC (f/k/a KMSD, L.L.C.)

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Sierra Madera CO2 Pipeline, LLC (f/k/a Sierra Madera CO2 Pipeline, Ltd.)

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

WTO Gas Gathering Company, LLC

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

Integra Energy, L.L.C. (f/k/a Riata Energy South Africa,

 

Cholla Pipeline, L.P.

 

Limited Partnership

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

36.1427

%

 

Schedule II - 1



 

Grantor

 

Issuer

 

Class of Equity

 

Certificate
No(s)

 

Number of
Shares

 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Shares

 

L.L.C.)

 

 

 

Interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Holdings, Inc.

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC (f/k/a NEG Operating LLC)

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC (f/k/a NEG Operating LLC)

 

CEBA Midstream, LP

 

Limited Partnership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

99

%

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC (f/k/a NEG Operating LLC)

 

Integra Energy, L.L.C. (f/k/a Riata Energy South Africa, L.L.C.)

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC (f/k/a NEG Operating LLC)

 

SandRidge Gathering LLC

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC (f/k/a NEG Operating LLC)

 

SandRidge Midcon Midstream GP, LLC

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

100

%

SandRidge Midstream, Inc. (f/k/a ROC Gas Company; f/k/a Riata Operating Company)

 

Cholla Pipeline, L.P.

 

Limited Partnership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

62.5716

%

SandRidge Midstream, Inc. (f/k/a ROC Gas Company; f/k/a Riata Operating Company)

 

Sagebrush Pipeline, LLC

 

Membership Interests

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

73.80881

%

 

Schedule II - 2



 

Exhibit A to the Security Agreement

 

FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

 

[Date of Security Agreement Supplement]

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as the Collateral Trustee for the Secured Parties

Corporate Trust Services

EX-TX-WSFH

5555 San Felipe Street, 11th Floor

Houston, Texas 77056

 

SandRidge Energy Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Security Agreement dated as of June 10, 2015 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) made by the Grantors from time to time party thereto in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the Secured Parties. Terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Security Agreement.

 

SECTION 1.         Grant of Security.  The undersigned hereby grants to the Collateral Trustee, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of its right, title and interest in and to all of the Collateral of the undersigned, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned, wherever located and whether now or hereafter existing or arising, including the property and assets of the undersigned set forth on the attached supplemental Schedules to the Schedules to the Security Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.         Security for Obligations.  The grant of a security interest in, the Collateral by the undersigned under this Security Agreement Supplement and the Security Agreement secures the payment of all Secured Obligations that are now or hereafter existing under or in respect of the Parity Lien Documents and all Secured Obligations that are now or hereafter existing, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether for principal, reimbursement obligations, interest, premiums, penalties, fees, indemnifications, contract causes of action, costs, expenses or otherwise.

 

SECTION 3.         Supplements to Security Agreement Schedules.  The undersigned has attached hereto supplemental Schedules to the respective Schedules to the Security Agreement, and the undersigned hereby certifies, as of the date first above written, that such supplemental Schedules have been prepared by the undersigned in substantially the form of the equivalent Schedules to the Security Agreement and are complete and correct.

 

SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties.  The undersigned makes as of the date hereof each representation and warranty set forth in Section 6 of the Security Agreement (as supplemented by the attached supplemental Schedules) to the same extent as each other Grantor.

 

SECTION 5.         Obligations Under the Security Agreement.  The undersigned hereby agrees, as of the date first above written, to be bound as a Grantor by all of the terms and provisions of the Security Agreement to the same extent as each of the other Grantors. The undersigned further agrees, as of the date first above written, that each reference in the Security Agreement to an “Additional Grantor” or a “Grantor” shall also mean and be a reference to the undersigned.

 

A - 1



 

SECTION 6.         Governing Law.  This Security Agreement Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

[NAME OF ADDITIONAL GRANTOR]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address for notices:

 

 

 

 

 

A - 2


Exhibit 10.4

 

Execution Version

 

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of June 10, 2015

 

among

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.
as the Borrower,

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
as Administrative Agent, a Swing Line Lender

 

and

 

an L/C Issuer,

 

and

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,

NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH, SUNTRUST BANK and

UBS SECURITIES LLC,
Documentation Agents

 

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS(1),

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

and

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers

 


(1)  RBC Capital Markets is the global brand name of the corporate and investment banking business of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

 

 

Section 1.01

Defined Terms

1

Section 1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

28

Section 1.03

Accounting Terms

29

Section 1.04

Petroleum Terms

29

Section 1.05

Rounding

29

Section 1.06

Times of Day

29

Section 1.07

Letter of Credit Amounts

29

Section 1.08

Available Amount Transactions

29

 

ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

Section 2.01

Committed Loans

30

Section 2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

30

Section 2.03

Letters of Credit

31

Section 2.04

Swing Line Loans

39

Section 2.05

Borrowing Base

41

Section 2.06

Prepayments

43

Section 2.07

Termination or Reduction of Commitments

45

Section 2.08

Repayment of Loans

46

Section 2.09

Interest

46

Section 2.10

Fees

46

Section 2.11

Computation of Interest and Fees

47

Section 2.12

Evidence of Debt

47

Section 2.13

Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

48

Section 2.14

Sharing of Payments by Lenders

49

Section 2.15

Defaulting Lenders

50

 

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

Section 3.01

Taxes

52

Section 3.02

Illegality

54

Section 3.03

Inability to Determine Rates

54

Section 3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans

54

Section 3.05

Compensation for Losses

56

Section 3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

56

Section 3.07

Survival

57

 

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

Section 4.01

Effectiveness

57

Section 4.02

Conditions to All Credit Extensions

59

Section 4.03

Agreement to Deliver Mortgages

60

 

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

i



 

Section 5.01

Existence, Qualification and Power

60

Section 5.02

Authorization; No Contravention

60

Section 5.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

61

Section 5.04

Binding Effect

61

Section 5.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

61

Section 5.06

Litigation

61

Section 5.07

No Default

62

Section 5.08

Ownership of Property; Liens

62

Section 5.09

Environmental Compliance

62

Section 5.10

Insurance

62

Section 5.11

Taxes

63

Section 5.12

ERISA Compliance

63

Section 5.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests; Loan Parties

63

Section 5.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

63

Section 5.15

Disclosure

64

Section 5.16

Compliance with Laws

64

Section 5.17

Solvency

64

Section 5.18

Casualty, Etc.

64

Section 5.19

Labor Matters

64

Section 5.20

Collateral Documents

64

Section 5.21

Engineered Oil and Gas Properties

65

Section 5.22

Sale of Production

65

Section 5.23

OFAC

67

Section 5.24

Anti-Corruption Laws

67

Section 5.25

Patriot Act

67

 

ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Section 6.01

Financial Statements

67

Section 6.02

Certificates; Other Information

69

Section 6.03

Notices

70

Section 6.04

Payment of Obligations

71

Section 6.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

71

Section 6.06

Maintenance of Properties

71

Section 6.07

Maintenance of Insurance

71

Section 6.08

Compliance with Laws

72

Section 6.09

Books and Records

72

Section 6.10

Inspection Rights

72

Section 6.11

Use of Proceeds

72

Section 6.12

Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security

72

Section 6.13

Compliance with Environmental Laws

74

Section 6.14

Further Assurances

74

Section 6.15

Production Proceeds

74

Section 6.16

Anti-Corruption, Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering Laws

75

 

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Section 7.01

Liens

75

Section 7.02

Investments

77

Section 7.03

Indebtedness

78

Section 7.04

Fundamental Changes

80

 

ii



 

Section 7.05

Dispositions

81

Section 7.06

Restricted Payments

82

Section 7.07

Change in Nature of Business

83

Section 7.08

Transactions with Affiliates

83

Section 7.09

Burdensome Agreements

84

Section 7.10

Use of Proceeds

84

Section 7.11

Financial Covenants

84

Section 7.12

Hedge Transactions

84

Section 7.13

Sanctions

85

Section 7.14

Anti-Corruption Laws

85

Section 7.15

Prepayment of Restricted Debt

85

 

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

Section 8.01

Events of Default

85

Section 8.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

87

Section 8.03

Application of Funds

88

 

ARTICLE IX

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

Section 9.01

Appointment and Authority

89

Section 9.02

Rights as a Lender

89

Section 9.03

Exculpatory Provisions

89

Section 9.04

Reliance by Administrative Agent

90

Section 9.05

Delegation of Duties

91

Section 9.06

Resignation of Administrative Agent

91

Section 9.07

Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

91

Section 9.08

No Other Duties, Etc.

92

Section 9.09

Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

92

Section 9.10

Collateral and Guaranty Matters

92

 

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.01

Amendments, Etc.

94

Section 10.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

95

Section 10.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

97

Section 10.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

97

Section 10.05

Payments Set Aside

99

Section 10.06

Successors and Assigns

99

Section 10.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

103

Section 10.08

Right of Setoff

104

Section 10.09

Interest Rate Limitation

104

Section 10.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

105

Section 10.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

105

Section 10.12

Severability

105

Section 10.13

Replacement of Lenders

105

Section 10.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

106

Section 10.15

Waiver of Jury Trial

107

Section 10.16

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

107

Section 10.17

USA PATRIOT Act Notice

108

Section 10.18

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

108

 

iii



 

Section 10.19

Amendment and Restatement

108

 

Schedules and Exhibits

 

Schedule 1.01A

Existing Swap Obligations

Schedule 1.01B

Existing Treasury Management Services Agreements

Schedule 2.01

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

Schedule 2.01S

Swing Line Commitments

Schedule 5.03

Governmental Authorizations

Schedule 5.06

Litigation

Schedule 5.09

Environmental Matters

Schedule 5.13

Subsidiaries, Other Equity Investments and Loan Party Information

Schedule 5.22

Sale of Production

Schedule 7.01

Existing Liens

Schedule 7.02(n)

Existing Investments

Schedule 7.03

Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 10.02

Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

 

 

Exhibit A

Form of Committed Loan Notice

Exhibit B

Form of Swing Line Loan Notice

Exhibit C

Form of Prepayment Notice

Exhibit D

Form of Note

Exhibit E

Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit F

Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit G

Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Loan Parties

Exhibit H

Form of Opinion of General Counsel of the Borrower

 

iv



 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of June 10, 2015 among SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each LENDER from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and ROYAL BANK OF CANADA., as Administrative Agent, a Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

Section 1.01     Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

6% Convertible Preferred Stock” means the Borrower’s 6% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock issued on December 21, 2009, par value $0.001 per share, liquidation preference of $100 per share and with the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designation of the 6% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock.

 

7% Convertible Preferred Stock” means the Borrower’s 7% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock issued on November 10, 2010, par value $0.001 per share, liquidation preference of $100 per share and with the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designation of the 7% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock.

 

8.5% Convertible Preferred Stock” means the Borrower’s 8.5% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock issued on January 21, 2009, par value $0.001 per share, liquidation preference of $100 per share and with the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designation of the 8.5% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock.

 

Administrative Agent” means Royal Bank of Canada in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

 

Administrative Agent Fee Letter” means that certain Administrative Agent Fee Letter, dated as of May 19, 2015, among the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

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

 



 

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

 

Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).

 

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

 

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, as the same may be further amended from time to time.

 

Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time.  If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate” means, at any date, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below, based upon the Borrowing Base Utilization Ratio at such date:

 

 

 

 

 

Applicable Margin

 

 

 

Level

 

Borrowing Base
Utilization Ratio

 

Base Rate

 

Eurodollar Rate + 
Letters of Credit

 

Commitment Fee

 

1

 

> 90%

 

1.750

%

2.750

%

0.500

%

2

 

> 75% and < 90%

 

1.500

%

2.500

%

0.500

%

3

 

> 50% and < 75%

 

1.250

%

2.250

%

0.500

%

4

 

> 25% and < 50%

 

1.000

%

2.000

%

0.500

%

5

 

< 25%

 

0.750

%

1.750

%

0.500

%

 

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

Arranger” means each of RBC Capital Markets(2), Barclays Bank PLC and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., in its capacity as a joint lead arranger and joint book manager in respect of this Agreement.

 

Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit F or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 


(2)  RBC Capital Markets is the global brand name of the corporate and investment banking business of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates

 

2



 

Attributed Value” means, with respect to any Engineered Oil and Gas Property, the portion of the Borrowing Base attributed by the Administrative Agent to such Engineered Oil and Gas Property for purposes of the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base, based upon the discounted present value of the estimated net cash flow to be realized from the production of Hydrocarbons from such Engineered Oil and Gas Property.

 

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.

 

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

 

Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iv).

 

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.07 and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

Available Amount” means, at any time (the “Reference Date”), the sum of (without duplication):

 

(a)                                 $25,000,000; plus

 

(b)                                 an amount (which amount shall not be less than zero) equal to 50% of cumulative Consolidated Net Income (or minus 100% of cumulative Consolidated Net Income, if a loss) for the Available Amount Reference Period; plus

 

(c)                                  the amount of any capital contributions made in cash after the Closing Date or Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date (or issuances after the Closing Date of debt securities that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Stock) received by or contributed to the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof and contributed by such parent to the Borrower) during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date; plus

 

(d) an amount equal to any returns (including dividends, distributions, returns of principal, repayments and similar amounts) actually received in cash or Cash Equivalents, and any Net Cash Proceeds of any sales or other dispositions actually received, by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Investments made after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 7.02(q); provided that such amount may not exceed the original Investment made using the Available Amount pursuant to Section 7.02(q); minus

 

3



 

(e)                                  the aggregate amount of Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(q), Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.06(h) and payments in respect of Restricted Debt made pursuant to clause (iv) of Section 7.15(a), all during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the Reference Date (but excluding the intended usage of the Available Amount on such Reference Date by the particular Investment or Restricted Payment).

 

Available Amount Conditions” shall be satisfied, with respect to any transaction at any time, if (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall result from the applicable transaction; (b) (i) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with each of the provisions of Section 7.11 and (ii) without limitation of the preceding clause (i), the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio shall be no greater than 2.0:1.0; in each case determined on a pro forma basis as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio has been tested but giving effect to any Loans or other Indebtedness incurred, prepaid or repaid after such date and the pro forma incurrence of any proposed Borrowing of Loans (and the use of proceeds thereof); and (c) after giving effect to such transaction, the Available Borrowing Base shall not be less than 10.0% of the Facility Limit.

 

Available Amount Reference Period” means, with respect to any Reference Date, the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing with, and including, the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2015 and ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b), and the related Compliance Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), have been received by the Administrative Agent.

 

Available Borrowing Base” means, at any time of determination, the remainder of (a) the Facility Limit minus (b) the Total Outstandings.

 

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (ii) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its “prime rate” and (iii) the Eurodollar Rate for such day plus 1% per annum.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by the Administrative Agent based upon various factors including the Administrative Agent’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.  Any change in such prime rate announced by the Administrative Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.

 

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

 

Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.

 

Borrowing Base” means, on any date, either the amount provided for in Section 2.05(a) or the amount determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.05(b), as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 7.03(l).

 

4



 

Borrowing Base Cap” means an amount equal to 65% of the discounted future net revenue before state or federal income taxes from Proved Reserves of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated using Modified ACNTA Prices (after giving effect to commodity derivatives contracts in effect as of the date of determination) but otherwise calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, as estimated in the most recent Engineering Report after giving effect to exploration and production activities, acquisitions, dispositions and production since the date of such Engineering Report in the same manner as would be given in calculating Modified ACNTA.

 

Borrowing Base Deficiency” means, as of any date, the amount, if any, by which the Total Outstandings on such date exceeds the Borrowing Base in effect on such date.

 

Borrowing Base Utilization Ratio” means at any time the ratio (expressed as a percentage) determined by taking the Total Outstandings and dividing by the Borrowing Base.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and the State of New York, and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

 

Cash Collateral” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).

 

Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).

 

Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted under Section 7.01):

 

(a)                                 readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 360 days from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof;

 

(b)                                 time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (A) is a Lender or (B)(i) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (c) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)                                  commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America and rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof; and

 

(d)                                 Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by financial institutions that have the highest rating

 

5



 

assigned at that time from either Moody’s or S&P, and the portfolios of which are limited solely to Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this definition.

 

Casualty Event” means any loss, casualty or other insured damage to, or any nationalization, taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any Engineered Oil and Gas Property of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having a fair market value in excess of $1,000,000.

 

CERCLIS” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

CFC” means a Person that is a controlled foreign corporation under Section 957 of the Code.

 

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)                                 any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

 

(b)                                 during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body.

 

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

 

6



 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

Collateral” means all of the “Collateral” and “Mortgaged Property” referred to in the Collateral Documents and all of the other property that is or is intended under the terms of the Collateral Documents to be subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.  Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary, “Collateral” shall not include any Building (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) or Manufactured (Mobile) Home (as defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation) included in the definition of “Mortgaged Property” and no Building or Manufactured (Mobile) Home is hereby encumbered by this Mortgage. As used herein, “Flood Insurance Regulations” shall mean (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time, and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Mortgages, each of the mortgages, collateral assignments, Security Agreement Supplements, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement or Section 6.12, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

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

 

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

 

Consolidated” refers to the consolidation of any Person, in accordance with GAAP, with its properly consolidated subsidiaries. References herein to a Person’s Consolidated financial statements, financial position, financial condition, liabilities, etc. refer to the consolidated financial statements, financial position, financial condition, liabilities, etc. of such Person and its properly consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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Consolidated Current Assets” means, for any period, the aggregate amount of all assets of Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries which would be properly classified as current assets in accordance with GAAP plus any Available Borrowing Base, but excluding any unrealized assets resulting from compliance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Statement 133 concerning mark-to-market requirements on hedging transactions.

 

Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, for any period, the aggregate amount of all liabilities of Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries which would be properly classified as current liabilities in accordance with GAAP, but excluding current maturities under this Agreement and any unrealized liabilities resulting from compliance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Statement 133 concerning mark-to-market requirements on hedging transactions.

 

Consolidated Current Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Current Assets as of such date to (b) Consolidated Current Liabilities as of such date.

 

Consolidated EBITDA” means for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of Borrower for such period; plus each of the following (without duplication) determined for Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for such period: (a) any provision for (or less any benefit from) income or franchise taxes included in determining Consolidated Net Income; (b) any interest expense, premium payments, debt discount and financing fees and expenses of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income; (c) any depreciation, depletion or amortization expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income; (d) any non-cash loss on change in fair value of derivative instruments deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income; (e) any other non-cash charge, expense or loss deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income; and (f) one-time cash expenses and restructuring, severance, termination and other one-time costs, expenses or charges (whether cash or non-cash) incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any entity or line of business permitted hereunder, the closure or consolidation of facilities, the termination or modification of contracts or any benefit or employee plans, or the institution of cost savings initiatives or other business optimization or restructuring programs; and minus each of the following (without duplication) determined for Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for such period, to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income for such period: (a) any non-cash gain on change in fair value of derivative instruments included in determining Consolidated Net Income; (b) any interest income included in determining Consolidated Net Income; and (c) any other non-cash income or gains included in determining Consolidated Net Income; provided however, that in determining Consolidated Net Income for the purposes of this definition for any period in which Borrower or any of its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries has acquired or acquires additional Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (whether by purchase, merger or otherwise) or has acquired or disposed of or acquires or disposes of producing Oil and Gas Properties, (1) the Consolidated Net Income of such acquired Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries shall be included in such calculation on a pro forma basis as if they had been owned by Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries throughout such period, (2) the revenues attributable to the oil and gas production from such acquired Oil and Gas Properties during such period, less the direct operating expenses and severance and ad valorem taxes incurred with respect to such properties during such period, shall be included in such calculation on a pro forma basis as if they had been owned by Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries throughout such period and (3) the revenues attributable to the oil and gas production from producing Oil and Gas Properties disposed of during such period, less the direct operating expenses and severance and ad valorem taxes incurred with respect to such properties during such period, shall be deducted in such calculation on a pro forma basis as if they had not been owned by Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries throughout such period.  Pro forma adjustments made in connection with Subsidiaries or Oil and Gas Properties acquired or disposed of shall be consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X and certified by the Borrower’s chief financial officer.

 

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Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Total Outstandings as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended on or prior to such date.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of Borrower and its Consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that the following shall be excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income and Consolidated EBITDA: (i) any extraordinary items of gain or loss, (ii) any gain or loss from the sale of assets other than in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any non-cash income, gains, losses or charges resulting from the requirements of SFAS 133 or 143 and (iv) the net income (or loss) of any Royalty Trust, any master limited partnership or any person accounted for on the equity method, except to the extent of cash distributions received by the Borrower or a Consolidated Restricted Subsidiary for such period.

 

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

 

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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

 

Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of (i) the Committed Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has been cured, (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of

 

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any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender or (d) any Lender (i) that has failed, within three Business Days after written request by an L/C Issuer, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund under Section 2.01; provided that any such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender under this clause (d)(i) upon receipt of such confirmation by the applicable L/C Issuer or (ii) that has (or is controlled by an entity that has) become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of the creditors or similar Persons charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian, appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment.

 

Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

 

Determination Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

 

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction but excluding all events described in the definition of “Casualty Event” regardless of the value thereof) of any property by any Person (or the granting of any option or other right to do any of the foregoing), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.  The issuance of Equity Interests by any Restricted Subsidiary to any Person other than the Borrower or a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed a Disposition by the Borrower of its direct or indirect Equity Interest in such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent of the resulting dilution.

 

Disqualified Stock” means any capital stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event (other than a change in control), matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is one year after the latest final maturity of the Loans, except to the extent that such capital stock is redeemable with, or solely exchangeable for, any capital stock of such Person that is not Disqualified Stock.

 

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

 

Electrical Assets” means (i) assets used primarily for the transmission and delivery of electricity, including electrical substations, power lines and other electrical infrastructure assets, and (ii) Equity Interests of any Person that has no substantial assets other than assets referred to in clause (i).

 

Election Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).

 

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v), (vi) and (vii) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

 

Engineered Oil and Gas Property” means any Oil and Gas Property listed in the most recent Engineering Report other than any Oil and Gas Property (i) to which no value has been attributed by the Administrative Agent in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base or (ii) that has been

 

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Disposed of as part of or in connection with any Disposition to a Person other than a Loan Party that is permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

 

Engineering Report” means the Initial Engineering Report and each engineering report delivered pursuant to Section 2.05 or Section 6.01.  To the extent that two or more engineering firms prepare reports as of the same date for portions of the properties required to be reported on, such reports will collectively constitute a single “Engineering Report” for the purposes hereof.

 

Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

 

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

 

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.  For the avoidance of doubt, debt instruments that are convertible into Equity Interests shall not be deemed to be Equity Interests until they are so converted.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

 

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an

 

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event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

Eurodollar Rate” means:

 

(a)                                 for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited LIBOR rate (“LIBOR”) or a comparable or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or, if such Reuters screen page is not available, such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and

 

(b)                                 for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined two Business Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; and (ii) if the Eurodollar Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, (a) any Swap Obligation in respect of a Swap Contract if, and to the extent that, and only for so long as, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, as applicable, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder, at the time the guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Guarantor as specified in any agreement between the relevant Loan Parties and counterparty applicable to such Swap Obligations, and agreed by the Administrative Agent.  If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision

 

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thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a), and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Existing Credit Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2014, among the Borrower, each lender party thereto from time to time and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, as amended.

 

Existing Notes” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Principal Debt Obligations.

 

Facility Limit” means, at any time, the lesser of (a) $1,000,000,000 and (b) the Borrowing Base.

 

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any intergovernmental agreements entered into by the United States that implement or modify the foregoing (together with the portions of any law implementing such intergovernmental agreements.

 

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

Flood Insurance Regulations” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Collateral.

 

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.  For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to any Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of outstanding Swing Line Loans made by such Swing Line Lender other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders.

 

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Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

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

 

Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(h).

 

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part) or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien).  The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, 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 the guaranteeing Person in good faith.  The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

Guarantors” means, collectively, (i) SandRidge Holdings, Inc., SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC, SandRidge Gathering LLC, SandRidge Midstream Inc., SandRidge Operating Company, Integra Energy, L.L.C. and Lariat, and (ii) each Person which becomes a Guarantor after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.12.

 

Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

 

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

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Hedge Transaction” means any commodity, interest rate, currency or other swap, option, collar, futures contract or other contract pursuant to which a Person hedges risks related to commodity prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates, securities prices or financial market conditions.  Hedge Transactions expressly include Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions.

 

Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

 

Hydrocarbons” means oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasolines, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate and all other liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons produced or to be produced in conjunction therewith, and all products, by-products and all other substances derived therefrom or the processing thereof, and all other minerals and substances, including, but not limited to, sulphur, lignite, coal, uranium, thorium, iron, geothermal steam, water, carbon dioxide, helium and any and all other minerals, ores or substances of value, and the products and proceeds therefrom, including, without limitation, all gas resulting from the in situ combustion of coal or lignite.

 

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower with less than $5,000,000 in total assets on a Consolidated basis.

 

Immaterial Title Deficiencies” means, with respect to specified Proved Reserves, defects or clouds on title, discrepancies in reported net revenue and working interest ownership percentages, inaccuracies of representations and warranties in Sections 5.21 and 5.22 that are qualified by reference to this term, and other Liens, defects, discrepancies and similar matters which do not, in the aggregate, reduce the PV9 Pricing of all Proved Reserves of the Borrower by more than four percent (4%) of PV9 Pricing of all such Proved Reserves.

 

Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

 

(a)                                 all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

 

(b)                                 all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

(c)                                  net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

 

(d)                                 all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and, in each case, not past due for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account payable was created);

 

(e)                                  indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

 

(f)                                   capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

 

(g)                                  the mandatory redemption price of all Disqualified Stock of such Person; and

 

(h)                                 all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

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For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.  The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any capital lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date. The amount of any non-recourse Indebtedness described in clause (e) of this definition shall, for the purposes of this Agreement,  be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property or asset encumbered, as determined by such Person in good faith.

 

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

 

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

 

Initial Engineering Report” means the engineering report concerning Oil and Gas Properties of Loan Parties dated as of December 31, 2014 prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates and Cawley, Gillespie and Associates, Inc.

 

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

 

Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice, or such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Borrower and commercially available to all the Lenders; provided that:

 

(i)                                     any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                  any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

 

(iii)                               no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. 

 

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For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

 

ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) or in favor the applicable L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

 

Junior Lien Debt” means Indebtedness (i) of the Borrower and the Guarantors secured solely by the Collateral on a junior lien basis on the terms and conditions set forth in (and with a Junior Lien Representative at all times party to) a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and not secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries other than the Collateral (on such junior basis), and (ii) as to which a representative of the holders of such Indebtedness, acting on behalf of such holders, shall have become party to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a Junior Lien Representative, and shall include the Senior Secured Notes.

 

Junior Lien Financing Documentation” means any documentation governing any Junior Lien Debt including, without limitation, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Majority Lenders and the Borrower, among the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent, as a representative of the Secured Parties, and one or more collateral agents or representatives for the holders of the relevant Junior Lien Debt (for any issuance, the “Junior Lien Representative”).

 

Junior Lien Representative” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Lariat” means Lariat Services, Inc., a Texas corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

 

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

 

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Committed Borrowing.

 

L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

 

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L/C Issuer” means (a) Royal Bank of Canada and (b) any other Lender satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that may agree to issue Letters of Credit hereunder pursuant to an instrument in form reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer and the Borrower, in the case of each of (a) and (b), in their respective capacities as issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings.  For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lenders.

 

Lender Counterparty” means any counterparty under a (i) Swap Contract that (A) was a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender), at the time such Swap Contract was entered into and (B) solely with respect to the Swap Contracts listed on Schedule 1.01A, the institution named in such Schedule and/or (ii) Treasury Management Services Agreement that was (x) a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender) at the time such Treasury Management Services Agreement was entered into and (y) solely with respect to the Treasury Management Services Agreement listed on Schedule 1.01B, the institution named in such Schedule.

 

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder providing for the payment of cash upon the honoring of a presentation thereunder.

 

Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the applicable L/C Issuer.  In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of any Letter of Credit Application and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i).

 

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $100,000,000.  The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

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Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article 2 in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents.

 

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

 

Majority Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Majority Lenders.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of (i) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents or (ii) the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents.

 

Maturity Date” means the earliest of (a) March 2, 2020, (b) 91 days prior to the earliest date of (i) any mandatory offer to repurchase the Existing Notes in full or (ii) maturity under the Existing Notes and (c) 91 days prior to the earliest date of (i) any mandatory offer to repurchase the Senior Secured Notes in full or (ii) maturity under the Senior Secured Notes; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Maximum Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09.

 

Modified ACNTA” has the meaning assigned such term in the Senior Secured Indenture as in effect on the date hereof, and any component definition used therein has the meaning set forth in the Senior Secured Indenture as of the date hereof.

 

Modified ACNTA Prices” has the meaning assigned such term in the Senior Secured Indenture as in effect on the date hereof, and any component definition used therein has the meaning set forth in the Senior Secured Indenture as of the date hereof.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

Mortgage” means any of the mortgages and deeds of trust heretofore delivered pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement or hereafter delivered pursuant to Section 4.03, Section 6.12 or Section 6.14 hereof.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

 

Net Cash Proceeds” means:

 

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(a)                                 with respect to any Disposition by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such transaction (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount of any Indebtedness that is secured by the applicable asset and that is required to be repaid in connection with such transaction (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (B) the reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such transaction, (C) income taxes reasonably estimated to be actually payable within two years of the date of the relevant transaction as a result of any gain recognized in connection therewith and (D) the Swap Termination Value, if any, associated with such transaction; provided that, if the amount of any estimated taxes pursuant to subclause (C) exceeds the amount of taxes actually required to be paid in cash in respect of such Disposition, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds if such aggregate amount exceeds $1,000,000;

 

(b)                                 with respect to the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the excess of (i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such transaction over (ii) the underwriting discounts and commissions, and other reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses, incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection therewith; and

 

(c)                                  with respect to the termination of any Hedge Transaction by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the excess of (i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such transaction over (ii) the sum of (A) the reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such transaction and (B) income taxes reasonably estimated to be actually payable within two years of the date of the relevant transaction as a result of any gain recognized in connection therewith; provided that, if the amount of any estimated taxes pursuant to subclause (B) exceeds the amount of taxes actually required to be paid in cash in respect of such termination, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds if such aggregate amount exceeds $1,000,000.

 

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

 

Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

 

Non-Reinstatement Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(iv).

 

Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit or any Swap Contract or Treasury Management Services Agreement with a Lender Counterparty, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding; provided that the term “Obligations” shall not, with respect to any Guarantor, include any Excluded Swap Obligation with respect to such Guarantor.

 

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OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

Oil and Gas Business” means the business of acquiring, exploring, or developing and operating Oil and Gas Properties and the production, marketing, processing and transporting of Hydrocarbons therefrom, and providing services to the oil and gas upstream and midstream segments.

 

Oil and Gas Hedge Transaction” means a Hedge Transaction pursuant to which any Person hedges the price to be received by it for future production of Hydrocarbons.

 

Oil and Gas Properties” means all oil, gas and/or mineral leases, oil, gas or mineral properties, mineral servitudes and/or mineral rights of any kind (including, without limitation, mineral fee interests, lease interests, farmout interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profits interests, oil payment interests, production payment interests and other types of mineral interests), and all oil and gas gathering, treating, storage, processing, monitoring and handling assets and all other assets directly related thereto.

 

Oklahoma Properties” means (a) the office buildings located at (i) 120 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, (ii) 123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 and (iii) 324 N. Robinson Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, (b) the Broadway-Kerr Parking Garage located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Robert S. Kerr Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City and (c) the three surface parking lots located on Broadway Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City.

 

Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount by which such L/C Obligations exceed the Cash Collateral held by the Administrative Agent on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

 

Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 5.25.

 

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

 

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Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

 

Permitted Debt Restrictions” means, an instrument or instruments governing indebtedness which imposes limitations on or requirements with respect to Indebtedness, Restricted Payments or Liens of the type described in Section 7.09 that are substantially the same as or less restrictive than the corresponding limitations or requirements, if any, with respect to such matters contained in any of the Principal Debt Obligations.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning specified in the Mortgages.

 

Permitted Refinancing” means, in respect of any Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder (the “Refinanced Indebtedness”), any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension (any of the foregoing, a “Refinancing”, and any such new Indebtedness, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) of such Refinanced Indebtedness; provided that (i) the amount of such Refinanced Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such Refinancing except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such Refinancing, (ii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) (except that any of the Existing Notes may be refinanced or refunded with Junior Lien Debt) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such Refinancing Indebtedness, and of any agreement entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less favorable taken as a whole in any material respect to the Loan Parties or the Lenders than the terms of any agreement or instrument governing the Refinanced Indebtedness and the interest rate applicable to the Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the then applicable market interest rate, (iii) no Default would result from such Refinancing after giving effect thereto and (iv) such Refinancing Indebtedness does not mature and requires no scheduled amortization prior to the 91st day following the Maturity Date.

 

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

 

Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

 

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

Pledged Equity” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

 

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Principal Debt Obligations” means all existing long-term debt issued by the Borrower including the (i) 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020, (ii) 7.5% Senior Notes due 2021, (iii) 8.125% Senior Notes due 2022, (iv) 7.5% Senior Notes due 2023 (the senior notes referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), collectively, the “Existing Notes”) and (v) any Junior Lien Debt.

 

Proceeding” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

 

Proved Reserves” means, collectively, proved developed nonproducing reserves, proved developed producing reserves and proved undeveloped reserves.

 

PV9 Pricing” means the net present value, discounted at 9% per annum, of the future net revenues expected to accrue to the Borrower’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ collective interests in Proved Reserves expected to be produced from Oil and Gas Properties during the remaining expected economic lives of such reserves made in accordance with the then existing standards of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (with appropriate adjustments made for hedging operations) as follows:

 

(a)                                 for anticipated sales of oil and gas that are fixed in a firm fixed price sales contract with an investment grade counterparty or a counterparty guaranteed, or for whom a letter of credit has been issued, by an investment grade party (or another counterparty approved by Administrative Agent), the fixed price or prices provided for in such sales contract during the term thereof; and

 

(b)                                 for anticipated sales of oil and gas, if such sales are not under a sales contract that is described in paragraph (a) above, for the date of calculation (or, if such date is not a Business Day, for the first Business Day thereafter), the prices provided in the most recent price deck provided to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent, adjusted in each case for historical location and quality differentials during the twelve months preceding such date of determination.

 

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

 

Reference Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Available Amount”.

 

Refinancing Indebtedness” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Permitted Refinancing.

 

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

 

Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified in the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed by the Securities Laws.

 

Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

 

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having at least 66-2/3% of the Aggregate Commitment or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the

 

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L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate at least 66-2/3% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article 2, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer of employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

 

Restricted Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.15.

 

Restricted Debt Documentation” means any documentation governing any Restricted Debt (including, in the case of Junior Lien Debt, Junior Lien Financing Documentation).

 

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).  For the avoidance of doubt, any payment of interest (including payment-in-kind interest) made in respect of any Indebtedness convertible into Equity Interests of the Borrower permitted hereunder shall not constitute a Restricted Payment.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Royalty Trust” means a statutory or business trust, the trustee of which is a financial institution not affiliated with the Borrower, to which the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries conveys, or intends to convey, royalty interests, net profits interests, or other similar mineral interests in the production of hydrocarbons from properties to which no value was attributed in the then most recent determination of the Borrowing Base, in exchange for units of beneficial interests in the trust and all or part of the cash proceeds of an underwritten public offering or a similar offering under Rule 144A of the trust’s units.  For the avoidance of doubt, SandRidge Mississippian Trust I, SandRidge Mississippian Trust II and SandRidge Permian Trust shall each constitute a Royalty Trust.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

Sanctions” means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

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Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Scheduled Determination” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i).

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, the Lender Counterparties, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05, and the other Persons the Obligations owing to which are or are purported to be secured by the Collateral under the terms of the Collateral Documents.

 

Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933 and regulations thereunder, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and regulations thereunder, Sarbanes-Oxley and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.

 

Security Agreement” means, collectively, the pledge and security agreements heretofore delivered pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement and assigned to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties or hereafter delivered pursuant to Section 6.12 or Section 6.14 hereof.

 

Security Agreement Supplement” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

 

Senior Secured Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of June 10, 2015, among the Borrower, the Guarantors (as defined therein) and the Trustee (as defined therein), pursuant to which the Senior Secured Notes are issued.

 

Senior Secured Notes” means the 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 issued pursuant to the Senior Secured Indenture.

 

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business.  The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(h).

 

Special Determination” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(ii).

 

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially

 

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owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither (i) any Royalty Trust nor (ii) any future venture contemplated by Section 7.02(h) shall be considered to be a “Subsidiary” of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for purposes of any Loan Document, except that any of the foregoing entities may be consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary for purposes of such Person’s financial statements.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

 

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation to pay or perform under any Swap Contract.

 

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

Swing Line” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lenders pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

Swing Line Commitment” means, as to any Lender, the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01S or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Swing Line Lender” means (a) Royal Bank of Canada, in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, and (b) any other Lender satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that may agree to make Swing Line Loans hereunder, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

 

Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

 

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Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as approved by the Swing Line Lenders (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Swing Line Lenders), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments.  The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

Threshold Amount” means $25,000,000.

 

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

 

Transaction” means, collectively, the entering into and funding of the senior credit facility under this Agreement, and all related transactions and the payment of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the foregoing.

 

Treasury Management Services Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit, debit or purchasing card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements to the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that the term “Treasury Management Services Agreement” shall not, with respect to any Guarantor, include any Excluded Swap Obligation with respect to such Guarantor.

 

Type” means, with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

 

Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

 

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

 

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Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (1) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder by written notice to the Administrative Agent; provided, that the Borrower shall only be permitted to so designate a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as (a) no Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (b) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Borrower shall be in compliance on a pro forma basis with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11, (c) such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be capitalized (to the extent capitalized by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) through Investments as permitted by, and in compliance with, Section 7.02, (d) for purposes of clause (c) such designation shall be deemed an Investment in an amount equal to the net book value of the total investment of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and (e) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, certifying compliance with the requirements of preceding clauses (a) through (d), and containing the calculations and information required by the preceding clause (b), and (2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.  The Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement (each, a “Subsidiary Redesignation”); provided, that (i) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) immediately after giving effect to such Subsidiary Redesignation, the Borrower shall be in compliance on a pro forma basis with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 and (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, certifying compliance with the requirements of preceding clauses (i) and (ii), and containing the calculations and information required by the preceding clause (ii).

 

Section 1.02                             Other Interpretive Provisions.  With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

 

(a)                                 The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

(b)                                 In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

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(c)                                  Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

Section 1.03                             Accounting Terms.

 

(a)                                 Generally.  All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

 

(b)                                 Changes in GAAP.  If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Majority Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Majority Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

 

Section 1.04                             Petroleum Terms.  As used herein, the terms “proved reserves,” “proved developed reserves,” “proved developed producing reserves,” “proved developed nonproducing reserves,” and “proved undeveloped reserves” have the meaning given such terms from time to time and at the time in question by the Society of Petroleum Engineers of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.

 

Section 1.05                             Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

Section 1.06                             Times of Day.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

Section 1.07                             Letter of Credit Amounts.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

Section 1.08                             Available Amount Transactions.  If more than one action occurs on any given date the permissibility of the taking of which is determined hereunder by reference to the amount of the Available Amount immediately prior to the taking of such action, the permissibility of the taking of each such action shall be determined independently and in no event may any two or more such actions be

 

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treated as occurring simultaneously, i.e., each transaction must be permitted under the Available Amount as so calculated.

 

ARTICLE II
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

Section 2.01                             Committed Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans denominated in Dollars (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing and the application by the Administrative Agent of the proceeds thereof, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Facility Limit, (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the lesser of such Lender’s (A) Commitment and (B) Applicable Percentage of the Facility Limit and (iii) at any time a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is in place, the amount of the requested Committed Borrowing shall not cause the Total Outstandings to exceed the greatest of (A) $950,000,000, (B) the then-effective Borrowing Base Cap and (C) 30% of Modified ACNTA as of the date of incurrence of such Borrowing.  Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.06, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

Section 2.02                             Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                 Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Committed Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Committed Loan Notice.  Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans and (ii) on the Business Day prior to any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.  Except as provided in Section 2.03(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans.  Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

 

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(b)                                 Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

 

(c)                                  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

(d)                                 The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate.  At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Administrative Agent’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

 

(e)                                  After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

Section 2.03                             Letters of Credit.

 

(a)                                 The Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

(i)                                     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Facility Limit, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.  Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

 

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(ii)                                  The L/C Issuers shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:

 

(A)                               subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twenty-four months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Majority Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

 

(B)                               the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.

 

(iii)                               An L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

(A)                               any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the applicable L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the applicable L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the applicable L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the applicable L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the applicable L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the applicable L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the applicable L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the applicable L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

 

(B)                               the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the applicable L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

 

(C)                               except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $50,000;

 

(D)                               such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars; or

 

(E)                                a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.01 exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the applicable L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) either with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the applicable L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Letter of Credit then requested to be issued.

 

(iv)                              Each L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if such L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

 

(v)                                 The L/C Issuers shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the applicable L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

 

(vi)                              Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuers shall have all of

 

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the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article 9 with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the applicable L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article 9 included the applicable L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the applicable L/C Issuer.

 

(b)                                 Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension and Auto-Reinstatement Letters of Credit.

 

(i)                                     Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the applicable L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least three (3) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be.  In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the applicable L/C Issuer may require.  In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the applicable L/C Issuer may require.  Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the applicable L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.

 

(ii)                                  Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the applicable L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof.  Unless the applicable L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Section 4.02 shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the applicable L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the applicable L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices.  Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the applicable L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

 

(iii)                               If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the applicable L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter

 

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of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the applicable L/C Issuer for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the applicable L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the applicable L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise) or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Majority Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the applicable L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

 

(iv)                              If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that permits the automatic reinstatement of all or a portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder (each, an “Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit”).  Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the applicable L/C Issuer to permit such reinstatement.  Once an Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit has been issued, except as provided in the following sentence, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to reinstate all or a portion of the stated amount thereof in accordance with the provisions of such Letter of Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit permits the applicable L/C Issuer to decline to reinstate all or any portion of the stated amount thereof after a drawing thereunder by giving notice of such non-reinstatement within a specified number of days after such drawing (the “Non-Reinstatement Deadline”), the applicable L/C Issuer shall not permit such reinstatement if it has received a notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Reinstatement Deadline (A) from the Administrative Agent that the Majority Lenders have elected not to permit such reinstatement or (B) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied (treating such reinstatement as an L/C Credit Extension for purposes of this clause) and, in each case, directing the applicable L/C Issuer not to permit such reinstatement.

 

(v)                                 Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.  On a monthly basis, each L/C Issuer shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) a complete list of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer.

 

(c)                                  Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

 

(i)                                     Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing.  If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative

 

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Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.  In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to (A) the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans and (B) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion (calculated after giving effect to the application by the Administrative Agent of the proceeds of such Committed Borrowing) of the Aggregate Commitments.  Any notice given by the applicable L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

(ii)                                  Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the applicable L/C Issuer.

 

(iii)                               With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the applicable L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate.  In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

 

(iv)                              Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer.

 

(v)                                 Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuers for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing,  Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) shall not be subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02.  No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(vi)                              If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), the applicable L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on

 

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demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the applicable L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the applicable L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be.  A certificate of the applicable L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(vii)                           In the event the Borrower or any Lender shall have entered into the arrangements contemplated pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iii)(E) with respect to the applicable L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to another Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall be entitled immediately to exercise its rights under any such arrangement and apply any funds received by it as a result thereof to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Unreimbursed Amount with respect to such Letter of Credit.

 

(d)                                 Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)                                     At any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                  If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  Obligations Absolute.  The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuers for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

 

(i)                                     any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

 

(ii)                                  the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the applicable L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

 

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(iii)                               any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

 

(iv)                              any payment by an L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by an L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

 

(v)                                 any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the applicable L/C Issuer.  The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the applicable L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

 

(f)                                   Role of L/C Issuer.  Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.  None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuers shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Majority Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, each as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document.  The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement.  None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the applicable L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the applicable L/C Issuer, and the applicable L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the applicable L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer’s willful failure, in each case as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction, to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuers may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuers shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to

 

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transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

(g)                                  Cash Collateral.  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if an L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations.  Sections 2.06 and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder.  For purposes of this Section 2.03, Section 2.06 and Section 8.02(c), “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders).  Such cash and deposit account balances are referred to herein, collectively, as the “Cash Collateral”.  Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings.  The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing.  Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at the Administrative Agent.

 

(h)                                 Applicability of ISP and UCP.  Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.

 

(i)                                     Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided, in the event the Borrower has entered into an arrangement with the applicable L/C Issuer with respect to the applicable L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to any Lender’s obligation to fund its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount with respect to such Letter of Credit as contemplated in Section 2.03(a)(iii)(E) hereof, no such Letter of Credit Fee shall accrue or be deemed to have accrued, or be owing or payable by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender with respect to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Letter of Credit Fee until such time as the applicable L/C Issuer determines in its reasonable discretion that such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07.  Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the fifth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.  If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (A) upon the request of the Majority Lenders, while any Event of Default exists and (B) automatically, upon any Event of Default under Section 8.01(f), all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

 

(j)                                    Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers.  The Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate of 0.125% per annum (but in no event less than $500.00 per annum or $125.00 per quarter) with respect to each Letter of Credit, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears, and due and payable on the fifth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most

 

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recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07.  In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect.  Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

 

(k)                                 Conflict with Issuer Documents.  In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

 

Section 2.04                             Swing Line Loans.

 

(a)                                 The Swing Line.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of its Swing Line Commitment, notwithstanding the fact that any Swing Line Loan for any such Swing Line Lender, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and L/C Obligations of such Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Swing Line Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Facility Limit and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.06, and reborrow under this Section 2.04.  Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.  Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from each Swing Line Lender a risk participation in each Swing Line Lender’s portion of such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.  The failure of any Swing Line Lender to make its ratable portion of a Swing Line Loan shall not relieve any other Swing Line Lender of its obligation hereunder to make its ratable portion of such Swing Line Loan on the date of such Swing Line Loan, but no Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Swing Line Lender to make the ratable portion of a Swing Line Loan to be made by such other Swing Line Lender on the date of any Swing Line Loan.

 

(b)                                 Borrowing Procedures.  Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lenders, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) by a Swing Line Loan Notice; provided that telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lenders of a Swing Line Loan Notice. Each such Swing Line Loan Notice must be received by the Swing Line Lenders not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day.  Unless each Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing such Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on

 

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the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the ratable portion of the amount of the requested Swing Line Loan (such ratable portion to be calculated based on such Swing Line Lender’s Swing Line Commitment to the total Swing Line Commitments of all Swing Line Lenders) available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the applicable Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

 

(c)                                  Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

 

(i)                                     Any Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes each Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of such Swing Line Lender’s Swing Line Loans then outstanding.  Such request shall be made in writing to the Administrative Agent (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02(a), without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion (calculated after giving effect to the application by the Administrative Agent of the proceeds of such Base Rate Committed Loans) of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02.  The applicable Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent.  Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the applicable Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the applicable Swing Line Lender.

 

(ii)                                  If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the applicable Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the applicable Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

(iii)                               If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), such Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by such Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be.  A certificate of the applicable Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(iv)                              Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and

 

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unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02.  No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(d)                                 Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)                                     At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the applicable Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, such Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

 

(ii)                                  If any payment received by a Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by such Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the applicable Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.  The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of a Swing Line Lender.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender.  Each Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on its applicable portion of the Swing Line Loans.  Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the applicable Swing Line Lender.

 

(f)                                   Payments Directly to Swing Line Lenders.  The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the applicable Swing Line Lender.

 

Section 2.05                             Borrowing Base.

 

(a)                                 Initial Borrowing Base.  During the period from the Closing Date until the next Determination Date the Borrowing Base shall be $500,000,000, subject to adjustment or reduction, as applicable, as set forth in Section 2.05(b)(iv).

 

(b)                                 Subsequent Determinations of the Borrowing Base.  Upon each designation of a new Borrowing Base on a Scheduled Determination or a Special Determination, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of the new Borrowing Base which designation shall take effect immediately on the date such notice is sent (each such date (including the Closing Date), a “Determination Date”) and shall remain in effect until, but not including, the next Determination Date.  The Borrowing Base shall be determined in accordance with the following methodology:

 

(i)                                     By April 1 and October 1 of each year beginning October 1, 2015, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (with sufficient copies for each Lender of any

 

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information provided on paper, computer disks, or other tangible media) the Engineering Report then required under Section 6.01(e) or Section 6.01(f) together with all information, reports and data that the Administrative Agent requests concerning the businesses and properties of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including their Oil and Gas Properties and the reserves and production relating thereto).  As promptly as reasonably practicable after receiving such Engineering Report, information, reports and data, the Administrative Agent shall propose a Borrowing Base following the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(b)(iii) below.  Each such determination of the Borrowing Base is herein called a “Scheduled Determination”.  If the Borrower does not furnish all such information, reports and data by the date specified in the first sentence of this Section, the Administrative Agent may nonetheless designate the Borrowing Base at any amount that Required Lenders determine (or, in the case of an increase, that all the Lenders determine) and the Borrowing Base may similarly be designated from time to time thereafter until each Lender receives all such information, reports and data, whereupon the Lenders shall designate a new Borrowing Base as described above.

 

(ii)                                  In addition to Scheduled Determinations, the Borrower may request the Lenders to make additional determinations of the Borrowing Base twice during any twelve month interval between Scheduled Determinations, and the Administrative Agent also may (and at the request of the Required Lenders must) request the Lenders to make an additional determination of the Borrowing Base once during each twelve month interval between Scheduled Determinations.  The Administrative Agent shall give notice to the Borrower of any such request made by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders.  The Borrower shall submit any such request made by Borrower to Administrative Agent and each Lender and, at the time of such request, the Borrower shall (A) deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender an updated Engineering Report prepared either by the Borrower or by independent petroleum engineers and (B) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the Borrowing Base requested by the Borrower.  Any determination of the Borrowing Base made pursuant to a request under this clause (ii) is herein called a “Special Determination”.  Any Special Determination shall be made by Lenders in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(b)(iii), provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to deliver an updated Engineering Report to the Administrative Agent and Lenders in connection with any Special Determination requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(iii)                               The Administrative Agent shall (within 30 days after receiving the information, if any, required for a Scheduled Determination or a Special Determination) propose to the Lenders a specific Borrowing Base amount for the Lenders to approve or disapprove.  Within 15 days thereafter each Lender shall respond to the Administrative Agent in writing, either approving such proposed amount or setting out a reasonable alternative amount (based on the criteria described in clause (v) below), and any Lender’s failure to respond to such proposal within such time will be deemed a disapproval of the proposed amount.  After receiving such responses or deemed responses from all Lenders, the Administrative Agent will designate the new Borrowing Base at the highest amount approved (i) by all Lenders, in the case of an increase to the then current Borrowing Base, or (ii) at the highest amount approved by the Required Lenders, in the case of a reduction to or continuation of the then current Borrowing Base.

 

(iv)                              In addition to the foregoing, (A) unless clause (B) below applies, the Administrative Agent and Lenders shall also have the right to adjust the Borrowing Base (which shall not count as a Special Determination but which shall otherwise be done in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(b)(iii)) if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries sell or otherwise transfer (excluding transfers to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Guarantor (other than Lariat)) Oil and Gas Properties that, on a cumulative basis since the then most recent Determination Date, represent more than five percent of the net present value of all of their proved reserves, as determined in the most recently delivered Engineering Report and (B) the Borrowing Base shall be automatically reduced pursuant to (1) Section 2.06(b)(ii) or (2) Section 7.03(l), as applicable.

 

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(v)                                 Each redetermination of the Borrowing Base pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall be made in good faith by all of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, in the exercise of their reasonable discretion and in accordance with their respective customary and prudent standards for oil and gas lending and credit transactions as they exist at such time.  Without limiting such discretion, Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (i) may make such assumptions regarding appropriate existing and projected pricing for Hydrocarbons as they deem appropriate in their discretion, (ii) may make such assumptions regarding projected rates and quantities of future production of Hydrocarbons from the Oil and Gas Properties owned by Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as they deem appropriate in their discretion, (iii) may consider the projected cash requirements of Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (iv) are not required to consider any asset other than Proved Reserves owned by Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (v) may make such other assumptions, considerations and exclusions as they deem appropriate in the exercise of their discretion. It is further acknowledged and agreed that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may consider such other credit factors as they deem appropriate in the exercise of their discretion.

 

(c)                                  Borrowing Base Deficiency.  If a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists at any time, the Borrower shall, within ten (10) days after being notified of such Borrowing Base Deficiency, provide written notice (the “Election Notice”) to Lender stating the action which Borrower proposes to take to remedy such Borrowing Base Deficiency, and the Borrower shall thereafter, at its option, do one or a combination of the following in an aggregate amount sufficient to eliminate such Borrowing Base Deficiency:

 

(i)                                     within ten (10) days following the delivery of such Election Notice, make a prepayment of the Loans,

 

(ii)                                  pay monthly installments of the Outstanding Amount of the Loans over a term and in an amount satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, but in any event not to exceed six months, by immediately dedicating a sufficient amount of monthly cash flow from the Oil and Gas Properties of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

(iii)                               within thirty (30) days following the delivery of the Election Notice, submit additional Oil and Gas Properties to the Administrative Agent for evaluation as Borrowing Base properties which the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, determines have a value sufficient to increase the Borrowing Base by at least the amount of the Borrowing Base Deficiency (after giving effect to other actions taken pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) that have the effect of reducing such Borrowing Base Deficiency) and/or

 

(iv)                              within thirty (30) days following the delivery of such Election Notice, apply the Net Cash Proceeds from a Disposition permitted by Section 7.05(g) to reduce the Borrowing Base Deficiency after giving effect to any reduction of the Borrowing Base as determined by the Required Lenders as a result of such sale.

 

Section 2.06                             Prepayments.

 

(a)                                 Optional.

 

(i)                                     The Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans

 

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shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; provided further that any such notice may state that such notice is conditioned upon effectiveness of other financing or the occurrence of other events, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower, by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date specified therein if such condition is not satisfied.  Each such notice shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto and specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.  Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.  Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

(ii)                                  The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lenders (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lenders and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

(b)                                 Mandatory.

 

(i)                                     If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.06(b) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.

 

(ii)                                  Upon completion of (i) any early termination of any Hedge Transaction used in determining the Borrowing Base on the immediately preceding Determination Date or (ii) the Disposition of any assets included in the Borrowing Base on the immediately preceding Determination Date, the effect of which termination or Disposition would be a reduction in the Borrowing Base then in effect of 10.0% or more on a pro forma basis, the Borrowing Base shall immediately and automatically upon consummation of such transaction be reduced by the Borrowing Base contribution of such Hedge Transaction or assets, and all Net Cash Proceeds from the termination of such Hedge Transaction or the Disposition of such assets shall be applied to reduce or eliminate any Borrowing Base Deficiency resulting from such reduction.

 

(iii)                               To the extent not covered by (ii), if the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Disposes of any property under Section 7.05(g) or suffers a Casualty Event which results in the realization by such Person of Net Cash Proceeds, the Borrower shall use the Net Cash Proceeds to eliminate any Borrowing Base Deficiency resulting from such sale; provided that, the proceeds of any Disposition permitted by Section 7.05(g) shall not constitute Net Cash Proceeds to the extent that (A) such proceeds are reinvested in replacement properties or assets, or other productive properties or assets,

 

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acquired by the  Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of a kind then used or usable in the business of the applicable Person (with equal or greater aggregate Attributed Value) within 180 days from the date of receipt thereof or (B) if the applicable Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary intends to acquire replacement properties or assets, or other productive properties or assets, with such proceeds as part of a like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Code, the potential replacement properties or assets are identified by such Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary within 180 days from the date the ownership to the sold assets is transferred to the buyer of such property and the proceeds from such property are reinvested to acquire such replacement properties or assets (with equal or greater aggregate Attributed Value) within 180 days from the date the ownership to the sold assets is transferred to the buyer of such property; provided further that, the proceeds of any Casualty Event shall not constitute Net Cash Proceeds to the extent that such proceeds are reinvested in replacement properties or assets, or other productive properties or assets, acquired by the Borrower or a Guarantor (other than Lariat, except that any proceeds of any Casualty Event suffered by Lariat shall not constitute Net Cash Proceeds to the extent that such proceeds are reinvested in replacement properties or assets, or other productive properties or assets, acquired by Lariat, the Borrower or a Guarantor) of a kind then used or usable in the business of the applicable Person (with equal or greater aggregate Attributed Value) within 180 days from the date of receipt thereof.

 

(iv)                              Upon the incurrence or issuance by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.03), the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom immediately upon receipt thereof by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (such prepayments to be applied as set forth in clause (v) below).

 

(v)                                 Prepayments of the Total Outstandings made pursuant to this Section 2.06(b), first, shall be applied ratably to the L/C Borrowings, second, shall be applied ratably to the outstanding Loans, and, third, shall be used to Cash Collateralize the remaining L/C Obligations.  Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized, the funds held as Cash Collateral shall be applied (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer or the Lenders, as applicable.

 

Section 2.07                             Termination or Reduction of Commitments.  The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess; provided further that any such notice may state that such notice is conditioned upon effectiveness of other financing or the occurrence of other events, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date specified therein if such condition is not satisfied.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments.  Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage.  All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

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Section 2.08                             Repayment of Loans.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Lender’s applicable portion of each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) demand by such Swing Line Lender and (ii) the Maturity Date.

 

Section 2.09                             Interest.

 

(a)                                 Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b)                                 (i)  If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(ii)                                  If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Majority Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iii)                               (A) Upon the request of the Majority Lenders, while any Event of Default exists or (B) automatically, while any Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Loans hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iv)                              Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

 

(c)                                  Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein.  Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

Section 2.10                             Fees.  In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.03:

 

(a)                                 Commitment Fee.  The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount of the Available Borrowing Base.  The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Section 4.02 is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period.  The commitment fee shall be

 

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calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.  For the purposes of computation of the commitment fee, Swing Line Loans shall not be counted as usage of the Aggregate Commitments.

 

(b)                                 Other Fees.  (i)  The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Administrative Agent Fee Letter.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(ii)                                  The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

Section 2.11                             Computation of Interest and Fees.  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (if the Base Rate is determined in reliance on clause (ii) of the definition thereof) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed.  All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year).  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.13(a), bear interest for one day.  Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

Section 2.12                             Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                 The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business.  The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

(b)                                 In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

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Section 2.13                             Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                 General.  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.  The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

(b)                                 (i)  Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                  Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

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A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

(c)                                  Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent.  If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article 2, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Section 4.02 are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall promptly return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                 Obligations of Lenders Several.  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).

 

(e)                                  Funding Source.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

 

Section 2.14                             Sharing of Payments by Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

 

(i)                                     if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

 

(ii)                                  the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

 

The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

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Section 2.15                             Defaulting Lenders.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

 

(a)                                 Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Committed Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Committed Borrowings under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lenders against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Committed Loan or L/C Advance in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Committed Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Advance owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Advances owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments under the facility without giving effect to Section 2.15(d). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.15(a) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(b)                                 Certain Fees.

 

(i)                                     No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

 

(ii)                                  Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.15(e).

 

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(iii)                               With respect to any fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (c) below, (y) pay to each L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure or Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 

(c)                                  Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure.  All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause (i) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of any Non-Defaulting Lender, plus such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations to exceed (ii) the lesser of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s (A) Commitment or (B) Applicable Percentage of the Facility Limit.  No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

(d)                                 Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans.  If the reallocation described in clause (c) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(g).

 

(e)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure.  If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable facility (without giving effect to Section 2.15(c)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

(f)                                   New Swing Line Loans/Letters of Credit.  So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) no Swing Line Lender shall be required to fund any Swing Line Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan and (ii) no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

 

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ARTICLE III
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

Section 3.01                             Taxes.

 

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

 

(b)                                 Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower.  Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(c)                                  Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuers, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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

 

(e)                                  Status of Lenders.  Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative

 

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

 

(i)                                     duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or applicable W-8 claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party;

 

(ii)                                  duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI;

 

(iii)                               in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of  Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or applicable W-8; or

 

(iv)                              any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Closing Date, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) this Agreement as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

 

(f)                                   Treatment of Certain Refunds.  If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or an L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer is required to repay such

 

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refund to such Governmental Authority.  This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will the Administrative Agent or any Lender be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (f), the payment of which would place the Administrative Agent or such Lender in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the Administrative Agent or such Lender would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid.

 

Section 3.02                             Illegality.  If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

Section 3.03                             Inability to Determine Rates.  If the Majority Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or (c) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender.  Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Majority Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

Section 3.04                             Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.

 

(a)                                 Increased Costs Generally.  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)                                     impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e)) or any L/C Issuer;

 

(ii)                                  subject any Lender or any L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves or other liabilities attributable thereto (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by

 

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Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or L/C Issuer); or

 

(iii)                               impose on any Lender or any L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, continuing, converting to or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or such L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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

 

(c)                                  Certificates for Reimbursement.  A certificate of a Lender or an L/C Issuer  setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof.

 

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

 

(e)                                  Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.  The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of

 

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or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 Business Days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender.  If a Lender fails to give notice 10 Business Days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 Business Days from receipt of such notice.

 

Section 3.05                             Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

 

(a)                                 any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise) (including, for avoidance of doubt, any payments pursuant to clauses (2) and (4) of Section 4.01);

 

(b)                                 any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower (including by reason of a revocation of notice of prepayment pursuant to the further proviso in the first sentence of Section 2.06(a)(i)); or

 

(c)                                  any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13; including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.  The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

 

Section 3.06                             Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)                                 Designation of a Different Lending Office.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

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(b)                                 Replacement of Lenders.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

 

Section 3.07                             Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations, and any corresponding Lenders’ obligations, under this Article 3 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

Section 4.01                             Effectiveness.  The Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated and this Agreement shall become effective on the date that each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.01):

 

(a)                                 The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)                                     executed counterparts of this Agreement, the Guaranty, the Security Agreement, and each other document pursuant to which the Loan Parties grant Liens to secure the Obligations (other than the Mortgages) executed by the relevant parties, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower; provided, that Lariat shall not be required to execute the Security Agreement or any other document granting Liens to secure the Obligations on the Closing Date;

 

(ii)                                  a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)                               such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of the Responsible Officers, secretary or assistant secretary of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer, secretary or assistant secretary thereof authorized to act in such capacity in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to be a party;

 

(iv)                              such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(v)                                 favorable opinion of counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Majority Lenders may reasonably request;

 

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(vi)                              a favorable opinion of the General Counsel of the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to matters set forth in Exhibit H and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Majority Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)                           a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower either (A) attaching copies, or an exhibit, of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the validity against the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(viii)                        a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(b) and (c) have been satisfied and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ix)                              certificate from the chief financial officer of the Borrower attesting Loan Parties are, together with their Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, Solvent;

 

(x)                                 evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect, together with the certificates of insurance, naming the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as an additional insured or loss payee, as the case may be, under all insurance policies maintained with respect to the assets and properties of the Loan Parties that constitutes Collateral;

 

(xi)                              documentation related to assignment of notes and liens under the Existing Credit Agreement;

 

(xii)                           receipt by the Administrative Agent of lien searches, including UCC lien searches with respect to each Loan Party;

 

(xiii)                        (A) the contemporaneous issuance of not less than $1,000,000,000 of Senior Secured Notes and (B) the execution and delivery by all parties thereto of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with respect to the Senior Secured Notes;

 

(xiv)                       receipt by the Administrative Agent of a schedule setting forth the names, commitments, loans outstanding and pro rata percentage of the aggregate commitments of each lender under the Existing Credit Agreement as of the Closing Date; and

 

(xv)                          such other certificates, documents, or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                 Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                  Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

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(d)                                 The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before July 2, 2015.

 

(e)                                  There shall have been no change, occurrence or development since December 31, 2014, including any action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental authority, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

On the Closing Date, the following transactions shall occur:

 

(1)                                 The Existing Credit Agreement will be automatically amended and restated in its entirety to read as set forth herein.  On and after the Closing Date the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed by this Agreement; provided that, with respect to the period prior to Closing Date, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto that were also party to the Existing Credit Agreement shall continue to be governed by the provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

(2)                                 The Commitment of each Lender shall be the amount set forth in Schedule 2.01 to this Agreement. Any Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement not appearing on Schedule 2.01 shall cease to be Lender party to this Agreement; provided that the provisions of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 10.04 of the Existing Credit Agreement shall continue to inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, each such Lender with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the Closing Date.

 

(3)                                 The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

 

Section 4.02                             Conditions to All Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                 After giving effect to such Credit Extension and the application by the Administrative Agent of the proceeds thereof, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Facility Limit, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

(b)                                 The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article 5 or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if such representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct, in all material respects(or if such representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, such representation or

 

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warranty shall be true and correct in all respects), as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsection (a) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clause (a) of Section 6.01.

 

(c)                                  No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

 

(d)                                 The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lenders shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Section 4.02(a), Section 4.02(b) and Section 4.02(c) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

Section 4.03                             Agreement to Deliver Mortgages .As soon as reasonably possible and in no case later than 30 days after the Closing Date, as such period may be extended in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall provide information satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to support that at least 80% of the total PV9 Pricing of the Proved Reserves attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (without taking into account any adjustments for hedging) are secured by existing Mortgages, or shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, Mortgages or assignments of mortgages, in each case in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent together with such other assignments, conveyances, amendments, agreements and other writings (each duly authorized and executed) and together with such certificates and opinions of counsel with respect thereto, in each case as the Administrative Agent shall deem necessary or appropriate to grant, evidence and perfect first priority Liens on at least 80% of the PV9 Pricing of the Proved Reserves attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties  (without taking into account any adjustments for hedging).

 

ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

Section 5.01                             Existence, Qualification and Power.  Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and consummate the Transaction, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.02                             Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is or is to be a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation that is material to the Loan Parties to which such Person is a party or (ii) any

 

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order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

 

Section 5.03                             Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.  No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transaction, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the first priority nature thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders of their rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for (i) the authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings listed on Schedule 5.03, all of which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings in connection with the enforcement of pledges of, and the sale of, the Pledged Equity in connection therewith, (iii) authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings required in connection with the additional mortgage and security interests required to be granted under this Agreement; (iv) routine authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings in the ordinary course of business (e.g. tax filings, annual reports, environmental filings, etc.); (v) authorizations, approvals and consents necessary in connection with the Borrower’s mineral class leases with the general land office of the State of Texas; and (vi) the periodic filing of continuation statements under the UCC, and (vii) authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings the failure of which to obtain, take or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.04                             Binding Effect.  This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.

 

Section 5.05                             Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.  (a)  The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show, in accordance with and as required by GAAP, all material indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including material liabilities for taxes, material commitments and material Indebtedness.

 

(b)                                 Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.06                             Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the consummation of the Transaction or (b) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.06, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no change in the status, or financial effect on any Loan Party or any

 

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Subsidiary thereof, of the matters described in Schedule 5.06 that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.07                             No Default.  Neither any Loan Party nor any Restricted Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to, or a party to, any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

Section 5.08                             Ownership of Property; Liens.  (a)  Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                 The property of each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

 

Section 5.09                             Environmental Compliance.  (a)  The Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.09, such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                 As of the Closing Date and except (i) as otherwise set forth in Schedule 5.09 or (ii) to the extent the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: none of the properties currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or proposed for listing on the National Priorities List under 42 USC § 9605(a)(8)(B) or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign, state or local list or is adjacent to any such property; there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; and Hazardous Materials have not been released, discharged or disposed of on any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in quantities or in a manner as to create Environmental Liability.

 

(c)                                  As of the Closing Date and except (i) as otherwise set forth in Schedule 5.09 or (ii) to the extent the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is undertaking, and has not completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law that is reasonably expected to result in material Environmental Liability to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; and all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in material Environmental Liability to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 5.10                             Insurance.  The properties of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are insured (a) with financially sound and reputable insurance companies in such amounts, with such limitations or deductibles, against such risks, and in such form as are customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or

 

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similar locations and/or (b) through a system or systems of self-insurance which are in accord with sound practices of similarly situated corporations of established reputation maintaining such systems and with respect to which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary maintain adequate insurance reserves in accordance with GAAP and in accordance with sound actuarial and insurance principles.

 

Section 5.11                             Taxes.  The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has received written notice of any proposed tax assessment against it that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.12                             ERISA Compliance.  (a)  Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws except for such events of noncompliance which could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                 There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                  Except to the extent the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:  (i) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

Section 5.13                             Subsidiaries; Equity Interests; Loan Parties.  As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are (in the case of corporate securities) fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens except those created under the Collateral Documents or permitted by Section 7.01.  As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party has any equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13.  Set forth on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 is a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties as of the Closing Date, showing as of the Closing Date (as to each Loan Party) the jurisdiction of its incorporation, the address of its principal place of business and its U.S. taxpayer identification number or, in the case of any non-U.S. Loan Party that does not have a U.S. taxpayer identification number, its unique identification number issued to it by the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

Section 5.14                             Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.  (a)  No part of the proceeds of any Credit Extension, will be used in violation of Regulation U or X as now and from time to time hereafter in effect.

 

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(b)                                 No Loan Party is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

Section 5.15                             Disclosure.  No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken together with all other information previously furnished or that is publicly available, contains as of the date so furnished any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by it to be reasonable at the time.  There are no statements or conclusions in any Engineering Report which are based upon or include, as of the date of such Engineering Report, misleading information or fail to take into account, as of the date of such Engineering Report, material information regarding the matters reported therein, it being understood that projections concerning volumes attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties and production and cost estimates contained in each Engineering Report are necessarily based upon professional opinions, estimates and projections and that the Borrower does not warrant that such opinions, estimates and projections will ultimately prove to have been accurate.

 

Section 5.16                             Compliance with Laws.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.17                             Solvency.  The Loan Parties are, together with their Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, Solvent.

 

Section 5.18                             Casualty, Etc.  Neither the businesses nor the properties of any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.19                             Labor Matters.  There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.20                             Collateral Documents.  The provisions of the Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties (other than Lariat) in the Collateral described therein.  Except as expressly contemplated hereby and by the Collateral Documents, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect or protect such Liens.

 

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Section 5.21                             Engineered Oil and Gas Properties.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower or another Loan Party has good and defensible title to all Engineered Oil and Gas Properties, free and clear of all Liens except as permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 and Immaterial Title Deficiencies.  With the exception of Immaterial Title Deficiencies, all such Oil and Gas Properties are valid, subsisting, and in full force and effect, and all material rentals, royalties, and other amounts due and payable in respect thereof have been duly paid. Without regard to any consent or non-consent provisions of any joint operating agreement covering any of the Loan Parties’ Proved Reserves, and with the exception of Immaterial Title Deficiencies, the Loan Parties’ share of (a) the costs for each Engineered Oil and Gas Property is not greater than the decimal fraction set forth in the most recent Engineering Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the respective designations “working interests,” “WI,” “gross working interest,” “GWI,” or similar terms and (b) production from, allocated to, or attributed to each Engineered Oil and Gas Property is not less than the decimal fraction set forth in the most recent Engineering Report, before and after payout, as the case may be, and described therein by the designations “net revenue interest,” “NRI,” or similar terms.  Except to the extent constituting an Immaterial Title Deficiency, each well drilled in respect of each Engineered Oil and Gas Property described in the Engineering Report (y) is capable of, and is presently, producing Hydrocarbons in commercial quantities, and the applicable Loan Party is currently receiving payments for its share of production, with no material funds in respect of any thereof being presently held in suspense, other than any such funds being held in suspense pending delivery of appropriate division orders and other usual and customary suspense accounts, and (z) has been drilled, bottomed, completed, and operated in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and no such well which is currently producing hydrocarbons is subject to any penalty in production by reason of such well having produced in excess of its allowable production.  To the Borrower’s knowledge, there are no unrecorded assignments or conveyances affecting the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties or any Loan Party’s interest therein that would result in the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries having a WI or NRI that is less than the WI/NRI set forth in the Engineering Report, except the interests of Sierra Madera CO2 Pipeline LP and Symbol Energy Inc., which constitute Immaterial Title Deficiencies.

 

(b)                                 The Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (and all properties unitized therewith) are, in all material respects, being (and, to the extent the same could materially and adversely affect the ownership or operation of the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties after the date hereof, to the applicable Loan Party’s knowledge, have in the past been) maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner, in accordance with prudent industry standards and in conformity with all applicable Laws and in conformity with all oil, gas or other mineral leases and other contracts and agreements forming a part of the Engineered Oil and Gas Property and in conformity with the Permitted Encumbrances.  No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject to having allowable production after the date hereof reduced below the full and regular allowable (including the maximum permissible tolerance) because of any overproduction (whether or not the same was permissible at the time) prior to the date hereof and none of the wells located on the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (or properties unitized therewith) are or will be deviated from the vertical more than the maximum permitted by applicable laws, regulations, rules and orders, and such wells are bottomed under and producing from, with the well bores wholly within, the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (or, in the case of wells located on properties unitized therewith, such unitized properties).  There are no dry holes, or otherwise inactive wells, located on the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties or on lands pooled or unitized therewith, except for wells that have been properly plugged and abandoned or for which appropriate plugging and abandonment has been scheduled.  Each Loan Party has all material governmental licenses and permits reasonably necessary or appropriate to own and operate its Engineered Oil and Gas Properties, and no Loan Party has received notice in writing of any material violations in respect of any such licenses or permits.

 

Section 5.22                             Sale of Production.  Except (x) as of the Closing Date, as set forth in Schedule 5.22, or (y) thereafter, as disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and reflected

 

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in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base, or (z) for matters that constitute Immaterial Title Deficiencies:

 

(a)                                 No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject to any material contractual or other arrangement (i) whereby payment for production is or can be deferred for a substantial period after the month in which such production is delivered (in the case of oil, not in excess of 60 days, and in the case of gas, not in excess of 90 days) or (ii) whereby payments are made to a Loan Party other than by checks, drafts, wire transfer advises or other similar writings, instruments or communications for the immediate payment of money;

 

(b)                                 (i) No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject to any material contractual or other arrangement for the sale, processing or transportation of production (or otherwise related to the marketing of production) which cannot be canceled on 120 days’ (or less) notice and (ii) all material contractual or other arrangements for the sale, processing or transportation of production (or otherwise related to the marketing of production) are bona fide arm’s length transactions made with third parties not affiliated with Loan Parties;

 

(c)                                  Each Loan Party is presently receiving a price for all production (other than gas used for operations at a field location) from (or attributable to) each Engineered Oil and Gas Property covered by a production sales contract or marketing contract that is computed in accordance with the terms of such contract, and no Loan Party is having deliveries of production from such Engineered Oil and Gas Property curtailed substantially below such property’s delivery capacity, except for curtailments caused (i) by an act or event of force majeure, or (ii) by routine maintenance requirements in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)                                 No Loan Party, nor, to such Loan Party’s knowledge, any Loan Party’s predecessors in title, has received prepayments (including payments for gas not taken pursuant to “take or pay” or other similar arrangements) for any oil, gas or other hydrocarbons produced or to be produced from any Engineered Oil and Gas Properties after the date hereof;

 

(e)                                  No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject to any “take or pay” or other similar arrangement (i) which can be satisfied in whole or in part by the production or transportation of gas from other properties or (ii) as a result of which production from any Engineered Oil and Gas Property may be required to be delivered to one or more third parties without payment (or without full payment) therefor as a result of payments made, or other actions taken, with respect to other properties;

 

(f)                                   There is no Engineered Oil and Gas Property with respect to which any Loan Party, or, to such Loan Party’s knowledge, any Loan Party’s predecessors in title, has, prior to the date hereof, taken more (“overproduced”), or less (“underproduced”), in any material respect, gas from the lands covered thereby (or pooled or unitized therewith) than its ownership interest in such Engineered Oil and Gas Property would entitle it to take; and as of the Closing Date, Schedule 5.22 accurately reflects, in all material respects, for each well or unit with respect to which such an imbalance is shown thereon to exist, (i) whether such Loan Party is overproduced or underproduced and (ii) the volumes (in cubic feet or British thermal units) of such overproduction or underproduction and the effective date of such information;

 

(g)                                  No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject to a gas balancing arrangement under which one or more third parties may take a portion of the production attributable to such Engineered Oil and Gas Property without payment (or without full payment) therefor as a result of production having been taken from, or as a result of other actions or inactions with respect to, other properties; and

 

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(h)                                 No Engineered Oil and Gas Property is subject at the present time to any regulatory refund obligation and, to such Loan Party’s knowledge, no facts exist which might cause the same to be imposed.

 

Section 5.23                             OFAC.

 

(a)                                 Neither the Borrower, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to its knowledge, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions or (ii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with Sanctions and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Sanctions or any Laws related thereto.

 

Section 5.24                             Anti-Corruption Laws.  The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with applicable anti-corruption laws (including FCPA) and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

Section 5.25                             Patriot Act.  The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including without limitation the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act (the “Patriot Act”).

 

ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation owing to any Lender or to the Administrative Agent hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding and not fully Cash Collateralized, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

Section 6.01                             Financial Statements.  Deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as contemplated by the last paragraph of Section 6.02:

 

(a)                                 as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and applicable Securities Laws and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit or with respect to the absence of any material misstatement, and such consolidating statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower to the effect that such statements are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

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(b)                                 as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c)                                  if there shall be any Unrestricted Subsidiaries at the end of any fiscal period in respect of which any consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) above is delivered, concurrently with such delivery, the related consolidating financial statements reflecting the adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries from such consolidated financial statements;

 

(d)                                 as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, an annual business plan and budget of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, including forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders, of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a monthly basis for the immediately following fiscal year;

 

(e)                                  by April 1 of each year commencing April 1, 2016, an Engineering Report prepared as of the preceding January 1 by one or more of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, DeGolyer & MacNaughton, or other independent petroleum engineers chosen by Borrower and reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent, concerning all Oil and Gas Properties owned by any Loan Party which are located in or offshore of the United States and which have attributable to them proved oil or gas reserves.  This report shall be reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, shall be prepared using PV9 Pricing, shall take into account any “over-produced” status under gas balancing arrangements, and shall contain information and analysis consistent in form and scope in all material respects to that contained in the Initial Engineering Report.  This report shall distinguish (or shall be delivered together with a certificate from an appropriate officer of Borrower which distinguishes) (i) the Oil and Gas Properties owned by each Loan Party and (ii) those properties treated in the report which are Collateral from those properties treated in the report which are not Collateral.  At any time the Total Outstandings exceed $950,000,000, concurrently with the delivery of each Engineering Report pursuant to this Section 6.01(e), the Borrower shall provide a certificate of an appropriate officer of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent certifying as to the Modified ACNTA, as of the date of delivery of the Engineering Report, and containing a copy of the calculation for such and certifying that the Borrower has not granted Liens to secure Indebtedness in excess of the amount permitted under the Senior Secured Indenture or in excess of the greatest of (A) $950,000,000, (B) the then-effective Borrowing Base Cap and (C) 30% of Modified ACNTA; and

 

(f)                                   by October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2015, an Engineering Report prepared as of the preceding July 1 (or the last day of the preceding calendar month in the case of a Special Determination) by petroleum engineers who are employees of Borrower (or, at the option of Borrower, by the independent engineers named above or selected in accordance with (e) above), together with an accompanying report on property sales, property purchases and changes in categories that have occurred since the date of the prior Engineering Report, both in the same form and scope as the reports in (e) above.  At any time the Total Outstandings exceed $950,000,000, concurrently with the delivery of each Engineering Report pursuant to this Section 6.01(f), the Borrower shall provide a certificate of an

 

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appropriate officer of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent certifying as to the Modified ACNTA, as of the date of delivery of the Engineering Report, and containing a copy of the calculation for such and certifying that the Borrower has not granted Liens to secure Indebtedness in excess of the amount permitted under the Senior Secured Indenture or in excess of the greatest of (A) $950,000,000, (B) the then-effective Borrowing Base Cap and (C) 30% of Modified ACNTA.

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

 

Section 6.02                             Certificates; Other Information.  Deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as contemplated by the last paragraph of this Section 6.02:

 

(a)                                 concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), (i) a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower and (ii) a calculation of the Borrowing Base Utilization Ratio as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter;

 

(b)                                 promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

 

(c)                                  promptly after the same are available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports, registration statements and proxy statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)                                 promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement relating to Indebtedness with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

 

(e)                                  promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;

 

(f)                                   not later than five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof, copies of all notices, requests and other documents (including amendments, waivers and other modifications) so received under or pursuant to any instrument, indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement relating to Indebtedness with a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount and regarding or related to any breach or default by any party thereto or any other event that could reasonably be expected to materially impair the value of the interests or the rights of any Loan Party or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect and, from time to time upon request by the Administrative Agent, such information and reports regarding such instruments, indentures and loan and credit and similar agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

 

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(g)                                  promptly after the assertion or occurrence thereof, notice of any action or proceeding against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that could (i) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) cause any property described in the Mortgages to be subject to any materially adverse restrictions on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability under any Environmental Law;

 

(h)                                 promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(c) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (A) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (B) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier, facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(a) to the Administrative Agent.  Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”).

 

Section 6.03                             Notices.  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)                                 of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default known to any Responsible Officer (if such Default or Event of Default is then continuing);

 

(b)                                 of any matter (other than matters of a general economic or industry-specific nature) that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

 

(c)                                  of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

 

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(d)                                 of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(e)                                  of the (i) occurrence of any Disposition of property or assets for which the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.06(b)(ii), and (ii) incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness for which the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.06(b)(iv).

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(e)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

Section 6.04                             Payment of Obligations.  Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property, except, in the case of (a) or (b), for such amounts that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 6.05                             Preservation of Existence, Etc.  (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.05; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 6.06                             Maintenance of Properties.  (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities.

 

Section 6.07                             Maintenance of Insurance. (a)  Maintain (at its own expense) insurance for its property with financially sound and reputable insurance companies in such amounts, with such limitations or deductibles, against such risks, and in such form as are customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations; provided, however, that in lieu of any such insurance, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may maintain a system or systems of self-insurance which are in accord with sound practices of similarly situated corporations of established reputation maintaining such systems and with respect to which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary shall maintain adequate insurance reserves in accordance with GAAP and in accordance with sound actuarial and insurance principles.  All insurance policies covering Collateral shall be endorsed (i) to provide for payment of losses to the Administrative Agent as its interests may appear, (ii) to provide that such policies may not be canceled or reduced or affected in any material manner for any reason without ten (10) days prior notice to the Administrative Agent, and (iii) to provide for any other matters specified in any applicable Collateral Document.  Each Loan Party shall at

 

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all times maintain insurance against its liability for injury to persons or property with financially sound and reputable insurers in such amounts, with such limitations or deductibles, against such risks, and in such form as are customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

 

(b)                                 Reimbursement under any liability insurance maintained by Loan Parties pursuant to this Section 6.07 may be paid directly to the Person who has incurred the liability covered by such insurance.  With respect to any loss involving damage to Collateral, each Loan Party will make or cause to be made the necessary repairs to or replacements of such Collateral, and any proceeds of insurance maintained by each Loan Party pursuant to this Section 6.07 shall be paid to such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent as reimbursement for the costs of such repairs or replacements as such repairs or replacements are made or acquired; provided that Administrative Agent shall be entitled (but not obligated) to retain and apply such proceeds as Collateral during the continuance of any Event of Default.

 

Section 6.08                             Compliance with Laws.  Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 6.09                             Books and Records.  (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

Section 6.10                             Inspection Rights.  Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

Section 6.11                             Use of Proceeds.  The Borrower shall apply the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for general corporate purposes, including to provide working capital for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the issuance of letters of credit, capital expenditures and acquisitions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of oil and gas properties and other assets related to the exploration, production and development of oil and gas properties.

 

Section 6.12                             Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security.  (a)  Upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary (excluding (x) any CFC or any Subsidiary that is held directly or indirectly by a CFC, (y) any Unrestricted Subsidiary and (z) any Immaterial Subsidiary (except that up to 66% of the Equity Interest in a CFC held directly by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than a Subsidiary described in clause (x), (y) or (z) above, is subject to pledge as contemplated by clause (ii) below)) by any Loan Party, then the Borrower shall, at the Borrower’s expense:

 

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(i)                                     within 20 days after such formation or acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may in its discretion approve), cause such Subsidiary, and cause each direct and indirect parent (except, if applicable, Cholla Pipeline, L.P. or Sagebrush Pipeline, LLC) of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done so), to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a guaranty or guaranty supplement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, guaranteeing the other Loan Parties’ obligations under the Loan Documents;

 

(ii)                                  subject in the case of Oil and Gas Properties to Section 6.12(b), within 30 days after such formation or acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may in its discretion approve), cause such Subsidiary and each direct and indirect parent (except, if applicable, Lariat, Cholla Pipeline, L.P. or Sagebrush Pipeline, LLC) of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done so) to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt, mortgages, leasehold mortgages, leasehold deeds of trust, Security Agreement Supplements and other security and pledge agreements, as specified by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including delivery of all Pledged Equity in and of such Subsidiary, and other instruments required under the Security Agreement) securing payment of all the Obligations of such Subsidiary or such parent, as the case may be, under the Loan Documents and constituting Liens on all such real and personal properties; provided however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary will be required to grant a security interest in the Equity Interest of any (i) CFC in excess of 66% of the Equity Interest of such CFC, (ii) Immaterial Subsidiary or (iii) Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(iii)                               subject in the case of Oil and Gas Properties to Section 6.12(b), within 30 days after such formation or acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may in its discretion approve), cause such Subsidiary and each direct and indirect parent (except, if applicable, Lariat, Cholla Pipeline, L.P. or Sagebrush Pipeline, LLC) of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done so) to take whatever action (including the recording of mortgages, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, the giving of notices and the endorsement of notices on title documents) may be necessary or advisable in the opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid and subsisting Liens on the properties purported to be subject to the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds to secure debt, mortgages, leasehold mortgages, leasehold deeds of trust, Security Agreement Supplements and security and pledge agreements delivered pursuant to this Section 6.12, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms; and

 

(iv)                              within 60 days after such formation or acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may in its discretion approve), deliver to the Administrative Agent, upon the request of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, a signed copy of a favorable opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, of counsel for the Loan Parties reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to the matters contained in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, and as to such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

(b)                                 If the report or certificate delivered under Section 6.01(e) or Section 6.01(f) does not confirm that the Obligations are secured by Liens covering and encumbering at least 80% of the PV9 Pricing of the Proved Reserves attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties (without taking into account any adjustments for hedging), then (i) within 30 days of the delivery of such report or certificate (or such longer period as may be appropriate in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), the Loan Parties that own Engineered Oil and Gas Properties shall execute and deliver mortgages and deeds of trust in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with such other assignments, conveyances, amendments, agreements and other writings (each duly authorized and executed) and together with such certificates and opinions of counsel with respect thereto, in each case as

 

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the Administrative Agent shall deem necessary to grant, evidence and perfect the Liens on such additional properties required by this Section 6.12(b) and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, which request shall not be made more than once per calendar year so long as no Default, Event of Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency is then continuing, evidence of title reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect to such additional properties, but only to the extent necessary such that the Borrower shall have delivered evidence of title covering Engineered Oil and Gas Properties subject to the Mortgages comprising at least 75% of the total PV9 Pricing of the Proved Reserves attributable to the Engineered Oil and Gas Properties required by this Section 6.12(b) to be subject to the Mortgages; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 6.12(b) shall not apply to any Oil and Gas Properties as to which the Administrative Agent shall determine in its reasonable discretion, after consultation with the Borrower, that the costs and burden of obtaining such evidence of title are excessive in relation to the value of the benefits afforded thereby.

 

Section 6.13                             Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain and renew all material Environmental Permits necessary for its current operations and properties; and conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable Environmental Laws; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is not required by applicable Environmental Laws or being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

 

Section 6.14                             Further Assurances.  Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject any Loan Party’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by any of the Collateral Documents, (ii) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Collateral Documents and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder and (iii) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm more effectively unto the Secured Parties the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is or is to be a party, and cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to do so.

 

Section 6.15                             Production Proceeds.  Notwithstanding that, by the terms of the various Mortgages, certain Guarantors and Borrower are and will be assigning to Administrative Agent and Lenders all of the “Production Proceeds” (as defined therein) accruing to the property covered thereby, so long as no Event of Default has occurred such Loan Parties may continue to receive from the purchasers of production all such Production Proceeds, subject, however, to the Liens created under the Mortgages, which Liens are hereby affirmed and ratified.  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Administrative Agent and Lenders may exercise all rights and remedies granted under the Mortgages, including the right to obtain possession of all Production Proceeds then held by Loan Parties or to receive directly from the purchasers of production all other Production Proceeds.  In no case shall any failure, whether purposed or inadvertent, by Administrative Agent or Lenders to collect directly any such

 

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Production Proceeds constitute in any way a waiver, remission or release of any of their rights under the Mortgages, nor shall any release of any Production Proceeds by Administrative Agent or Lenders to Loan Parties constitute a waiver, remission, or release of any other Production Proceeds or of any rights of Administrative Agent or Lenders to collect other Production Proceeds thereafter.

 

Section 6.16                             Anti-Corruption, Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.  Conduct its businesses in compliance in all material respects with all applicable anti-corruption laws, applicable anti-terrorism laws and applicable anti-money laundering laws and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation owing to any Lender or to the Administrative Agent hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding and not fully Cash Collateralized, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

Section 7.01                             Liens.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

 

(a)                                 Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                 Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.03(c), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03(c);

 

(c)                                  Liens for taxes and other governmental charges not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(d)                                 operators’, carriers’, landlords’, suppliers’, workers’, construction, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 90 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

 

(e)                                  pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation or other liabilities of a like nature, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

 

(f)                                   Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), licenses, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds, regulatory obligations and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)                                  (i) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person and (ii) Immaterial Title Deficiencies;

 

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(h)                                 Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

 

(i)                                     Liens on pipelines and 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 each of which is in respect of obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness and that are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP;

 

(j)                                    customary contractual Liens under operating lease agreements or which arise in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, oil and gas partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out and farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, overriding royalty agreements, marketing agreements, processing agreements, net profits agreements, development agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or other geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements which are usual and customary in the Oil and Gas Business and are for obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness and that are not delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; provided that any such Lien referred to in this clause does not materially impair the use of the property covered by such Lien for the purposes for which such property is held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such property subject thereto;

 

(k)                                 Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(l)                                     Liens existing on assets at the time of acquisition thereof, or Liens existing on assets of any Person at the time such Person became a Subsidiary, which in each case (i) were not created in contemplation thereof and (ii) do not encumber Oil and Gas Properties to be included in the Borrowing Base;

 

(m)                             UCC financing statements filed in connection with an operating lease under which the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is the lessee;

 

(n)                                 Liens on assets of Lariat securing obligations of Lariat;

 

(o)                                 Liens on Oklahoma Properties or Electrical Assets securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03(b) or Section 7.03(c);

 

(p)                                 Liens on Piñon Field Interests securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03(i);

 

(q)                                 Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(f); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

 

(r)                                    Liens in favor of banking and other financial institutions arising by operation of law or otherwise encumbering deposits held by such banking institution or securities and other financial assets held by such financial institution (in each case including the right of set-off) and which are within

 

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the general parameters customary in the banking industry or the securities brokerage industry, as applicable;

 

(s)                                   Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.01; provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed (as to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) $50,000,000 at any one time; and

 

(t)                                    Liens to secure Junior Lien Debt; provided that any such Lien granted on any property is only permitted to the extent that it is junior to a valid and enforceable first priority Lien granted on such property to secure the Obligations (subject to the applicable Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

 

Section 7.02                             Investments.  Make any Investments, except:

 

(a)                                 Investments held by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in the form of Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                 advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(c)                                  Investments of the Borrower in any now existing or hereafter acquired wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary and Investments of any Restricted Subsidiary in the Borrower or in another now existing or hereafter acquired wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that (i) in the case of any Investments in Lariat, the aggregate amount of such Investment shall  not exceed (x) $1,000,000 less (y) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made to Lariat pursuant to Section 7.06(a) and (ii) in the case of an Investment constituting the acquisition from a third party of a Person which thereby becomes a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary, such Investment is permitted pursuant to another clause of this Section 7.02;

 

(d)                                 Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

 

(e)                                  Investments in Oil and Gas Properties (or in Persons at least 60% of whose assets consist of Oil and Gas Properties and which become wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to such Investment);

 

(f)                                   Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03;

 

(g)                                  Investments received in connection with bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)                                 Investments (including, without limitation, capital contributions) in general or limited partnerships or other types of entities (each a “venture”) entered into by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary with others in the ordinary course of business; provided that (i) any such venture is engaged exclusively in oil and gas exploration, development, production, processing and related activities, including transportation, (ii) the interest in such venture is acquired in the ordinary course of business and on fair and reasonable terms and (iii) the aggregate net amount of such Investments does not

 

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exceed $25,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower (exclusive of the value of Oil and Gas Properties contributed as contemplated by Section 7.05(l));

 

(i)                                     Investments under clause (a) or (c) of the definition thereof in Persons (which become wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to such Investment) or business units, respectively, in each case whose assets consist solely of oil and gas service business assets, including drilling rigs, workover rigs, drilling fluids and other assets involved in providing services to the oil and gas upstream and midstream segments, which Investments shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of the Borrower;

 

(j)                                    other Investments not exceeding $50,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of the Borrower;

 

(k)                                 Investments for consideration consisting of common stock of the Borrower;

 

(l)                                     capital stock, promissory notes, and other similar non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 7.05;

 

(m)                             Investments expressly permitted by Section 7.06;

 

(n)                                 Investments in existence on the Closing Date and, in the case of any Investment in excess of $5,000,000, listed on Schedule 7.02(n), and extensions, renewals, modifications, or restatements or replacements thereof, provided that no such extension, renewal, modification, restatement or replacement shall (i) increase the amount of the original Investment or (ii) adversely affect the interest of the Lenders with respect to such original Investment or the interests of the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in any material respect;

 

(o)                                 Investments in Royalty Trusts;

 

(p)                                 Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the extent resulting from Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05(o); and

 

(q)                                 subject to satisfaction of the Available Amount Conditions, other Investments not permitted by the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.02 in an amount not to exceed the Available Amount at such time.

 

Section 7.03     Indebtedness.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)                                 Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

(b)                                 Attributable Indebtedness and Synthetic Lease Obligations created in connection with the sale-leaseback of the Oklahoma Properties or the Electrical Assets;

 

(c)                                  Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03, including the Existing Notes, and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

 

(d)                                 Guarantees of the Borrower or any Guarantor in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any Guarantor;

 

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(e)                                  obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract; provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view” and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party (other than customary netting arrangements);

 

(f)                                   Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(q); provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clause (b) above) at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $25,000,000;

 

(g)                                  Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary (other than Lariat);

 

(h)                                 Indebtedness incurred by Lariat, and Guarantees of the Borrower in respect of such Indebtedness; provided that the principal amount of Indebtedness of Lariat guaranteed by the Borrower pursuant to this subsection (h) or otherwise shall at no time exceed $125,000,000;

 

(i)                                     Indebtedness incurred to finance investments in the Piñon Field Interest in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $50,000,000;

 

(j)                                    other Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $75,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(k)                                 Indebtedness in respect of surety bonds obtained by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and supporting other obligations undertaken by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business which other obligations do not constitute Indebtedness;

 

(l)                                     Indebtedness that constitutes Junior Lien Debt and unsecured Indebtedness not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.03 in an aggregate principal amount for all Indebtedness under this clause (l) not to exceed $1,750,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided that (1) at the time of incurring such Indebtedness (x) no Default has occurred and is then continuing and (y) no Default would result from the incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness (and any concurrent repayment of Indebtedness with the proceeds of such incurrence), (2) such Indebtedness does not mature and requires no scheduled amortization prior to the 91st day following the Maturity Date, (3) the terms of such Indebtedness are not materially more onerous, taken as a whole, than the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (4) if any Person Guarantees such Indebtedness, such Person shall also Guarantee the Obligations by providing a guaranty or guaranty supplement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (5) such Indebtedness and any guarantees thereof are otherwise on market terms and conditions for similarly situated companies; and provided further that during any period that any Indebtedness is issued and outstanding in reliance on this subsection (l) in excess of $1,500,000,000, the Borrowing Base shall automatically be reduced by 25% of the principal amount of such Indebtedness;

 

(m)                             Junior Lien Debt issued as a Permitted Refinancing of the Existing Notes;

 

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(n)                                 Indebtedness of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, or is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in a transaction permitted by this Agreement, and extensions, renewals, refinancings, refundings and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (other than any increase not exceeding the amount of any fees, premium, if any, and financing costs relating to such refinancing); provided that (i) such Indebtedness (other than any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement) exists at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of such event, (ii) other than Guarantee obligations permitted by clause (d) of this Section 7.03, neither the Borrower nor any of its other Restricted Subsidiaries shall be liable for such Indebtedness and (iii) the Borrower is in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof, with the covenants contained in Section 7.11;

 

(o)                                 Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the seller representing all or part of the purchase price of an Investment or acquisition permitted hereunder, or assumed by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith, and extensions, renewals, refinancings, refundings and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (other than any increase not exceeding the amount of any fees, premium, if any, and financing costs relating to such refinancing), provided that as to any such assumed Indebtedness, such Indebtedness (other than any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement thereof) exists at the time of such acquisition and is not created in contemplation of such event;

 

(p)                                 Indebtedness arising from judgments or orders in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

 

(q)                                 Indebtedness arising from or representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries that constitute or are deemed to be Indebtedness under GAAP and that are incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(r)                                    Indebtedness arising pursuant to clause (e) of the definition thereof as a result of Liens permitted under Sections 7.01(c), (d), (e), (f) and (k); and

 

(s)                                   obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing or arising under any Treasury Management Services Agreement.

 

Section 7.04                             Fundamental Changes.  Merge, dissolve, liquidate, amalgamate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                 any Restricted Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (ii) any one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that when any wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary is merging with another Restricted Subsidiary, the continuing or surviving Person shall be a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary and provided further that when any Guarantor is merging with another Restricted Subsidiary, the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Guarantor (other than Lariat);

 

(b)                                 any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Restricted Subsidiary (and thereafter dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs); provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is

 

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a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary, then the transferee must either be the Borrower or a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary; and provided further that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then the transferee must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor (other than Lariat);

 

(c)                                  any Disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary expressly permitted by Section 7.05 may be structured as a merger, consolidation or amalgamation to which such Restricted Subsidiary is a party and as a result of which such Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(d)                                 any Investment expressly permitted by Section 7.02 may be structured as a merger, consolidation or amalgamation; provided that if the Borrower is a party thereto, the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person; and provided further that the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Borrower or a Guarantor (other than Lariat) to the extent required by Section 6.12.

 

Section 7.05                             Dispositions.  Make any Disposition except:

 

(a)                                 Dispositions of (i) obsolete or worn out property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business or (ii) equipment that is no longer useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                 Dispositions of inventory (including Hydrocarbons sold after severance) in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                  Dispositions of equipment or real property or other assets (other than (x) Oil and Gas Properties or (y) Investments in Restricted Subsidiaries) to the extent that (i) such equipment, property or other asset is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement equipment, property or other asset or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement equipment, property, or other assets;

 

(d)                                 Dispositions of property or assets by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary or by the Borrower to any wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property or assets is a Guarantor, the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor (other than Lariat);

 

(e)                                  Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04(a) or Section 7.04(b);

 

(f)                                   Dispositions of Electrical Assets;

 

(g)                                  (1) Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties which are sold or otherwise transferred for fair consideration to Persons who are not Affiliates of Borrower, (2) farmouts of undeveloped acreage and assignments in connection with such farmouts or the abandonment, farm-out, exchange or Disposition of Oil and Gas Properties not containing Proved Reserves and (3) Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties to which no value has been attributed by the Administrative Agent in the most recent determination of the Borrowing Base in the ordinary course of business, provided that (i) no Event of Default exists at the time of and after giving effect to any such sale or other transfer of Collateral (other than Defaults that will be cured upon the application of the proceeds of such sale or other transfer), (ii) the Borrower must first give notice to the Administrative Agent of any such sale, (iii) if the Oil and Gas Properties so sold or transferred, or all equity of the Restricted Subsidiary owning the Oil and Gas Properties so sold or transferred, on a cumulative basis since the then most recent Determination Date, represent more than five percent of the then effective Borrowing Base, the sale or other transfer may not be made until Administrative Agent and the Lenders have made a Special Determination to the extent contemplated by Section 2.05(b)(iv)(A); provided that this clause (iii) shall not apply to (x) Dispositions

 

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of any assets of SandRidge Midstream Inc. or the equity interests of SandRidge Midstream Inc. (or any other Person that is, or becomes, the owner solely of the assets of SandRidge Midstream Inc.) and (y) Dispositions otherwise permitted by this Section 7.05(g) if the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have not elected to make a Special Determination as contemplated by Section 2.05(b)(iv)(A) within five Business Days following delivery of the applicable notice referred to in clause (ii) above, (iv) concurrently with such sale or other transfer the Borrower must pay in full any Borrowing Base Deficiency that results from such Special Determination, and (v) for the avoidance of doubt, any Disposition of Oil and Gas Properties pursuant to this Section 7.05(g) may be structured as a Disposition of Equity Interests in a Person, substantially all of whose assets consist of Oil and Gas Properties;

 

(h)                                 Dispositions of the Equity Interests of SandRidge Midstream Inc. (or any other Person that is, or becomes, the owner solely of the assets of SandRidge Midstream Inc.);

 

(i)                                     Dispositions of interest in Oil and Gas Properties in respect of Immaterial Title Deficiencies in order to discharge such Immaterial Title Deficiencies or an obligation giving rise thereto;

 

(j)                                    Dispositions of overdue accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof;

 

(k)                                 Dispositions of Investments made pursuant to Sections 7.02(a), (d) (g) and (m);

 

(l)                                     Dispositions of Oil and Gas Properties to ventures pursuant to Section 7.02(h); provided that no value was attributed to such Oil and Gas Properties in the then most recent determination of the Borrowing Base;

 

(m)                             Dispositions of assets to Royalty Trusts, and of Equity Interests in Royalty Trusts;

 

(n)                                 any Disposition that constitutes an Investment that is permitted pursuant to Section, 7.02(h), Section 7.02(j) or Section 7.02(q); provided that such Dispositions may not consist of any Oil and Gas Properties included in the Borrowing Base;

 

(o)                                 Dispositions of assets comprising the Loan Parties’ salt water gathering and disposal business, or of equity interests owned by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in persons that solely own assets of, and conduct the business of, the Loan Parties’ salt water gathering and disposal business;

 

(p)                                 Dispositions directly related to any sale-leaseback transaction with respect to the Oklahoma Properties; and

 

(q)                                 other Dispositions not exceeding $10,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of the Borrower; provided that such Dispositions may not consist of any Oil and Gas Properties included in the Borrowing Base.

 

Section 7.06                             Restricted Payments.  Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment except that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                 each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower, the Guarantors and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Restricted Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted

 

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Payment is being made; provided, however, that in the case of any Restricted Payments to Lariat Services, Inc., the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments shall not exceed (i) $1,000,000 less (ii) the aggregate amount of Investment in Lariat made pursuant to Section 7.02(c);

 

(b)                                 the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the Qualified Stock of such Person;

 

(c)                                  the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its Qualified Stock;

 

(d)                                 so long as in each case no Default or Borrowing Base Deficiency exists at the time of such payment or would result therefrom, (i) the Borrower may pay regular semi-annual cash dividends on shares of its 8.5% Convertible Preferred Stock issued prior to October 1, 2009 in an amount not exceeding $8.50 per share per annum; (ii) the Borrower may pay regular semi-annual cash dividends on shares of its 6% Convertible Preferred Stock in an amount not exceeding $6.00 per share per annum; (iii) the Borrower may pay regular semi-annual cash dividends on shares of its 7% Convertible Preferred Stock in an amount not exceeding $7.00 per share per annum; and (iv) so long as after giving effect thereto, Available Borrowing Base is equal to or greater than 15% of the lesser of the Facility Limit or the Aggregate Commitments, the Borrower may pay regular periodic cash dividends on shares of other issues of its preferred stock at the applicable rate specified therefor;

 

(e)                                  the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may repurchase Equity Interests held by an employee, officer or director (or their estates, trusts, family members or former spouses) upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of the applicable employee, officer or director or pursuant to any benefit or employee plan; provided that the aggregate amount of payments under this clause (e) in any fiscal year of the Borrower shall not exceed $5,000,000; and provided further that any Restricted Payments permitted (but not made) pursuant to this clause (e) in any prior fiscal year may be carried forward to any subsequent fiscal year (subject to an annual cap of no greater than $10,000,000);

 

(f)                                   in the ordinary course of its business, the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in connection with stock option plans or other benefit plans or arrangements for directors, management, employees or consultants of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(g)                                  the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments constituting purchases by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any other Subsidiary’s capital stock pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted by Section 7.02; and

 

(h)                                 subject to satisfaction of the Available Amount Conditions, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.06 in an amount not to exceed the Available Amount at such time.

 

Section 7.07                             Change in Nature of Business.  Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

Section 7.08                             Transactions with Affiliates.  Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length

 

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transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (i) transactions between or among the Borrower and any of its wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries or between and among any wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) payment of customary cash and non-cash compensation, including stock option and similar employee benefit plans, to directors and officers on an arm’s length basis.

 

Section 7.09                             Burdensome Agreements.  After the date of this Agreement, enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than (x) this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) Permitted Debt Restrictions) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Restricted Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Restricted Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person to secure any of the Loan Documents or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person, or amend any Contractual Obligation existing on the date of this Agreement so as to impose or make more restrictive such a limitation, in each case other than the following: (A) any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(b) and Section 7.03(f) solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness or property subject to a Lien permitted hereunder which secures such Indebtedness, (B) Swap Contracts and any Guarantee in respect of such Swap Contracts, (C) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by reason of customary provisions contained in leases, licenses, joint ventures agreements and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business; (D) any encumbrances or restrictions that are or were created by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer or option or right with respect to any property, assets or capital stock not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement; (E) any restrictions regarding licenses or sublicenses by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business; (F) any restrictions in a Contractual Obligation incurred in the ordinary course of business and on customary terms which prohibit transfer of assets subject of the applicable Contractual Obligation; (G) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers or, in the ordinary course of business, other third parties; (H) any restrictions contained in agreements related to Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03(e), (n) or (o); and (I) any restriction contained in a Contractual Obligation relating to property, an interest in which has been Disposed of to a Royalty Trust, in accordance with Section 7.05.

 

Section 7.10                             Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, in violation of Regulation U or X as now and from time to time hereafter in effect.

 

Section 7.11                             Financial Covenants.

 

(a)                                 Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated First Lien Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower exceed 2.00:1.00.

 

(b)                                 Consolidated Current Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Current Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than 1.0:1.0.

 

Section 7.12                             Hedge Transactions  Enter into any Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions which would cause the notional volume of Hydrocarbons for each of crude oil and natural gas, calculated separately, with respect to which a settlement payment is calculated under such Oil and Gas Hedge Transactions (other than basis swaps, floors and puts on volumes hedged pursuant to Swap Contracts) to exceed eighty five percent (85%) of Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s production that may reasonably be anticipated to be produced from Proved Reserves during the period from the immediately preceding settlement date (or the commencement of such Hedge Transaction if there is no prior settlement

 

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date) to such settlement date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Loan Parties may purchase commodity puts and floors not to exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the reasonably anticipated volume of the oil and gas production of the Loan Parties over the term of such puts and floors. Calculations in respect of the foregoing shall cover production for the immediately following 66 month period and be based on the most recently delivered Engineering Report (subject to certain adjustments as may be required by acquisitions or dispositions made subsequent to the date of such Engineering Report) and any additional information reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent delivered by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent subsequent to the publication of the most recently delivered Engineering Report.

 

Section 7.13                             Sanctions.  Directly or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or with or in any country that, at the time of such funding, is a Designated Jurisdiction, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers, Swing Line Lenders, or otherwise) of Sanctions.

 

Section 7.14                             Anti-Corruption Laws.  Directly or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010,  or other similar legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

Section 7.15                             Prepayment of Restricted Debt.

 

(a)                                 Optionally prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that mandatory payments of principal and interest shall be permitted to the extent permitted by the applicable provisions of the intercreditor agreement applicable thereto; provided that no such mandatory payments shall be made using any funds or proceeds that may otherwise be reinvested by the Borrower), any Principal Debt Obligations or any other Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(c) or Section 7.03(l) (collectively, “Restricted Debt”) or make any payment in violation of any terms of any Restricted Debt Documentation, except (i) with the proceeds of any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, (ii) the conversion of any Restricted Debt to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower, (iii) the redemption of any Restricted Debt with the Net Cash Proceeds of any offering of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower and (iv) subject to the satisfaction of the Available Amount Conditions, other prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Restricted Debt in an amount not to exceed the Available Amount at such time.

 

(b)                                 Amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders any term or condition of any Restricted Debt Documentation without the consent of the Majority Lenders.

 

ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

Section 8.01                             Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                 Non-Payment.  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation; (ii) within three Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee

 

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due hereunder; or (iii) within five Business Days that the same has come due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

 

(b)                                 Specific Covenants.  The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a), Section 6.05(a) (with respect to the Borrower only), Section 6.11 or Section 6.12 or Article 7; or

 

(c)                                  Other Defaults.  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after receipt of written notice from the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of such failure; or

 

(d)                                 Representations and Warranties.  Any representation, warranty, or certification made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

 

(e)                                  Cross-Default.  (i) The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding Immaterial Subsidiaries) (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding Immaterial Subsidiaries) is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) and the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(f)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.  Any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Immaterial Subsidiaries) institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(g)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment.  (i) The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding Immaterial Subsidiaries) becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or

 

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similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

 

(h)                                 Judgments.  There is entered against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding Immaterial Subsidiaries) (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage) or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(i)                                     ERISA.  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(j)                                    Invalidity of Loan Documents.  Any material provision of the Loan Documents, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any material provision of the Loan Documents; or any Loan Party denies that it has any material or further liability or obligation under any material provision of the Loan Documents, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any material provision of the Loan Documents; or

 

(k)                                 Change of Control.  There occurs any Change of Control;

 

(l)                                     Collateral Documents.  Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 4.01 or Section 6.12 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof) cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01) on any material portion of  the Collateral purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents; or

 

(m)                             Junior Lien Financing Documentation.  (i) Any of the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents for any reason shall cease to be “First Lien Obligations” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement under, and as defined in any Junior Lien Financing Documentation or (ii) the lien subordination provisions set forth in any Junior Lien Financing Documentation shall, in whole or in part, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against the holders of any Junior Lien Debt, if applicable.

 

Section 8.02                             Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of Majority Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)                                 declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

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(b)                                 declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

 

(c)                                  require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

 

(d)                                 exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under the Loan Documents;

 

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

Section 8.03                             Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

(a)                                 First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article 3) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

(b)                                 Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or any L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under Article 3), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

(c)                                  Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

(d)                                 Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, amounts payable under Swap Contracts, amounts payable under Treasury Management Services Agreements, and to the Administrative Agent for the account of each L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, ratably among the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Lender Counterparties, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

 

(e)                                  Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

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Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur.  If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

Section 9.01                             Appointment and Authority.

 

(a)                                 Each of the Lenders and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Royal Bank of Canada to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  Except to the extent Sections 9.01(b) and 9.06 expressly contemplate rights of others, the provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

 

(b)                                 The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender and potential Lender Counterparty) and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and such L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto.  In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article 9 and Article 10 (including Section 10.04(c), as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

 

Section 9.02                             Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

Section 9.03                             Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                 shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(b)                                 shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and

 

(c)                                  shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, in each case as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an L/C Issuer .

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article 4 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 9.04                             Reliance by Administrative Agent.

 

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer , the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

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Section 9.05                             Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

Section 9.06                             Resignation of Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Majority Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may (in consultation with the Borrower) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Majority Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

Any resignation by Royal Bank of Canada as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as an L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

Section 9.07                             Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative

 

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Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

Section 9.08                             No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Arranger or Co-Syndication Agents shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer  hereunder.

 

Section 9.09                             Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                 to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)                                 to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or any L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or any L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

 

Section 9.10                             Collateral and Guaranty Matters.  The Lenders and the L/C Issuers irrevocably authorize:

 

(a)                                 and instruct the Administrative Agent to release (and the following shall automatically be released without any further action on the part of any Person):  any Lien on any property

 

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granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations, obligations with respect to Swap Contracts and obligations with respect to Treasury Management Services Agreements) and the expiration, termination or Cash Collateralization in full of all Letters of Credit, (ii) which property is Disposed of or to be Disposed of as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (iii) which property is owned by a Subsidiary at the time it is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or (iv) subject to Section 10.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Lenders;

 

(b)                                 and instruct the Administrative Agent to release (and the following Guarantors shall automatically be released without any further action on the part of any Person): (i) any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder and (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary from its obligations under any Collateral Document upon its designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(c)                                  the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion to subordinate or release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.01(i) or Section 7.01(j);

 

(d)                                 and instruct the Administrative Agent to release (and the following shall automatically be released without any further action on the part of any Person):  any Lien on any property (an interest in which has been Disposed of to a Royalty Trust) granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document if, and when, a Lien on such property is granted in favor of such Royalty Trust; and

 

(e)                                  the Administrative Agent to, without any further consent of any Lender (other than the consent as to the form of Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement contemplated by the definition of Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), enter into a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 that is intended to be secured on a junior basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, in each case, where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01. The Administrative Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as to whether any such other Liens are permitted.  Any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Secured Parties.

 

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Majority Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.  In each case as specified in this Section 9.10, the Administrative Agent will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.10.

 

Section 9.11                             Flood Insurance.  The Administrative Agent has adopted internal policies and procedures that address requirements placed on federally regulated lenders under the Flood Insurance Regulations. The Administrative Agent will post on the applicable electronic platform (or otherwise distribute to each lender in the syndicate) documents that it receives, if any, in connection with the Flood Insurance Regulations. However, the Administrative Agent reminds each Lender and Participant in the

 

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facility that, pursuant to the Flood Insurance Regulations, each federally regulated lender (whether acting as a Lender or a Participant in the facility) is responsible for assuring its own compliance with the Flood Insurance Regulations.

 

ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.01                      Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Majority Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                 extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(b)                                 postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(c)                                  reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Majority Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate;

 

(d)                                 change Section 2.14 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;

 

(e)                                  change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Majority Lenders”, “Required Lenders”, “Applicable Percentage” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                   amend, modify or waive this Agreement or the Security Agreement so as to alter the ratable treatment of Obligations arising under the Loan Documents and Obligations arising under Hedge Transactions or the definition of “Lender Counterparty”, “Hedge Transactions”, “Obligations” or “Secured Obligations” in a manner adverse to any Lender Counterparty except with the written consent of each affected Lender Counterparty;

 

(g)                                  release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(h)                                 amend any provision of Section 2.05(b)(iv), Section 7.03(l) relating to the automatic reduction of the Borrowing Base upon the issuance of Indebtedness or of Section 7.05(g) relating to the sale of Oil and Gas Properties in each case without the written consent of the Required Lenders; or

 

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(i)                                     release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuers under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lenders in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lenders under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) Section 10.06(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except as provided in (a), (b), (c) and (to the extent such Defaulting Lender’s rights are directly and adversely affected thereby) (e) above.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement that is for the purpose of adding any holders of Junior Lien Debt, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may  make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing and provided that such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect, to the interests of the Lenders); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 10.02                      Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                 Notices Generally.  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                     if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer or an Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

 

(ii)                                  if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

 

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(b)                                 Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article 2 if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

(c)                                  The Platform.  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

 

(d)                                 Change of Address, Etc.  Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lenders may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer and each Swing Line Lender.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

 

(e)                                  Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders.  The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including

 

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telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

Section 10.03                      No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.  No failure by any Person to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

Section 10.04                      Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                 Costs and Expenses.  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by each L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer, in connection with the enforcement of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b)                                 Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such

 

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demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.  No Loan Party will, without the prior written consent of the relevant Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding (any of the foregoing, a “Proceeding”) against an Indemnitee in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee unless (i) such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnitee from all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and (ii) does not include any statement as to any admission.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Loan Party shall be liable for any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding effected without the Borrower’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

 

(c)                                  Reimbursement by Lenders.  To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the applicable L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the applicable L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the applicable L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or applicable L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.13(d).

 

(d)                                 Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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(e)                                  Payments.  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(f)                                   Survival.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer and any Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

Section 10.05                      Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the applicable L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred and (b) each Lender and each L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.06                      Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                 Successors and Assigns Generally.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section, or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Assignments by Lenders.  Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                     Minimum Amounts.

 

(A)                               in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an

 

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assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

(B)                               in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to an assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                  Proportionate Amounts.  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

 

(iii)                               Required Consents.  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

 

(A)                               the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(B)                               the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and the consent of the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

 

(iv)                              Assignment and Assumption.  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee per assignment payable by the assignor (subject to Section 10.13(a)) directly to the Administrative Agent in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)                                 No Assignment to Borrower.  No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

(vi)                              No Assignment to Natural Persons.  No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

 

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(vii)                           No Assignment to Defaulting Lenders. No such assignment shall be made to a Defaulting Lender.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

 

(c)                                  Register.  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                 Participations.  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any  provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant.  Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.14 as though it were a Lender.

 

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Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)                                  Limitations upon Participant Rights.  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or Section 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.  A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

 

(f)                                   Certain Pledges.  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(g)                                  [reserved].

 

(h)                                 Special Purpose Funding Vehicles.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Committed Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Committed Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Committed Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Committed Loan pursuant to the terms hereof or, if it fails to do so, to make such payment to the Administrative Agent as is required under Section 2.13(b)(ii).  Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.04), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder.  The making of a Committed Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Committed Loan were made by such Granting Lender.  In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join

 

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any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee in the amount of $2,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Committed Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Committed Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

 

(i)                                     Resignation as an L/C Issuer or a Swing Line Lender after Assignment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, such L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as a Swing Line Lender.  In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder (and any such appointment shall be subject to the acceptance of such appointed Lender); provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the exiting L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be.  If such L/C Issuer resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)).  If such Swing Line Lender resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of a Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).  Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (ii) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the exiting L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of exiting L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

Section 10.07                      Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) to credit rating agencies, the CUSIP Service Bureau and credit insurers, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this

 

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Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.

 

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as nonpublic and confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to confidential information of a similar nature.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.

 

In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the substantive terms of this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Commitments.

 

Section 10.08                      Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or such L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness.  The rights of each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

Section 10.09                      Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate,

 

104



 

allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

Section 10.10                      Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.   Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy facsimile, photocopy or by sending a scanned copy by electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.  To the extent any inconsistency exists between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed controlling.

 

Section 10.11                      Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

Section 10.12                      Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 10.13                      Replacement of Lenders.  If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, (iii) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or (iv) any Lender is unwilling to approve an increase in the Borrowing Base or other amendment hereto which has been approved by the Required Lenders but requires approval of such Lender to be effective, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

 

(a)                                 the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);

 

105



 

(b)                                 such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)                                  in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

(d)                                 in the case of an assignment resulting from clause (iv) above, such assignment will result in effectiveness of such increase or amendment; and

 

(e)                                  such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

Each Lender hereby grants to the Administrative Agent an irrevocable power of attorney (which power is coupled with an interest) to execute and deliver, on behalf of such Lender as assignor, any Assignment and Assumption necessary to effectuate any assignment of such Lender’s interests hereunder in the circumstances contemplated by this Section 10.13.

 

Section 10.14                      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                 GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.  EACH PARTY HERETO  IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT A PARTY HERETO MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANOTHER PARTY HERETO OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                  WAIVER OF VENUE.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE

 

106



 

LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)                                 SERVICE OF PROCESS.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

Section 10.15                      Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

Section 10.16                      No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

 

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and each Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger nor any Lender has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, each Lender and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Administrative

 

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Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate.  The Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and each Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with the Transaction.

 

Section 10.17                      USA PATRIOT Act Notice.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer that is subject to the Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender, L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.  The Borrower shall promptly provide such additional information and documentation reasonably requested by any Lender, L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for such Lender, L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to comply with its obligations under the Patriot Act

 

Section 10.18                      Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Committed Loan Notices, Swing Line Loan Notices, waivers and consents)  shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it.

 

Section 10.19                      Amendment and Restatement.  It is the intention of each of the parties hereto that the Existing Credit Agreement be amended and restated in its entirety pursuant hereto so as to preserve and continue the perfection and priority of all Liens securing Indebtedness and Obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement and that all Indebtedness and Obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors (other than Lariat) hereunder shall be secured by the Liens evidenced under the Collateral Documents and that this Agreement does not constitute a novation or termination of the Indebtedness and Obligations existing under the Existing Credit Agreement.  In addition, unless specifically amended hereby, each of the Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and that, from and after the Closing Date, all references to the “Credit Agreement” contained therein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.  The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to amend and restate each of the Security Agreement  and the Guaranty, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in order to, among other things, reflect the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 10.20                      Keepwell.  The Borrower absolutely, unconditionally, and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Party to honor all of its obligations under this guarantee in respect of any Swap Obligation (provided, however, that the Borrower shall only be liable under this Section 10.20 for the maximum amount of such liability

 

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that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 10.20, or otherwise under this guarantee, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount).  The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 10.20 shall remain in full force and effect until the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.  The Borrower intends that this Section 10.20 constitute, and this Section 10.20 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

[SIGNATURES BEGIN NEXT PAGE]

 

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

 

 

SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eddie LeBlanc

 

Name:

Eddie LeBlanc

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Administrative Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Susan Khokher

 

Name:

Susan Khokher

 

Title:

Manager, Agency

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as a Lender, a Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Don J. McKinnerney

 

Name:

Don J. McKinnerney

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ann E. Sutton

 

Name:

Ann E. Sutton

 

Title:

Director

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Henrik Z. Sandström

 

Name:

Henrik Z. Sandström

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Darlene Arias

 

Name:

Darlene Arias

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Denise Bushee

 

Name:

Denise Bushee

 

Title:

Associate Director

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

SUNTRUST BANK, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Chulley Bogle

 

Name:

Chulley Bogle

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Louis P. Laville, III

 

Name:

Louis P. Laville, III

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Vikram Nath

 

Name:

Vikram Nath

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

CITIZENS BANK, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Donaldson

 

Name:

Scott Donaldson

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael Higgins

 

Name:

Michael Higgins

 

Title:

Director

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Rebecca Kratz

 

Name:

Rebecca Kratz

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

NEXTERA ENERGY POWER MARKETING, LLC, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lawrence Silverstein

 

Name:

Lawrence Silverstein

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

 

MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Andrew Gates

 

Name:

Andrew Gates

 

Title:

Division Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lisa Knowles

 

Name:

Lisa Knowles

 

Title:

Division Director

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 



 

SCHEDULE 1.01A

 

EXISTING SWAP OBLIGATIONS

 

(Continued on next page)

 



 

Date

 

SandRidge Entity

 

Counterparty

 

Type

 

Term

 

Volume

 

Confirm Number

9/18/2013

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Bank of America

 

Crude Oil

 

Jan15-June15

 

180,000

 

19314801

10/8/2013

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Bank of America

 

Crude Oil

 

Jan15-Sept15

 

244,000

 

19679600

10/14/2013

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Bank of America

 

Crude Oil

 

Jan15-Sept15

 

366,000

 

19739055

8/29/2011

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Barclays

 

Crude Oil

 

Cal 15

 

428,000

 

27235861

9/6/2013

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Goldman Sachs

 

Crude Oil

 

Jan15-June15

 

60,000

 

4071757698-1-1/4071752578-1-1

8/29/2011

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Scotia

 

Crude Oil

 

Cal 15

 

428,000

 

225860

8/20/2012

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Citibank

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Cal 15

 

214,000

 

24315834/24315835/24315836

8/22/2012

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Citibank

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Cal 15

 

214,000

 

12868594/12868595/12868596

9/6/2012

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Citibank

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Cal 15

 

214,000

 

13004727/13004728/13004729

5/23/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Citibank

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Jul15-Dec15

 

184,000

 

10254789/10254790/10254792

6/25/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Citibank

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Jul15-Dec15

 

368,000

 

20258359

6/13/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Goldman Sachs

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Jul15-Dec15

 

184,000

 

408987955411

8/1/2013

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

JP Morgan

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Cal 15

 

428,000

 

O1ZB/O1ZC/O1ZE

8/24/2012

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

JP Morgan

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Cal 15

 

642,000

 

48187441/48187653

7/16/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Scotia

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Jul15-Dec15

 

368,000

 

1268747/1268757/1268754

 



 

7/21/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Scotia

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Jul15-Dec15

 

552,000

 

1272698/1272699/1272700

3/4/2011

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Wells Fargo

 

SDT Oil

 

Cal 15

 

195,810

 

4327568

3/11/2011

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Wells Fargo

 

SDT Oil

 

Cal 15

 

78,324

 

4327567

4/17/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Barclays

 

SDR Oil

 

Cal 15

 

160,500

 

36546606

2/6/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Morgan Stanley

 

Gas Swap

 

Cal 15

 

3,680,000

 

F14365656-1

2/2/2015

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Barclays

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Mar15-Dec15

 

3,680,000

 

38930376

12/18/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Goldman Sachs

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Cal 15

 

3,680,000

 

3797116792-1-1

1/16/2015

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Goldman Sachs

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Feb15-Dec15

 

1,840,000

 

379908310911

1/30/2015

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Goldman Sachs

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Mar15-Dec15

 

3,680,000

 

379998488811

12/15/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Morgan Stanley

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Cal 15

 

3,680,000

 

F16301451-1

1/14/2015

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Morgan Stanley

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Feb15-Dec15

 

3,680,000

 

F16358123-1/F16358664-1

2/10/2015

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Morgan Stanley

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Mar15-Dec15

 

3,680,000

 

F16415284-1

12/10/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Scotia

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Cal 15

 

3,680,000

 

1415042

2/11/2015

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Scotia

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Mar15-Dec15

 

3,680,000

 

1463275

12/22/2010

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Wells Fargo

 

SDT Gas Collar

 

Cal 15

 

509,128

 

4327595/4327594

9/18/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Barclays

 

Crude Oil

 

Cal 16

 

1,098,000

 

37822586

9/25/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Citibank

 

Crude Oil

 

Cal 16

 

366,000

 

21668487

9/26/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Bank of America

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Cal 16

 

366,000

 

22950234/22950240/22950286

9/26/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Bank of America

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Cal 16

 

366,000

 

22945467/22945469/22945482

 



 

7/21/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Citibank

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Jan16-Jun16

 

546,000

 

21766196/21766197/21766198

7/25/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Goldman Sachs

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Cal 16

 

732,000

 

409185418311

7/24/2014

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Scotia

 

Crude 3-Way Collar

 

Jan16-Jun16

 

546,000

 

1272698/1272699/1272700

3/23/2015

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Macquarie

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Cal 16

 

3,660,000

 

HH 13779174

3/17/2015

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Scotia

 

Gas PEPL Basis

 

Cal 16

 

7,320,000

 

1487797

 



 

SCHEDULE 1.01B

 

EXISTING TREASURY MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENTS

 

Master Agreement for Treasury Management Services between SandRidge Energy, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”) and/or the Wells Fargo bank through which the services are provided.

 



 

SCHEDULE 2.01

 

COMMITMENTS
AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES

 

Lender

 

Commitment

 

Applicable Percentage

 

Royal Bank of Canada

 

$

140,000,000

 

14.00

%

Barclays Bank PLC

 

$

140,000,000

 

14.00

%

Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.

 

$

140,000,000

 

14.00

%

UBS AG, Stamford Branch

 

$

110,000,000

 

11.00

%

SunTrust Bank

 

$

110,000,000

 

11.00

%

Natixis, New York Branch

 

$

110,000,000

 

11.00

%

Citizens Bank, N.A.

 

$

110,000,000

 

11.00

%

Capital One, National Association

 

$

110,000,000

 

11.00

%

Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC

 

$

10,000,000

 

1.00

%

NextEra Energy Power Marketing, LLC

 

$

10,000,000

 

1.00

%

Macquarie Bank Limited

 

$

10,000,000

 

1.00

%

Total:

 

$

1,000,000,000

 

100.000000000

%

 



 

SCHEDULE 2.01S

 

SWING LINE COMMITMENTS

 

Lender

 

Commitment

 

Applicable Percentage

 

Royal Bank of Canada

 

$

50,000,000

 

100.00

%

Total:

 

$

50,000,000

 

100.00

%

 



 

SCHEDULE 5.03

 

GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS

 

None.

 



 

SCHEDULE 5.06

 

LITIGATION

 

None.

 



 

SCHEDULE 5.09

 

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

 

None.

 



 

SCHEDULE 5.13

 

SUBSIDIARIES,
OTHER EQUITY INVESTMENTS
AND LOAN PARTY INFORMATION

 

(Continued on next page)

 



 

SCHEDULE 5.13

 

PART A AND PART B - all Subsidiaries and Equity Interests of Loan Parties

 

Company Name

 

Address

 

City/ State/ Zip

 

Jurisdiction

 

FEIN

 

SandRidge Ownership
(owner — percentage)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc. (SD)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

20-8084793

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUBSIDIARY ENTITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th Street Properties, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Oklahoma

 

n/a

 

REALTY - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Bayou Exploration, L.L.C.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Louisiana

 

20-4790561

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Braniff Restaurant Holdings, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Oklahoma

 

61-1682453

 

REALTY - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CEBA Midstream, LP

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

30-0827252

 

SDE&P - 99%
SDMMGP - 1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cornhusker Energy, L.L.C.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Oklahoma

 

73-1474609

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAE Holdings 389322R, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Oklahoma

 

n/a

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Integra Energy, L.L.C. (IEL)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

75-2887527

 

SDE&P - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cholla Pipeline, L.P.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

26-0025092

 

SDMI - 62.5716%
IEL - 36.1427%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lariat Services, Inc. (LSI)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

75-2500702

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MidContinent Resources, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

20-0096928

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mistmada Oil Company, Inc.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Oklahoma

 

73-1393032

 

SD - 100%

 



 

Company Name

 

Address

 

City/ State/ Zip

 

Jurisdiction

 

FEIN

 

SandRidge Ownership
(owner — percentage)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sabino Exploration, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

20-5931929

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge CO2, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

76-0547903

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC (SDE&P)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

87-0776535

 

SDHI -100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Mississippian Trust I

 

919 Congress Avenue, Suite 500

 

Austin, TX 78701

 

Delaware

 

27-6990649

 

SDE&P - 26.885939% of Common Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Permian Trust

 

919 Congress Avenue, Suite 500

 

Austin, TX 78701

 

Delaware

 

45-6276683

 

SDE&P - 0% of Common Units
SDE&P - 100% of Subordinated Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Mississippian Trust II

 

919 Congress Avenue, Suite 500

 

Austin, TX 78701

 

Delaware

 

30-0709968

 

SDE&P - 16.742081% of Common Units
SDE&P - 100% of Subordinated Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Gathering LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

n/a

 

SDE&P - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Holdings, Inc. (SDHI)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

20-5878401

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Midcon Midstream GP, LLC (SDMMGP)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

46-5390511

 

SDE&P - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Midstream, Inc. (SDMI)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

75-2541148

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sagebrush Pipeline, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Colorado

 

20-1550515

 

SDMI - 73.80881%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Operating Company (SDOC)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

75-2541245

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Realty, LLC (REALTY)

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Oklahoma

 

26-0586079

 

SD - 100%

 



 

Company Name

 

Address

 

City/ State/ Zip

 

Jurisdiction

 

FEIN

 

SandRidge Ownership
(owner — percentage)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sierra Madera CO2 Pipeline, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

47-0881558

 

SD - 100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WTO Gas Gathering Company, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

n/a

 

SD - 100%

 



 

PART C - LOAN PARTIES INFORMATION

 

Company Name

 

Address

 

Jurisdiction of
Organization

 

FEIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

20-8084793

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

87-0776535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Gathering LLC

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

n/a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Holdings, Inc.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Delaware

 

20-5878401

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Midstream, Inc.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

75-2541148

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SandRidge Operating Company

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

75-2541245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Integra Energy, L.L.C

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

75-2887527

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lariat Services, Inc.

 

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

 

Texas

 

75-2500702

 



 

SCHEDULE 5.22

 

SALE OF PRODUCTION

 

(Continued on next page)

 



 

SCHEDULE 5.22

 

TYPE OF AGREEMENT

 

DATE

 

SANDRIDGE
ENTITY

 

OTHER PARTY

 

TERM

 

NOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MID-CON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude Oil Purchase Contract

 

2/3/2012

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

Plains Marketing, LP

 

10 years

 

 

Gas Purchase Contract

 

10/1/2011, Amended 6/1/2014

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

DCP Midstream, LP

 

15 years

 

K# NHC 0517-000

Gas Purchase Agreement

 

12/27/2012, Effective 1/1/2013

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

Targa Pipeline Mid-Continent WestOK LLC (FKA Atlas Pipeline Mid-Continent WestOK, LLC)

 

5 years

 

K# 8570

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERMIAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas Purchase Contract

 

1/1/2011 Amended 1/1/2012

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

DCP Midstream, LP

 

10 years

 

FUL 0600-00R

Lease Connection Agreement

 

9/3/2009

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC (FKA Arena Resources Inc.)

 

Enterprise Crude Oil LLC (FKA Teppco Crude Pipeline, LLC)

 

10 years

 

 

 



 

Gas Treating and CO2 Delivery Agreement

 

6/29/2008

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

Oxy USA Inc.

 

12/31/2040

 

Century Plant

Interconnect & Operating Agreement

 

10/22/2009

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

Enterprise Texas Pipeline LLC

 

10 years

 

Century Plant Residue

Gas Gathering Agreement

 

6/30/2009

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

Pinon Gathering Company, LLC

 

20 years

 

Pinon Gathering

Gathering and Natural Gas Services Agreement

 

11/1/2007
Amended
12/1/2008

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

ETC Texas Pipeline, LTD.

 

12/31/2027

 

Sweet Gas Gathering

Intrastate Natural Gas Transportation Service Agreement

 

11/1/2007
Amended
12/1/2008

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Oasis Pipeline, L.P.

 

12/31/2027

 

028-77610-02-101
Sweet Gas Short Haul

Interruptible Natural Gas Transportation Service Agreement 028-77610-02-204

 

8/1/2009

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Oasis Pipeline, L.P.

 

10 Years

 

First 5 years: 77,067 MMBtu/d Second 5 years: 51,336 MMBtu/d

Firm Natural Gas Transportation Service Agreement 77610-02-200

 

8/1/2009

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Energy Transfer Fuel, LP

 

10 Years

 

First 5 years: 76,078 MMBtu/d Second 5 years: 50,677 MMBtu/d

Interruptible Natural Gas Transportation Service Agreement 776100201

 

8/1/2009

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Houston Pipeline Company LP

 

10 Years

 

First 5 years: 75,750 MMBtu/d Second 5 years: 50,500 MMBtu/d

FTS Transport Agreement 553498

 

8/1/2009

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

MidContinent Express Pipeline LLC

 

10 Years

 

First 5 years: 75,000 MMBtu/d Second 5 years: 50,000 MMBtu/d

 



 

GAS IMBALANCES

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATOR

 

SD NET MCF OVER
RESERVES

 

ESTIMATED $ LIABILITY
OVER RESERVES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bertha 13-1

 

12/31/2014

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

Apache Corp.

 

340,924 MCF

 

Imbalance in Excess (Over) Reserves Report $480,702.84

Bollinger 22-1

 

12/31/2014

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

Blake Production

 

176,229 MCF

 

Imbalance in Excess (Over) Reserves Report $230,859.99

Koerner 1-24

 

12/31/2014

 

SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC

 

Operated/SandRidge E & P, LLC

 

70,652 MCF

 

Imbalance in Excess (Over) Reserves Report $140,159.44

 



 

SCHEDULE 7.01

 

EXISTING LIENS

 

None.

 



 

SCHEDULE 7.02(n)

 

EXISTING INVESTMENTS

 

SandRidge Midstream, Inc. owns a 73.80881% interest in Sagebrush Pipeline, LLC.

 



 

SCHEDULE 7.03

 

EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS

 

 

 

Outstanding
Principal Amount
as of June 10,
2015

 

8.75% Senior Notes Due 2020 - $450MM

 

$

445.7

*

7.5% Senior Notes Due 2021 - $1,175MM

 

$

1,149.3

**

8.125% Senior Notes Due 2022 - $750MM

 

$

729.0

 

7.5% Senior Notes Due 2023 - $825MM

 

$

821.7

*

 


* Notes issued at discount. Outstanding balance net of discount.

** Includes a premium paid to the Borrower in connection with the issuance of the notes.

 



 

SCHEDULE 10.02

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE;
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

 

BORROWER:

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

123 Robert South Kerr Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Attention: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: 405-429-5500

Telecopier: 405-429-5977

Electronic Mail:  [email protected]

Website Address:  www.sandridgeenergy.com

U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: 20-8084793

 



 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

 

Administrative Agent’s Office

(for payments and Requests for Credit Extensions):

 

20 King Street West, 4th Floor

Toronto, Ontario M5K 1C4

 

Attention:

Manager, Agency Services Group

Fax:

416-842-4023

 

 

Rec. Bank:

JP Morgan Chase Bank, New York

ABA:

021000021

Swift:

CHASUS33

Acct with:

Royal Bank of Canada New York

Acct:

9201033363

Swift:

ROYCUS3X

Benf:

RBCCM AGENCY SERVICES

Acct:

012692937464

Address:

200 VESEY STREET

 

NEW YORK, NY 10281

Ref:

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

Other Notices as Administrative Agent:

 

20 King Street West, 4th Floor

Toronto, Ontario M5K 1C4

 

Attention:

Manager, Agency Services

Fax:

416-842-4023

 



 

L/C ISSUER:

 

Royal Bank of Canada

200 Vesey Street, 5th Floor

New York, New York 10281-8098

Attention: Credit Administration

Fax: (212) 428-3015

 

SWING LINE LENDER:

 

Swing Line Lender Address:

Royal Bank of Canada, New York Branch

Global Loans Administration, NY

Three World Financial Center

200 Vesey Street

New York, NY 10281-8098

Attention:  Manager  - Global Loans Administration

Fax No:   212-428-2372

 

Pay:

JP Morgan Chase Bank

ABA#

021000021

Account #

920-1-033363

For further credit to:

RBC NY Loans Department

Account#

2185999

 

 

Ref:

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

GRAPHIC

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc. Closes Offering of $1.25 Billion of 8.75% Senior Secured Notes and Amended and Restated Revolving Bank Credit Facility

 

OKLAHOMA CITY, June 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — SandRidge Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: SD) has closed its previously announced private offering of $1.25 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2020 (the “Notes”).  The Notes were issued at par and bear interest at a rate of 8.75% per annum.  The Notes are secured on a second-lien priority basis and guaranteed by each of the Company’s subsidiaries that guarantee the Company’s revolving credit facility.  In addition, the Company’s previously announced amended and restated first-lien revolving bank credit facility with an initial $500 million borrowing base became effective today.

 

The Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes to repay all borrowings under its existing revolving credit facility and will use the remainder for general corporate purposes.

 

The Notes and related guarantees were offered by the Company only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to non-U.S. persons in transactions outside the United States under Regulation S of the Securities Act.  The Notes are not registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

About SandRidge Energy, Inc.

 

SandRidge Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SD) is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with its principal focus on developing high-return, growth-oriented projects in the Mid-Continent region of the United States. In addition, SandRidge owns and operates a saltwater gathering and disposal system and a drilling rig and related oil field services business.

 

CONTACT:

Duane Grubert

EVP — Investor Relations & Strategy

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

+1 (405) 429-5515

 




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