Exhibit 4.3


 


SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE


 


This SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE is entered into as
of June 23, 2021 (the “Supplemental Indenture”) by and among SM Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”),
and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referenced below (the “Trustee”).


 


Recitals


 


A.            The
parties hereto are parties to an Indenture dated as of November 17, 2014 (the “Indenture”);


 


B.            The
Issuer has issued its 6.125% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”) pursuant to the Indenture, of which $212,403,000 aggregate
principal amount of Notes are presently outstanding;


 


C.            The
Issuer has conducted, pursuant the offer to purchase and consent solicitation, dated June 9, 2021, (i) a tender offer to purchase
any and all of the Notes (the “Offer”), and (ii) a consent solicitation from the holders of the Notes to amend
the Indenture, pursuant to which the Issuer has received the consent of the holders of an aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding
that is necessary under Section 9.02 of the Indenture to amend the Indenture as provided in this Supplemental Indenture;


 


D.            Pursuant
to Section 9.06 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Issuer are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;


 


E.            The
Issuer has been authorized by Board Resolutions to enter into this Supplemental Indenture;


 


F.            The
Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 9.06 of the Indenture
to the effect that the execution of this Supplemental Indenture by the Issuer is authorized or permitted by the Indenture; and


 


G.            All
other acts and proceedings required by law, by the Indenture and by the charter documents of the Issuer have been done and performed to
make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and binding agreement for the purposes expressed herein, in accordance with its terms.


 


Agreement


 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises
and the covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the Issuer and the Trustee hereby agree as follows:


 






     


     


    

 


ARTICLE One


 


Section 1.01     Definitions.


 


Capitalized terms used in this Supplemental Indenture
and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.


 


ARTICLE Two


 


Section 2.01     Amendment
of Section 3.03 of the Indenture. The first sentence of clause (a) of Section 3.03
of the Indenture is amended by deleting the text thereof in its entirety and replacing it with the following text:


 


“At least three Business Days before a redemption date,
the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed
at its registered address and send a copy to the Trustee at the same time.”


 


Section 2.02     Amendment
of Certain Provisions in Article Four.


 


(a)            Deletion
of Sections. Each of the following Sections of the Indenture is amended by deleting the text thereof in its entirety and replacing
it with the text “[Reserved]”:


 


	 	Section 4.03
	 	Section 4.05
	 	Section 4.07
	 	Section 4.08
	 	Section 4.09
	 	Section 4.10
	 	Section 4.11
	 	Section 4.12
	 	Section 4.14
	 	Section 4.15
	 	Section 4.16


 


Section 2.03     Amendment
of Certain Provisions in Article Five.


 


(a)            Mergers,
Consolidations, Etc. Clause (3) of Section 5.01(a) of the Indenture is amended by deleting the text thereof in
its entirety and replacing it with the text “[Reserved].”


 


(b)            Mergers,
Consolidations, Etc. Section 5.01(c) of the Indenture is amended by deleting from the beginning of that section the words
 “Notwithstanding Section 5.01(a)(3),”.


 






    2 


     


    

 


Section 2.04     Amendment
of Certain Provisions in Article Six/Events of Default. Each of the following Sections of
the Indenture is amended by deleting the text thereof in its entirety and replacing it with the text “[Reserved]”:


 


	 	Section 6.01(d)
	 	Section 6.01(e)
	 	Section 6.01(f)

Section 6.01(i)  



 


Section 2.05     Conforming
Amendments.


 


(a)            Amendment
of Table of Contents. The Table of Contents of the Indenture is amended to reflect the amendments to the Indenture made by this Supplemental
Indenture.


 


(b)            Defined
Terms to be Deleted. Section 1.02 of the Indenture is amended by deleting in their entirety all definitions of terms and all
references to definitions of terms that are used solely in the text of the Indenture that is being deleted from the Indenture pursuant
to this Supplemental Indenture.


 


(c)            Definition
of Additional Notes. The definition of “Additional Notes” in the Indenture is amended by deleting the text “Sections
2.01(f), 2.02, 2.16 and 4.07” in that definition in its entirety and replacing it with “Sections 2.01(f), 2.02 and 2.16”.


 


(d)            Definition
of Unrestricted Subsidiary. The definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” in the Indenture is amended by deleting from the
final line of that definition the text “and the Company could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.07(a) on
a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.”


 


(e)            Definition
of Supplemental Indenture. Section 1.02 of the Indenture is amended by adding to that Section the following term and definition
of “Supplemental Indenture”:


 


“Supplemental Indenture”
means the Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 23, 2021 between the Issuer and the Trustee.


 


(f)            Amendment
of Section 1.03. Section 1.03 of the Indenture is amended by deleting from that Section the following lines of text:


 


	Affiliate Transaction	 	Section 4.12
	Asset Disposition Offer	 	Section 4.11
	Asset Disposition Offer Amount	 	Section 4.11
	Asset Disposition Offer Period	 	Section 4.11
	Asset Disposition Purchase Date	 	Section 4.11
	Change of Control Offer	 	Section 4.15
	Change of Control Payment	 	Section 4.15
	Change of Control Payment Date	 	Section 4.15
	Excess Proceeds		Section 4.11
	Initial Lien	 	Section 4.09
	Pari Passu Notes	 	Section 4.11
	Restricted Payments	 	Section 4.08
	Restricted Payment Basket	 	
    Section 4.08



 






    3 


     


    

 


(g)            Amendment
of Section 2.02(b). Section 2.02(b) of the Indenture is amended by deleting from that Section the text “,
subject to compliance with Section 4.07”.


 


(h)            Amendment
of Section 2.07(i)(2). Section 2.07(i)(2) of the Indenture is amended by deleting the text “Sections 2.11, 3.06,
4.11, 4.15 and 9.05” and replacing it with the text “Sections 2.11, 3.06 and 9.05”.


 


(i)            Amendment
of Section 2.16(a). Section 2.16(a) of the Indenture is amended by deleting from that Section the text “,
subject to its compliance with Section 4.07,”.


 


(j)            Amendment
of Section 3.07(d). Clause (d) of Section 3.07 is amended by deleting the text thereof in its entirety and replacing
it with the text “[Reserved].”


 


(k)            Amendment
of Section 8.03. Section 8.03 of the Indenture is amended as follows:


 


i.            by
deleting the text “Sections 4.07 through 4.15 and the limitations set forth in Section 5.01(a)(3)” and replacing it with
the text “Section 4.13”;


 


ii.            by
deleting the text “Sections 6.01(f), (g) and (h) (clauses (g) and (h) with respect to Significant Subsidiaries
only) and Sections 6.01(i) and (j)” and replacing it with the text “Sections 6.01(g) and (h) with respect to
Significant Subsidiaries only and Section 6.01(j)”; and


 


iii.            by
deleting the text “Sections 6.01(d), (e), (f), (g) or (h) (clauses (g) and (h) with respect to Significant Subsidiaries
only) or Sections 6.01(i) and (j) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 5.01(a)(3)” and
replacing it with the text “Sections 6.01 (g) or (h) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only) or Section 6.01(j).”


 


(l)            Amendment
of Section 9.02(a)(4). Section 9.02(a)(4) of the Indenture is amended by deleting from that Section the text “;
it being expressly understood that this does not apply to modifications of Sections 4.11 and 4.15 or provisions relating thereto”.


 


(m)            Amendment
of Section 10.04(a)(1). Section 10.04(a)(1) of the Indenture is amended by deleting from that Section the text
 “if the sale or other disposition, as applicable, does not violate Section 4.11”.


 


ARTICLE Three


 


Section 3.01     Amendment
of Notes.


 


(a)            Amendment
of Section 7 of the Notes. Pursuant to Section 11 of each Note, Section 7 of each Note is amended by deleting the text
thereof and replacing it in its entirety with the text “[Reserved].”


 






    4 


     


    

 


ARTICLE Four


 


Section 4.01     Effectiveness
of Amendments


 


This Supplemental Indenture will become effective
immediately upon its execution and delivery by each party hereto.


 


Section 4.02     Continuing
Effect of Indenture.


 


Except as expressly provided herein, all of the
terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture and the Notes shall remain in full force and effect. Each reference in the Indenture
to “this Indenture”, “hereof”, “herein”, “hereto” or words of like import referring to
the Indenture shall mean and be deemed a reference to the Indenture as modified hereby. To the extent of any inconsistency between
the terms of the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, the terms of this Supplemental Indenture will control and govern.


 


Section 4.03     Construction
of Supplemental Indenture; Governing Law.


 


This Supplemental Indenture is executed as and
shall constitute an indenture supplemental to the Indenture and shall be construed in connection with and as part of the Indenture. The
Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE
GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


 


Section 4.04     Trust
Indenture Act Controls.


 


If any provision of this Supplemental Indenture
limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision of this Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture that is required to be included
by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Supplemental Indenture is executed, the provision required
by said Act shall control.


 


Section 4.05     Trustee
Disclaimer.


 


The recitals contained in this Supplemental Indenture
shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture. All rights, protections, privileges, indemnities and
benefits granted or afforded to the Trustee under the Indenture shall be deemed incorporated herein by this reference and shall be deemed
applicable to all actions taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee under this Supplemental Indenture.


 


Section 4.06     No
Recourse Against Others.


 


No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator,
member, partner or stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company, Guarantors or any Restricted Subsidiary, as such, will
have any liability for any obligations of the Company, Guarantors or the Restricted Subsidiaries under the Notes, the Indenture or the
Guarantees to which they are a party, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each
Holder 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.


 






    5 


     


    

 


Section 4.07     Counterparts
and Severability.


 


This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument. Any executed counterpart delivered by facsimile, .pdf or other electronic transmission shall be
effective as an original of such executed counterpart. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provision shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.


 


[signature pages follow]


 






    6 


     


    

 


The parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.


 


	 	SM ENERGY company,
    as Issuer
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/
    David W. Copeland
	 	Name:	David W. Copeland
	 	Title:	Executive Vice President and
    General Counsel






 


[additional signature page follows]


 


[Signature
Page to Supplemental Indenture]


 






     


     


    

 


	 	U.S. BANK NATIONAL
    ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/
    Michael McGuire
	 	Name:	Michael McGuire
	 	Title:	Vice President




 


[Signature
Page to Supplemental Indenture]