Exhibit 4.2

	
 
    


 

SM Energy Company, as Issuer

 

and

 

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee

	
 
    


 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of May 21, 2015

	
 
    


 

5.625% Senior Notes due 2025

 











 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

	
TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION
    	
 
    	
INDENTURE SECTION
    
	
310   (a)(1)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.10
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.10
    
	
(a)(3)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(a)(4)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(a)(5)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.10
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.10
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
311   (a)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.11
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.11
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
312   (a)
    	
 
    	
Section 3.06
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
Section 13.03
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
Section 13.03
    
	
313   (a)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.06(a)
    
	
(b)(1)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(b)(2)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.06(a)
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.06(a),   Section 13.02
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
Section 8.06(b)
    
	
(a)(4)
    	
 
    	
Section 13.05
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(c)(1)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(c)(2)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(c)(3)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
Section 13.05
    
	
(f)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
315   (a)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
316   (a)(last sentence)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(a)(1)(A)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(a)(1)(B)
    	
 
    	
Section 7.04
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
Section 13.13(d)
    
	
317   (a)(1)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
318   (a)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
N.A
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
Section 13.09
    


 




	
 
    	
N.A.   means not applicable.
    
	
*
    	
This   Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Indenture.
    


 

i











 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
ARTICLE ONE APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND CREATION   OF THE INITIAL NOTES
    	
1
    
	
Section 1.01.
    	
 
    	
Application of this Supplemental Indenture
    	
1
    
	
Section 1.02.
    	
 
    	
Effect of this Supplemental Indenture
    	
2
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE TWO DEFINITIONS AND   INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
    	
3
    
	
Section 2.01.
    	
 
    	
Definitions
    	
3
    
	
Section 2.02.
    	
 
    	
Other Definitions
    	
39
    
	
Section 2.03.
    	
 
    	
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
    	
39
    
	
Section 2.04.
    	
 
    	
Rules of Construction
    	
39
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE THREE THE NOTES
    	
40
    
	
Section 3.01.
    	
 
    	
Form And Dating
    	
40
    
	
Section 3.02.
    	
 
    	
Execution and Authentication
    	
41
    
	
Section 3.03.
    	
 
    	
Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes
    	
41
    
	
Section 3.04.
    	
 
    	
Registrar and Paying Agent
    	
41
    
	
Section 3.05.
    	
 
    	
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust
    	
42
    
	
Section 3.06.
    	
 
    	
Holder Lists
    	
42
    
	
Section 3.07.
    	
 
    	
Transfer and Exchange
    	
42
    
	
Section 3.08.
    	
 
    	
Replacement Notes
    	
47
    
	
Section 3.09.
    	
 
    	
Outstanding Notes
    	
47
    
	
Section 3.10.
    	
 
    	
Treasury Notes
    	
47
    
	
Section 3.11.
    	
 
    	
Temporary Notes
    	
48
    
	
Section 3.12.
    	
 
    	
Cancellation
    	
48
    
	
Section 3.13.
    	
 
    	
Defaulted Interest
    	
48
    
	
Section 3.14.
    	
 
    	
CUSIP Numbers
    	
48
    
	
Section 3.15.
    	
 
    	
Issuance of Additional Notes
    	
49
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE FOUR REDEMPTION
    	
49
    
	
Section 4.01.
    	
 
    	
Notice to Trustee
    	
49
    
	
Section 4.02.
    	
 
    	
Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed
    	
49
    
	
Section 4.03.
    	
 
    	
Notice of Redemption
    	
50
    
	
Section 4.04.
    	
 
    	
Effect of Notice of Redemption
    	
51
    
	
Section 4.05.
    	
 
    	
Deposit of Redemption Price
    	
51
    
	
Section 4.06.
    	
 
    	
Notes Redeemed in Part
    	
51
    
	
Section 4.07.
    	
 
    	
Optional Redemption
    	
51
    
	
Section 4.08.
    	
 
    	
Mandatory Redemption
    	
52
    
	
Section 4.09.
    	
 
    	
Application of Trust Money
    	
52
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE FIVE COVENANTS
    	
52
    
	
Section 5.01.
    	
 
    	
Payment of Notes
    	
52
    
	
Section 5.02.
    	
 
    	
Maintenance of Office or Agency
    	
53
    
	
Section 5.03.
    	
 
    	
Reports
    	
53
    
	
Section 5.04.
    	
 
    	
Compliance Certificate
    	
54
    
	
Section 5.05.
    	
 
    	
Taxes
    	
54
    
	
Section 5.06.
    	
 
    	
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws
    	
54
    
	
Section 5.07.
    	
 
    	
Limitation on Indebtedness and Preferred Stock
    	
55
    
	
Section 5.08.
    	
 
    	
Limitation on Restricted Payments
    	
58
    
	
Section 5.09.
    	
 
    	
Limitation on Liens
    	
64
    
	
Section 5.10.
    	
 
    	
Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted   Subsidiaries
    	
64
    
	
Section 5.11.
    	
 
    	
Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock
    	
67
    
	
Section 5.12.
    	
 
    	
Limitation on Affiliate Transactions
    	
70
    
	
Section 5.13.
    	
 
    	
Future Subsidiary Guarantors
    	
72
    
	
Section 5.14.
    	
 
    	
Business Activities
    	
72
    
	
Section 5.15.
    	
 
    	
Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control
    	
72
    
	
Section 5.16.
    	
 
    	
Termination of Covenants
    	
75
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE SIX SUCCESSORS
    	
76
    
	
Section 6.01.
    	
 
    	
Merger and Consolidation
    	
76
    


 

ii











 

	
ARTICLE SEVEN DEFAULTS AND   REMEDIES
    	
78
    
	
Section 7.01.
    	
 
    	
Events of Default
    	
78
    
	
Section 7.02.
    	
 
    	
Acceleration
    	
80
    
	
Section 7.03.
    	
 
    	
Other Remedies
    	
81
    
	
Section 7.04.
    	
 
    	
Waiver of Past Defaults
    	
81
    
	
Section 7.05.
    	
 
    	
Control by Majority
    	
82
    
	
Section 7.06.
    	
 
    	
Limitation on Suits
    	
82
    
	
Section 7.07.
    	
 
    	
Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment
    	
82
    
	
Section 7.08.
    	
 
    	
Collection Suit by Trustee
    	
82
    
	
Section 7.09.
    	
 
    	
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
    	
82
    
	
Section 7.10.
    	
 
    	
Priorities
    	
83
    
	
Section 7.11.
    	
 
    	
Undertaking for Costs
    	
83
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE EIGHT TRUSTEE
    	
84
    
	
Section 8.01.
    	
 
    	
Duties of Trustee
    	
84
    
	
Section 8.02.
    	
 
    	
Certain Rights of Trustee
    	
85
    
	
Section 8.03.
    	
 
    	
Individual Rights of Trustee
    	
86
    
	
Section 8.04.
    	
 
    	
Trustee’s Disclaimer
    	
86
    
	
Section 8.05.
    	
 
    	
Notice of Default
    	
86
    
	
Section 8.06.
    	
 
    	
Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes
    	
86
    
	
Section 8.07.
    	
 
    	
Compensation and Indemnity
    	
87
    
	
Section 8.08.
    	
 
    	
Replacement of Trustee
    	
88
    
	
Section 8.09.
    	
 
    	
Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.
    	
89
    
	
Section 8.10.
    	
 
    	
Eligibility; Disqualification
    	
89
    
	
Section 8.11.
    	
 
    	
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company
    	
89
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE NINE DEFEASANCE AND   COVENANT DEFEASANCE
    	
89
    
	
Section 9.01.
    	
 
    	
Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
    	
89
    
	
Section 9.02.
    	
 
    	
Legal Defeasance and Discharge
    	
89
    
	
Section 9.03.
    	
 
    	
Covenant Defeasance
    	
90
    
	
Section 9.04.
    	
 
    	
Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
    	
91
    
	
Section 9.05.
    	
 
    	
Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held   in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions
    	
92
    
	
Section 9.06.
    	
 
    	
Repayment to the Company
    	
92
    
	
Section 9.07.
    	
 
    	
Reinstatement
    	
93
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE TEN AMENDMENT,   SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
    	
93
    
	
Section 10.01.
    	
 
    	
Without Consent of Holders of Notes
    	
93
    
	
Section 10.02.
    	
 
    	
With Consent of Holders of Notes
    	
94
    
	
Section 10.03.
    	
 
    	
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
    	
95
    
	
Section 10.04.
    	
 
    	
Revocation and Effect of Consents
    	
96
    
	
Section 10.05.
    	
 
    	
Notation on or Exchange of Notes
    	
96
    
	
Section 10.06.
    	
 
    	
Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.
    	
96
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE ELEVEN SUBSIDIARY   GUARANTEES
    	
96
    
	
Section 11.01.
    	
 
    	
Subsidiary Guarantee
    	
96
    
	
Section 11.02.
    	
 
    	
Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor Liability
    	
98
    
	
Section 11.03.
    	
 
    	
Execution and Delivery of Notation of Guarantee
    	
98
    
	
Section 11.04.
    	
 
    	
Releases of Subsidiary Guarantors
    	
98
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE TWELVE SATISFACTION   AND DISCHARGE
    	
99
    
	
Section 12.01.
    	
 
    	
Satisfaction and Discharge
    	
99
    
	
Section 12.02.
    	
 
    	
Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held   in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions
    	
100
    
	
Section 12.03.
    	
 
    	
Repayment to the Company
    	
100
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE THIRTEEN MISCELLANEOUS
    	
101
    
	
Section 13.01.
    	
 
    	
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
    	
101
    
	
Section 13.02.
    	
 
    	
Notices
    	
101
    
	
Section 13.03.
    	
 
    	
Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of   Notes
    	
102
    
	
Section 13.04.
    	
 
    	
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
    	
102
    
	
Section 13.05.
    	
 
    	
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion
    	
102
    
	
Section 13.06.
    	
 
    	
Rules by Trustee and Agents
    	
103
    
	
Section 13.07.
    	
 
    	
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and   Stockholders
    	
103
    


 

iii











 

	
Section 13.08.
    	
 
    	
Governing Law
    	
103
    
	
Section 13.09.
    	
 
    	
Trust Indenture Act Controls
    	
103
    
	
Section 13.10.
    	
 
    	
Successors
    	
103
    
	
Section 13.11.
    	
 
    	
Severability
    	
103
    
	
Section 13.12.
    	
 
    	
Counterpart Originals
    	
103
    
	
Section 13.13.
    	
 
    	
Acts of Holders
    	
104
    
	
Section 13.14.
    	
 
    	
Benefit of Indenture
    	
105
    
	
Section 13.15.
    	
 
    	
Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
    	
105
    


 

	
EXHIBITS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit A
    	
 
    	
Form of   Note
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit B
    	
 
    	
Form of   Notation of Guarantee
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit C
    	
 
    	
Form of   Guarantor Supplemental Indenture
    	
 
    


 

iv












 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of May 21, 2015, by and between SM Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) under the Indenture, dated as of May 21, 2015, among the Company and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture” and, as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture in respect of the Notes, the “Indenture”).

 

The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Company’s 5.625% Senior Notes due 2025 (as further defined herein, the “Notes”):

 

RECITALS

 

The Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Base Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes or other evidence of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series.

 

Section 10.1(c) of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture, without the consent of any holders of Securities, to establish the form or terms of Securities as permitted by the Base Indenture.

 

Pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Base Indenture, the Company desires to execute this Supplemental Indenture to establish the form and terms, and to provide for the issuance, of a series of senior notes designated as 5.625% Senior Notes due 2025 in an initial aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000 (the “Initial Notes”).

 

From time to time subsequent to the Issue Date, the Company may, if permitted to do so pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Initial Notes and the terms of their other indebtedness existing on such future date, issue Additional Notes (as defined below) (such Additional Notes, together with the Initial Notes, the “Notes”), pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture.

 

This Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be a part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

 

The Company has done all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company. The Company has done all things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

ARTICLE ONE
 APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
 AND CREATION OF THE INITIAL NOTES

 

Section 1.01.                          Application of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, including as provided in Section 1.02 below, are expressly and solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees and shall not

 

1











 

apply to any other series of Securities that may be issued hereafter under the Base Indenture. The Notes constitute a series of Securities (as defined in the Base Indenture) as provided in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Base Indenture. Unless otherwise expressly specified, references in this Supplemental Indenture to specific Article numbers or Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections contained in this Supplemental Indenture, and not the Base Indenture or any other document.

 

Section 1.02.                          Effect of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

With respect to the Notes (and any notation of Guarantee endorsed thereon) only, the Base Indenture is supplemented and amended pursuant to Section 9.1 thereof to establish the form and terms of the Notes (and any notation of Note Guarantee endorsed thereon) as set forth in this Supplemental Indenture, including as follows:

 

(1)                                 Definitions. The provisions of Article 1 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Two of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(2)                                 Security Forms. The provisions of Article 2 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Three of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(3)                                 Redemption. The provisions of Article 3 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Four of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(4)                                 Covenants. The provisions of Article 4 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Five of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(5)                                 Holder’ Lists and Reports by the Company and the Trustee. The provisions of Article 5 of the Base Indenture are deleted in their entirety;

 

(6)                                 Defaults and Remedies. The provisions of Article 6 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Seven of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(7)                                 The Trustee. The provisions of Article 7 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Eight of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(8)                                 The Holders and Securityholders’ Meetings. The provisions of Articles 8 and 9 of the Base Indenture are deleted in their entirety;

 

(9)                                 Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of Article 10 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Ten of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(10)                          Successors. The provisions of Article 11 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Six of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

2











 

(11)                          Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance. The provisions of Article 12 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Articles Nine and Twelve of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(12)                          Subsidiary Guarantees. Certain of the provisions relating to the Subsidiary Guarantees of the Notes are set forth in Article Eleven of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(13)                          Immunity. The provisions of Article 13 of the Base Indenture are deleted in their entirety; and

 

(14)                          Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article 14 of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article Thirteen of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

To the extent that the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture (including those referred to in clauses (1) through (14) above) conflict with any provision of the Base Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall govern and be controlling, but solely with respect to the Notes (and any notation of Guarantee endorsed thereon).

 

ARTICLE TWO
 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 2.01.                          Definitions.

 

“Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (i) of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes or is merged with and into a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case whether or not Incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been Incurred, with respect to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, on the date such Person becomes or is merged with and into a Restricted Subsidiary and, with respect to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, on the date of consummation of such acquisition of assets.

 

“Additional Assets” means:

 

(1)                                 any properties or assets to be used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the Oil and Gas Business;

 

(2)                                 the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(3)                                 Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3), such Restricted Subsidiary is primarily engaged in the Oil and Gas Business.

 

3











 

“Additional Notes” means any further Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, including Sections 3.01(c), 3.02, 3.15 and 5.07, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes, ranking equally with those Initial Notes and having identical terms to the Initial Notes (except that there may be differences in (a) the date of issuance, (b) the issue price, (c) at the option of the Company, as to the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such Additional Notes, and (d) the first payment of interest following the issue date of such Additional Notes), subject to compliance with Article Three. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under this Indenture shall be treated as a single class of securities for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, directions, waivers, amendments, consents, redemptions and offers to purchase.

 

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

 

(a)                                 the sum of:

 

(1)                                 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 or federal income taxes, as estimated by the Company in a reserve report prepared as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available, as increased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

 

(A)                               estimated proved oil and gas reserves acquired since such year end, which reserves were not reflected in such year end reserve report, and

 

(B)                               estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to extensions, discoveries and other additions and upward revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since such year end due to exploration, development or exploitation, production or other activities, which would, in accordance with standard industry practice, cause such revisions (including the impact to proved reserves and future net revenues from estimated development costs incurred and the accretion of discount since such year end),

 

and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:

 

(C)                               estimated proved oil and gas reserves produced or disposed of since such year end, and

 

(D)                               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 on a pre-tax basis and in accordance with SEC guidelines,

 

in the case of clauses (A) through (D) utilizing prices and costs calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines as of such year end; provided, however, that in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to clauses (A) through (D), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineers;

 

4











 

(2)                                 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 available annual or quarterly financial statements;

 

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

 

(4)                                 the greater of:

 

(A)                               the net book value of other tangible assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest annual or quarterly financial statements, and

 

(B)                               the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other tangible assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest audited financial statements; provided, that, if no such appraisal has been performed, the Company shall not be required to obtain such an appraisal and only clause (4)(A) of this definition shall apply;

 

minus

 

(b)                                 the sum of:

 

(1)                                 Minority Interests;

 

(2)                                 any net gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries reflected in the Company’s latest annual or quarterly balance sheet (to the extent not deducted in calculating Net Working Capital of the Company in accordance with clause (a)(3) above of this definition);

 

(3)                                 to the extent included in (a)(1) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines (utilizing prices and costs calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines as of such year end), 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), other than any such obligation under the Existing Net Profits Plan; and

 

(4)                                 to the extent included in (a)(1) above, the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with SEC guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments (other than under the Existing Net Profits Plan) which, based on the estimates of production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted future net revenues specified in (a)(1) above, would be necessary to fully satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to such Dollar-Denominated Production Payments (determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect thereto).

 

5











 

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

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For 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 or Paying Agent.

 

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any applicable redemption date, the greater of:

 

(1)                                 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; or

 

(2)                                 the excess, if any, of:

 

(a)  the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at June 1, 2020 (as set forth in the table in Section 4.07(a) of this Indenture), plus (ii) all required interest payments (excluding accrued and unpaid interest to such redemption date) due on such Note through June 1, 2020, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

 

(b)  the principal amount of such Note.

 

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

 

“Asset Disposition” means any direct or indirect sale, lease (including by means of Production Payments and Reserve Sales and a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) (other than an operating lease entered into in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business), transfer, issuance or other disposition, or a series of related sales, leases, transfers, issuances or dispositions that are part of a common plan, of (A) shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 5.07 and directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), (B) all or substantially all the assets of any division or line of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding any division or line of business the assets of which are owned by an Unrestricted Subsidiary) or (C) any other assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outside the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “disposition”), in each case by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction.

 

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Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Dispositions:

 

(1)                                 a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)                                 a disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents or other financial assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

(4)                                 a disposition of damaged, unserviceable, obsolete or worn out equipment or equipment that is no longer necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and that is disposed of in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5)                                 transactions in accordance with Article Six;

 

(6)                                 an issuance of Capital Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(7)                                 the making of a Permitted Investment or a Restricted Payment (or a disposition that would constitute a Restricted Payment but for the exclusions from the definition thereof) permitted by Section 5.08;

 

(8)                                 an Asset Swap;

 

(9)                                 dispositions of assets with a Fair Market Value of less than $10.0 million in any single transaction or series of related transactions;

 

(10)                          Permitted Liens and dispositions in connection therewith or as a result thereof;

 

(11)                          dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

 

(12)                          the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property (including, without limitation, the licensing of seismic data) or other general intangibles and licenses, leases or subleases of other property in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(13)                          foreclosure on assets;

 

(14)                          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

 

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providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, shall have been created, Incurred, issued, assumed or Guaranteed in connection with the financing of, and within 60 days after the acquisition of, the property that is subject thereto;

 

(15)                          surrender or waiver of contract rights, oil and gas leases, or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

 

(16)                          the abandonment, farm-out, lease or sublease or other disposition of developed or undeveloped Oil and Gas Properties in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any agreement or arrangement described in the definition of Permitted Business Investment; and

 

(17)                          a disposition (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) of any Oil and Gas Property or interest therein to which no proved reserves are attributable at the time of such disposition.

 

“Asset Swap” means any substantially contemporaneous (and in any event occurring within 180 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange of any oil or natural gas properties or assets or interests therein between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided, that any cash received must be applied in accordance with Section 5.11 as if the Asset Swap were an Asset Disposition.

 

“Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the numbers of years from the date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment by (2) the sum of all such payments.

 

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

 

“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

 

“Board of Directors” means, as to any Person that is a corporation, the board of directors of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof or as to any Person that is not a corporation, the board of managers or such other individual or group serving a similar function.

 

“Board Resolution” means, with respect to a Board of Directors, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Person or, in the case of a Person that is a partnership that has no such officers, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of a general

 

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partner of such Person, to have been duly adopted by such Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions 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, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity.

 

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capitalized lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation will be the capitalized amount of such obligation at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof will be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date such lease may be terminated without penalty.

 

“Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1)                                 securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States Government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof), having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

 

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

 

(3)                                 certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits or bankers’ acceptances having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any commercial bank the short-term deposit of which is rated at the time of acquisition thereof at least “A2” or the equivalent thereof by S&P, or “P-2” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s, and having combined capital and surplus in excess of $100.0 million;

 

(4)                                 repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

 

(5)                                 commercial paper rated at the time of acquisition thereof at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof by S&P or “P-2” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named Rating Agencies cease publishing ratings of investments, and in any case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition thereof; and

 

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(6)                                 interests in any investment company or money market fund which invests 95% or more of its assets in instruments of the type specified in clauses (1) through (5) above.

 

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

 

(1)                                 any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company (or its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets) other than as a result of any merger or consolidation in which the holders of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction will, immediately after such transaction, hold or own Voting Stock of the surviving or successor entity or any parent thereof representing a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such entity (for the purposes of this clause (1), such person or group shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any Voting Stock of the Company held by a parent entity, if such person or group Beneficially Owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity);

 

(2)                                 the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors;

 

(3)                                 the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act); or

 

(4)                                 the adoption by the stockholders of the Company of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg, and its successors.

 

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

 

“Commodity Agreements” means, in respect of any Person, any forward contract, commodity swap agreement, commodity option agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement in respect of Hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by such Person that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business and designed to protect such Person against fluctuation in Hydrocarbon prices.

 

“Common Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or nonvoting) of such Person’s common stock whether or not outstanding on the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.

 

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

 

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“Consolidated Coverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDAX of such Person for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination for which financial statements are in existence to (y) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four fiscal quarters, provided, however, that:

 

(1)                                 if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, Consolidated EBITDAX and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof as if such Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period and such proceeds had been applied as of such date;

 

(2)                                 if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has Incurred, repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness described in clause (1) above) since the beginning of the period, Consolidated EBITDAX and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase, defeasement or other discharge of Indebtedness as if such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase, defeasement or other discharge had occurred on the first day of such period (except that, in making such 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)                                 if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has made any Asset Disposition or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is such an Asset Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDAX for such period will be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDAX (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such Asset Disposition for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDAX (if negative) directly attributable thereto for such period and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with or with the proceeds from such Asset Disposition for such period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such period directly attributable to the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale);

 

(4)                                 if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) has made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) or an acquisition (or will have received a contribution) of assets, including any acquisition or contribution of assets occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made under this Indenture, which constitutes all or substantially all of a company, division, operating unit, segment, business, group of related assets or line of business, Consolidated EBITDAX and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period will be calculated

 

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after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition or contribution had occurred on the first day of such period; and

 

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

 

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations will be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company; provided that such officer may in his or her discretion include any reasonably identifiable and factually supportable pro forma changes to Consolidated EBITDAX, including any pro forma expenses and cost reductions, that have occurred or in the judgment of such officer are reasonably expected to occur within 12 months of the date of the applicable transaction (regardless of whether such expense or cost reduction or any other operating improvements could then be reflected properly in pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the average rate in effect from the beginning of such period to the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such Interest Rate Agreement is less than 12 months, then such Interest Rate Agreement shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of the Company, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by the Company. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

 

“Consolidated EBITDAX” for any period means, without duplication, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus the following, without duplication and to the extent deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:

 

(1)                                 Consolidated Interest Expense;

 

(2)                                 Consolidated Income Tax Expense;

 

(3)                                 consolidated depletion and depreciation expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(4)                                 consolidated amortization expense or asset impairment charges of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(5)                                 other non-cash charges of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period not included in the calculation); and

 

(6)                                 consolidated exploration and abandonment expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

if applicable for such period; and less, to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income and in excess of any costs or expenses attributable thereto that were deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (x) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during such period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments, (y) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and (z) other non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDAX in any prior period).

 

“Consolidated Income Tax Expense” means, with respect to 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 the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the total consolidated interest expense (less interest income) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether paid or accrued, plus, to the extent not included in such interest expense and without duplication:

 

(1)                                 interest expense attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations;

 

(2)                                 amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost (provided that any amortization of bond premium will be credited to reduce Consolidated Interest Expense unless, pursuant to GAAP, such amortization of bond premium has otherwise reduced Consolidated Interest Expense);

 

(3)                                 non-cash interest expense (to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income);

 

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

 

(5)                                 the interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon;

 

(6)                                 cash costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements (including amortization of fees); provided, however, that if Interest Rate Agreements result in net cash

 

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benefits rather than costs, such benefits shall be credited to reduce Consolidated Interest Expense unless, pursuant to GAAP, such net benefits are otherwise reflected in Consolidated Net Income;

 

(7)                                 the consolidated interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; and

 

(8)                                 all dividends paid or payable in cash, Cash Equivalents or Indebtedness or accrued during such period on any series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or on Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries payable to a party other than the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary,

 

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

 

For the purpose of calculating the Consolidated Coverage Ratio in connection with the Incurrence of any Indebtedness described in clause (d) of the definition of “Indebtedness,” the calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense shall include all interest expense (including any amounts described in clauses (1) through (8) above) relating to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (d) of the definition of “Indebtedness.”

 

“Consolidated Net Income”  means, for any period, the aggregate net income (loss) of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends of such Person; provided, however, that there will not be included (to the extent otherwise included therein) in such Consolidated Net Income:

 

(1)                                 any net income (loss) of any Person (other than the Company) if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that:

 

(a)                                 subject to the limitations contained in clauses (3) and (4) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (2) below); and

 

(b)                                 the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Person for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income to the extent such loss has been funded with cash from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period;

 

(2)                                 any net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Subsidiary Guarantor) if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Company, except that:

 

(a)                                 subject to the limitations contained in clauses (3), (4) and (5) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash that could

 

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have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution paid to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause); and

 

(b)                                 the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

 

(3)                                 any gain or loss realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of the Company or its consolidated Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain or loss realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

 

(4)                                 any extraordinary or nonrecurring gains or losses, together with any related provision for taxes on such gains or losses and all related fees and expenses;

 

(5)                                 the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

 

(6)                                 any “ceiling limitation” or other asset impairment write-downs on Oil and Gas Properties under GAAP or SEC guidelines;

 

(7)                                 any unrealized non-cash gains or losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations or obligations under the Existing Net Profits Plan;

 

(8)                                 income or loss attributable to discontinued operations (including, without limitation, operations disposed of during such period whether or not such operations were classified as discontinued);

 

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

 

(10)                          non-cash interest expense attributable to the equity component of debt that is convertible into Capital Stock of the Company, including under ASC Topic 470; and

 

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

 

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who: (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

 

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

 

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“Credit Facility” means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Senior Secured Credit Agreement), indentures or commercial paper facilities providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time (and whether or not with the original administrative agent and lenders or another administrative agent or agents or other lenders and whether provided under the original Senior Secured Credit Agreement or any other credit or other agreement or indenture).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 3.07, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 3.04 as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock or upon the happening of any event:

 

(1)                                 matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than redeemable only for Capital Stock of such Person which is not itself Disqualified Stock) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

 

(2)                                 is convertible or exchangeable for Disqualified Stock or other Indebtedness (excluding Capital Stock which is convertible or exchangeable solely at the option of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary); or

 

(3)                                 is redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock in whole or in part (other than, including at the issuer’s election, solely in exchange for Capital Stock which is not Disqualified Stock),

 

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in each case on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of the date (a) of the Stated Maturity of the Notes or (b) on which there are no Notes outstanding; provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided further, that any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale (each defined in a substantially similar manner to the corresponding definitions in this Indenture) shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) provide that (i) the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is ratable or exchangeable) pursuant to such provision prior to compliance by the Company with Sections 5.11 and 5.15 and (ii) such repurchase or redemption will be permitted solely to the extent also permitted in accordance with Section 5.08.

 

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

 

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

 

“Equity Offering” means a public or private offering for cash by the Company of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock), other than public offerings registered on Form S-8.

 

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

 

“Existing Net Profits Plan” means the Company’s legacy Net Profits Interest Bonus Plan in existence as of the Issue Date.

 

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system, and its successors.

 

“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 equal to or in excess of $100.0 million shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith, whose determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors delivered to the Trustee, and any lesser Fair Market Value may be determined by an officer of the Company acting in good faith.

 

“Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” or “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture will be computed in conformity with GAAP.

 

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“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 3.07(f), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

“Global Notes” means a Note in global form registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Sections 3.01, 3.07(b) or 3.07(d) of Article Three of this Indenture.

 

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

 

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

 

(2)                                 entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);

 

provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or any obligation to the extent it is payable only in Capital Stock of the Guarantor that is not Disqualified Stock. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Guarantor Subordinated Obligation” means, with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is expressly subordinate in right of payment to the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to a written agreement.

 

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

 

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

 

“Hydrocarbons” means oil, natural gas, casing head gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and products refined or processed therefrom.

 

“Incur” means issue, create, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable for, contingently or otherwise; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; and the terms “Incurred” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

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“Indebtedness” means,

 

(b)                                 with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication, whether or not contingent):

 

(1)                                 the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;

 

(2)                                 the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

 

(3)                                 the principal component of all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (including reimbursement obligations with respect thereto except to the extent such reimbursement obligation relates to a trade payable and except to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such obligation is satisfied within 30 days of payment on the letter of credit);

 

(4)                                 the principal component of all obligations of such Person (other than obligations payable solely in Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock) to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property (except as described in clause (8) of the penultimate paragraph of this definition of “Indebtedness”), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title thereto to the extent such obligations would appear as a liabilities upon the consolidated balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(5)                                 Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person to the extent such Capitalized Lease Obligations would appear as liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(6)                                 the principal component or liquidation preference of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

 

(7)                                 the principal component of all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons;

 

(8)                                 the principal component of Indebtedness of other Persons to the extent Guaranteed by such Person; and

 

(9)                                 to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net obligations of such Person under Commodity Agreements, Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements (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);

 

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provided, however, that any indebtedness which has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased pursuant to the deposit of cash or Cash Equivalents (in an amount sufficient to satisfy all such indebtedness obligations at maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all payments of interest and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, and subject to no other Liens, shall not constitute “Indebtedness.”

 

(c)                                  The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date will be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date.

 

(d)                                 Notwithstanding the preceding, “Indebtedness” shall not include:

 

(1)                                 Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

 

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

 

(3)                                 any obligations under Currency Agreements, Commodity Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements; provided that such Agreements are entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or senior management of the Company, whether or not accounted for as a hedge in accordance with GAAP) and, in the case of Currency Agreements or Commodity Agreements, such Currency Agreements or Commodity Agreements are related to business transactions of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and, in the case of Interest Rate Agreements, such Interest Rate Agreements substantially correspond in terms of notional amount, duration and interest rates, as applicable, to Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred without violation of this Indenture;

 

(4)                                 any obligation arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, Guarantees, adjustment of purchase price, holdbacks, contingency payment obligations or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness is not reflected on the face of the balance sheet of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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

 

(6)                                 in-kind obligations relating to net oil or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(7)                                 all contracts and other obligations, agreements, instruments or arrangements described in clauses (19), (20), (21) or (27)(a) of the definition of “Permitted Liens;” and

 

(8)                                 accrued expenses and trade payables and other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue by 90 days past the invoice or billing date or more or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted.

 

(e)                                  In addition, “Indebtedness” of any Person shall include Indebtedness described in the first paragraph of this definition of “Indebtedness” that would not appear as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person if:

 

(1)                                 such Indebtedness is the obligation of a partnership or joint venture that is not a Restricted Subsidiary (a “Joint Venture”);

 

(2)                                 such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner of the Joint Venture or otherwise liable for all or a portion of the Joint Venture’s liabilities (a “General Partner”); and

 

(3)                                 there is recourse, by contract or operation of law, with respect to the payment of such Indebtedness to property or assets of such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; and then such Indebtedness shall be included in an amount not to exceed:

 

(a)                                 the lesser of (i) the net assets of the General Partner and (ii) the amount of such obligations to the extent that there is recourse, by contract or operation of law, to the property or assets of such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; or

 

(b)                                 if less than the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) immediately above, the actual amount of such Indebtedness that is with recourse to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, if the Indebtedness is evidenced by a writing and is for a determinable amount and the related interest expense shall be included in Consolidated Interest Expense to the extent actually paid by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(f)                                   For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s 6.625% Senior Notes due 2019, 6.500% Senior Notes due 2021, 6.125% Senior Notes due 2022, 6.500% Senior Notes due 2023 and 5% Senior Notes due 2024 constitute Indebtedness and do not constitute Subordinated Obligations.

 

“Indenture” has the meaning attributed thereto in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

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

 

“Initial Notes” means Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

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“Interest Payment Date” has the meaning stated in Exhibit A hereto.

 

“Interest Rate Agreement” means with respect to any Person any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement as to which such Person is party or a beneficiary.

 

“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of any direct or indirect advance, loan or other extensions of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar arrangement, but excluding any debt or extension of credit represented by a bank deposit other than a time deposit and advances or extensions of credit to customers in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution to (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 or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments (excluding any interest in an oil or natural gas leasehold to the extent constituting a security under applicable law) issued by, such other Person and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that none of the following will be deemed to be an Investment:

 

(1)                                 Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and in compliance with this Indenture;

 

(2)                                 endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(3)                                 an acquisition of assets, Capital Stock or other securities by the Company or a Subsidiary for consideration to the extent such consideration consists of Common Stock of the Company.

 

The amount of any Investment shall not be adjusted for increases or decreases in value, write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.

 

For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 5.08:

 

(1)                                 “Investment” will include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in a Restricted Subsidiary to be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to:

 

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

 

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(b)                                 the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time that such Subsidiary is so re-designated a Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(2)                                 any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer.

 

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than:

 

(1)                                 Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s; and

 

(2)                                 BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P,

 

or, if either such Rating Agency ceases to make a rating on the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other Rating Agency.

 

“Investment Grade Rating Event” means the first day on which the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating from each Rating Agency, and no Default has occurred and is then continuing under this Indenture.

 

“Issue Date” means the first date on which the Notes are issued under this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Net Available Cash” from an Asset Disposition means cash payments received (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any securities received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other non-cash form) therefrom, in each case net of:

 

(1)                                 all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses Incurred, and all federal, state, provincial, foreign and

 

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local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Disposition;

 

(2)                                 all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, 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 Disposition, or by applicable law be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

 

(3)                                 all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures or to holders of royalty or similar interests or interests under the Existing Net Profits Plan as a result of such Asset Disposition;

 

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

 

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

 

provided, however, that if any consideration for an Asset Disposition (that would otherwise constitute Net Available Cash) is required to be held in escrow pending determination of whether or not 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 any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from escrow.

 

“Net Cash Proceeds” with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or any contribution to equity capital, means the cash proceeds of such issuance, sale or contribution net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually Incurred in connection with such issuance, sale or contribution and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of such issuance or sale (after taking into account any available tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).

 

“Net Working Capital” means (a) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current assets from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business, less (b) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, except current liabilities (i) associated with asset retirement obligations relating to Oil and Gas Properties, (ii) included in Indebtedness and (iii) any current liabilities from commodity price risk management activities arising in the ordinary course of the Oil and Gas Business, in each case as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness of a Person:

 

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(1)                                 as to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (a) provides any Guarantee or credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, guarantee, indemnity, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise);

 

(2)                                 no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default under such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and

 

(3)                                 the explicit terms of which provide there is no recourse against any of the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

“Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in connection with the acquisition by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business of fixed assets used in the Oil and Gas Business (including office buildings and other real property used by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in conducting its operations) with respect to which (a) the holders of such Indebtedness agree that they will look solely to the fixed assets so acquired which secure such Indebtedness, and neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (i) is directly or indirectly liable for such Indebtedness or (ii) provides credit support, including any undertaking, Guarantee, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness (other than the grant of a Lien on such acquired fixed assets), and (b) no default or event of default with respect to such Indebtedness would cause, or permit (after notice or passage of time or otherwise), any holder of any other Indebtedness of either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default or event of default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to any scheduled principal payment, scheduled sinking fund payment or maturity.

 

“Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the Recitals to this Supplemental Indenture.  For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall include the Initial Notes and all Additional Notes issued hereunder, and all such Notes shall be treated as a single class.

 

“Obligations” means, in respect to a reference Indebtedness, any principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing such Indebtedness.

 

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company. Officer of any Subsidiary Guarantor has a correlative meaning.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers of the Company.

 

“Oil and Gas Business” means:

 

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

 

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

 

(3)                                 any other related energy business, including power generation and electrical transmission business, directly or indirectly, from oil, natural gas and other Hydrocarbons, minerals and renewable energy produced substantially from properties in which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, participate;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee or, where applicable, to any other Person who is to receive such opinion pursuant to this Indenture.  The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee or any other Person who is required to deliver such opinion pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor that ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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provided, that on the date such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged, consolidated and amalgamated with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto,

 

(A)                               the Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Coverage Ratio test described in Section 5.07; or

 

(B)                               the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Company would be greater than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

 

“Permitted Business Investments” means any Investment made in the ordinary course of, and of a nature that is or shall have become customary in, the Oil and Gas Business including investments or expenditures for actively exploiting, exploring for, acquiring, developing, producing, processing, gathering, marketing or transporting oil, natural gas or other Hydrocarbons and minerals through agreements, transactions, interests or arrangements which permit one to share risks or costs, comply with regulatory requirements regarding local ownership or satisfy other objectives customarily achieved through the conduct of the Oil and Gas Business jointly with third parties including:

 

(1)                                 ownership interests in oil, natural gas, other Hydrocarbons and minerals properties, liquefied natural gas facilities, processing facilities, gathering systems, pipelines, storage facilities or related systems or ancillary real property interests;

 

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

 

(3)                                 direct or indirect ownership interests in drilling rigs and related equipment, including, without limitation, transportation equipment.

 

“Permitted Investment” means an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in:

 

(1)                                 the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)                                 another Person if as a result of such Investment such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and, in each

 

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

 

(3)                                 cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

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

 

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

 

(6)                                 loans or advances to employees (other than executive officers) made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(7)                                 Capital Stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts (x) created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments or (y) pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement in a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding;

 

(8)                                 any Person as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 5.11;

 

(9)                                 Commodity Agreements, Currency Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements and related Hedging Obligations, which transactions or obligations are Incurred in compliance with Section 5.07;

 

(10)                          Guarantees issued in accordance with Section 5.07;

 

(11)                          Permitted Business Investments;

 

(12)                          any Person where such Investment was acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

(13)                          any Person to the extent such Investments consist of prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits made in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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

 

(15)                          Investments in the Notes;

 

(16)                          Investments in existence on the Issue Date; and

 

(17)                          Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, together with all other Investments pursuant to this clause (17), in an aggregate amount outstanding at the time of such Investment not to exceed the greater of $50.0 million and 1.0% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (with the Fair Market Value of such Investment being measured at the time such Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).

 

“Permitted Lien” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1)                                 Liens securing Indebtedness under a Credit Facility permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture;

 

(2)                                 pledges or deposits by such Person under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws, social security or old age pension laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits (which may be secured by a Lien) to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person including letters of credit and bank guarantees required or requested by the United States, any State thereof or any foreign government or any subdivision, department, agency, organization or instrumentality of any of the foregoing in connection with any contract or statute (including lessee or operator obligations under statutes, governmental regulations, contracts or instruments related to the ownership, exploration and production of oil, natural gas, other hydrocarbons and minerals on state, federal or foreign lands or waters), or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure indemnity performance, surety or appeal bonds or other similar bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(3)                                 statutory and contractual Liens of landlords and Liens imposed by law, including carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s and repairmen’s Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if a reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;

 

(4)                                 Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or claims not yet subject to penalties for non-payment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that appropriate reserves, if any, required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof;

 

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(5)                                 Liens in favor of issuers of surety or performance bonds or bankers’ acceptances issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

 

(6)                                 survey exceptions, encumbrances, ground leases, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including, without limitation, minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of the assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

(7)                                 Liens securing Hedging Obligations;

 

(8)                                 leases, licenses, subleases and sublicenses of assets (including, without limitation, real property and intellectual property rights) which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(9)                                 prejudgment Liens and judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default 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 have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

 

(10)                          Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capitalized Lease Obligations, purchase money obligations or other payments Incurred to finance the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that:

 

(A)                               the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed; and

 

(B)                               such Liens are created within 180 days following the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, construction, repairs or additions or commencement of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto;

 

(11)                          Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depositary institution; provided that:

 

(A)                               such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board; and

 

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(B)                               such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;

 

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

 

(13)                          Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(14)                          Liens on property or shares of Capital Stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Subsidiary; provided further, however, that any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than assets or property affixed or appurtenant thereto);

 

(15)                          Liens on property at the time the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than assets or property affixed or appurtenant thereto);

 

(16)                          Liens securing the Notes, Subsidiary Guarantees and other obligations under this Indenture;

 

(17)                          Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness that was previously so secured, provided that any such 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 the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced or is in respect of property or assets that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;

 

(18)                          any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized Lease Obligation or operating lease; provided, that such Liens do not extend to any property or asset that is not leased property subject to such Capitalized Lease Obligation or operating lease;

 

(19)                          Liens in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales, which Liens shall be limited to the property that is the subject of such Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

 

(20)                          Liens arising under farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering or processing of Hydrocarbons, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, operating agreements, royalties, working interests, net profits interests, joint interest billing arrangements, participation agreements, production sales contracts, area of mutual interest agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements,

 

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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;

 

(21)                          Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

 

(22)                          Liens in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(23)                          deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

 

(24)                          Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(25)                          Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 5.07; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

 

(26)                          Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(27)                          any (a) interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease, liens reserved in oil, gas or other Hydrocarbons, minerals, leases for bonus, royalty or rental payments and for compliance with the terms of such leases; (b) restriction or encumbrance that the interest or title of such lessor or sublessor may be subject to (including, without limitation, ground leases or other prior leases of the demised premises, mortgages, mechanics’ liens, tax liens, and easements); or (c) subordination of the interest of the lessee or sublessee under such lease to any restrictions or encumbrance referred to in the preceding clause (b);

 

(28)                          Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

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

 

(30)                          Liens arising from the deposit of funds or securities in trust for the purpose of decreasing or defeasing Indebtedness so long as such deposit of funds or securities and such decreasing or defeasing of Indebtedness are permitted under Section 5.08;

 

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(31)                          Liens in favor of collecting or payer banks having a right of setoff, revocation, or charge back with respect to money or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company on deposit with or in possession of such bank; and

 

(32)                          Liens securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time, added together with all other Indebtedness secured by Liens Incurred pursuant to this clause (32), not to exceed the greater of $50.0 million and 1.0% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, as determined on the date of Incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom.

 

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

 

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

 

“Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Note; and any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 3.08 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed or stolen Note.

 

“Preferred Stock” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.

 

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

 

“Prospectus Supplement” means the Prospectus Supplement of the Company dated May 7, 2015 relating to the offering of the Initial Notes.

 

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

 

“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred to refund, refinance, replace, exchange, renew, repay, extend, prepay, redeem or retire (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) (collectively, “refinance” and “refinances” and “refinanced” shall have correlative meanings) any Indebtedness (including Indebtedness of the Company that refinances Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of another Restricted Subsidiary, but excluding Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness, provided, however, that:

 

(1)                                 (a) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Notes, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced or (b) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity at least 91 days later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes;

 

(2)                                 the Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

(3)                                 such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced (plus, without duplication, any additional Indebtedness Incurred to pay interest, premiums or defeasance costs required by the instruments governing such existing Indebtedness and fees and expenses Incurred in connection therewith);

 

(4)                                 if the Indebtedness being refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced; and

 

(5)                                 if the Indebtedness being refinanced is Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness or Indebtedness that refinanced Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness, such Refinancing Indebtedness satisfies clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of “Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness.”

 

“Reporting Failure” means the failure of the Company to make available or otherwise deliver to the Trustee and each Holder of Notes, within the time periods specified in Section 5.03 (after giving effect to any grace period specified under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), the

 

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periodic reports, information, documents or other reports which the Company may be required to provide pursuant to such provision.

 

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Restricted Investment” means any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from 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.

 

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

 

“Senior Secured Credit Agreement” means the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2013, among the Company, as Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Co-Syndication Agents, Barclays Bank PLC, BBVA Compass, Comerica Bank, and Royal Bank of Canada, as Co-Documentation Agents, and the lenders parties thereto from time to time, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 5.07).

 

“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.

 

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

 

“Subordinated Obligation” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is expressly subordinate in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to a written agreement.

 

“Subsidiary” of any Person means (a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total ordinary voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or Persons performing similar functions) or (b) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, is, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person, (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary (other than in this definition) will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantee” means, individually, any Guarantee of payment of the Notes by a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and any supplemental indenture thereto, and, collectively, all such Guarantees.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantors” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is a guarantor of the Notes, including any Person that is required after the Issue Date to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 5.13, in each case until a successor replaces such Person pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, means such successor.

 

“Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Treasury Rate” means, as of any redemption date, 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 of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2020; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to June 1, 2020 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, 2020 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Company will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate as of the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date and (b) prior to such redemption

 

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date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or any successor statute.

 

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

 

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

(1)                                 any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Company in the manner provided below; and

 

(2)                                 any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger or consolidation or Investment therein) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if:

 

(A)                               such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries does not own any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of or have any Investment in, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, any other Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(B)                               all the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries shall, at the date of designation, and will at all times thereafter, consist of Non-Recourse Debt;

 

(C)                               on the date of such designation, such designation and the Investment of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in such Subsidiary complies with Section 5.08 of this Indenture;

 

(D)                               such Subsidiary is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation:

 

(i)                                     to subscribe for additional Capital Stock of such Person; or

 

(ii)                                  to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

(E)                                on the date such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with terms substantially less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might have been obtained from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company.

 

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Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the foregoing conditions. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred as of such date. The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and the Company could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 5.07(a) on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation

 

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

 

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

 

“Voting Stock” of an entity means all classes of Capital Stock of such entity then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of members of such entity’s Board of Directors.

 

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

 

“2019 Notes” means the Company’s $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes, which were issued pursuant to an indenture between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, dated as of February 7, 2011 and mature on February 15, 2019.

 

“2019 Notes Issue Date” means February 7, 2011, the initial date of issuance of the 2019 Notes.

 

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Section 2.02.                          Other Definitions.

 

	
Term
    	
 
    	
Defined in
    
	
Act
    	
 
    	
Section   13.13
    
	
Affiliate   Transaction
    	
 
    	
Section   5.12
    
	
Asset   Disposition Offer
    	
 
    	
Section   5.11
    
	
Asset   Disposition Offer Amount
    	
 
    	
Section   5.11
    
	
Asset   Disposition Offer Period
    	
 
    	
Section   5.11
    
	
Asset   Disposition Purchase Date
    	
 
    	
Section   5.11
    
	
Authentication   Order
    	
 
    	
Section   3.02
    
	
Change   of Control Offer
    	
 
    	
Section   5.15
    
	
Change   of Control Payment
    	
 
    	
Section   5.15
    
	
Change   of Control Payment Date
    	
 
    	
Section   5.15
    
	
Covenant   Defeasance
    	
 
    	
Section   9.03
    
	
DTC
    	
 
    	
Section   3.04
    
	
Event   of Default
    	
 
    	
Section   7.01
    
	
Excess   Proceeds
    	
 
    	
Section   5.11
    
	
Funds   in Trust
    	
 
    	
Section   9.04
    
	
Initial   Lien
    	
 
    	
Section   5.09
    
	
Legal   Defeasance
    	
 
    	
Section   9.02
    
	
Pari   Passu Notes
    	
 
    	
Section   5.11
    
	
Paying   Agent
    	
 
    	
Section   3.04
    
	
payment   default
    	
 
    	
Section   7.01
    
	
Registrar
    	
 
    	
Section   3.04
    
	
Restricted   Payments
    	
 
    	
Section   5.08
    
	
Restricted   Payment Basket
    	
 
    	
Section   5.08
    
	
Successor   Company
    	
 
    	
Section   6.01
    


 

Section 2.03.                          Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

 

All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

Section 2.04.                          Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e)                                  “or” is not exclusive, and “including” means “including without limitation”, “including but not limited to” or words of similar import; and

 

(f)                                   the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import shall be construed to refer to this Indenture in its entirety and not to any particular provision.

 

ARTICLE THREE
 THE NOTES

 

Section 3.01.                          Form And Dating.

 

(a)                                 General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issued in registered, global form without interest coupons and only shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

(b)                                 Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee, as Custodian, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 3.07.

 

(c)                                  Additional Notes. Notwithstanding anything else herein, with respect to any Additional Notes issued subsequent to the date of this Indenture, when the context requires all provisions of this Indenture shall be construed and interpreted to permit the issuance of such Additional Notes and to allow such Additional Notes to become fungible and interchangeable

 

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with the Initial Notes originally issued under this Indenture. Indebtedness represented by Additional Notes shall be subject to the covenants contained in this Indenture.

 

Section 3.02.                          Execution and Authentication.

 

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

 

(b)                                 The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company (an “Authentication Order”) delivered to the Trustee from time to time, authenticate and deliver Notes for original issue without limit as to the aggregate principal amount thereof, subject to compliance with Section 5.07, of which $500.0 million will be issued on the date of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.03.                          Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes.

 

If a Holder of Notes has given wire transfer instructions to the Company at least 10 Business Days before payment is due, the Company shall pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that Holder’s Notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on Notes shall be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar unless the Company elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders. Payments of interest to the Trustee as Paying Agent, if the Trustee then acts as Paying Agent, with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall be made by the Company in immediately available funds for receipt by the Trustee no later than 1:00 p.m. New York Time on such Interest Payment Date.

 

Section 3.04.                          Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

(a)                                 The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”), which initially will be the office of the Trustee located at 950 17th Street, 12th Floor, Denver, CO 80202 and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”), which initially will be the office of the

 

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Trustee located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, NY 10005. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

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

 

(c)                                  The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

Section 3.05.                          Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

Section 3.06.                          Holder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).

 

Section 3.07.                          Transfer and Exchange.

 

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

 

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beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes only if:

 

(1)                                 the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary; or

 

(2)                                 the Company, at its option but subject to DTC’s requirements, determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and deliver a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or

 

(3)                                 there has occurred and is continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Notes, and the Depositary notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange the Global Notes for Definitive Notes

 

Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (1), (2) or (3) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 3.08 and 3.11. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 3.07 or Section 3.08 or 3.11, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 3.07; however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 3.07(b) hereof.

 

(b)                                 Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.

 

(1)                                  Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note. Except as may be required by any Applicable Procedures, no written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 3.07(b)(1).

 

(2)                                 All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Notes that are not subject to Section 2.07(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

 

(A)                               both (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

 

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(B)                               both (1) if permitted under Section 3.07(a) hereof, a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.  Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount at maturity of the relevant Global Notes pursuant to Section 3.07(g) hereof.

 

(c)                                  Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes to Definitive Notes.  If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.07(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.07(g) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.07(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.

 

(d)                                 Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.  Other than following an exchange of beneficial interest in a Global Note for Definitive Notes as contemplated by Section 3.07(a)(2), a Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time.  Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes.

 

(e)                                  Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.07(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing.  A Holder of Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note.  Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Definitive Note pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

 

(f)                                   Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable

 

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provisions of this Indenture.  Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.12 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

 

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

 

(g)                                  Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for beneficial interests in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 3.12. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

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(h)                                 General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

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

 

(2)                                 No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.11, 4.06, 5.11, 5.15 and 10.05).

 

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

 

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

 

(5)                                 The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 4.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

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

 

(7)                                 The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.02.

 

(8)                                 All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 3.07 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile with the original to follow by first class mail or delivery service.

 

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Section 3.08.                          Replacement Notes.

 

(a)                                 If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company or the Trustee may charge for their expenses in replacing a Note. If, after the delivery of such replacement Note, a protected purchaser of the original Note in lieu of which such replacement Note was issued presents for payment or registration such original Note, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover such replacement Note from the Person to whom it was delivered or any Person taking therefrom, except a protected purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Company, the Trustee and any Agent in connection therewith.

 

(b)                                 Subject to the provisions of the final sentence of the preceding paragraph, every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

Section 3.09.                          Outstanding Notes.

 

(a)                                 The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and those described in this Section 3.09 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 3.10, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

 

(b)                                 If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 3.08, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

 

(c)                                  If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 5.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

(d)                                 If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing) holds as of 1:00 p.m. New York Time, on a redemption date, repurchase date or other maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

 

Section 3.10.                          Treasury Notes.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with

 

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the Company, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

Section 3.11.                          Temporary Notes.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.12.                          Cancellation.

 

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

 

Section 3.13.                          Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on the record date for the interest payment or a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 5.01. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

Section 3.14.                          CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use such numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is made

 

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as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers.

 

Section 3.15.                          Issuance of Additional Notes.

 

(a)                                 The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 5.07, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture.

 

(b)                                 With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in the related Authentication Order the following information:

 

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

 

(2)                                 the issue date and the CUSIP and/or ISIN number of such Additional Notes.

 

ARTICLE FOUR
 REDEMPTION

 

Section 4.01.                          Notice to Trustee.

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 4.07, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 10 days (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period in the sole determination of the Trustee) before giving a notice of redemption pursuant to Section 4.03, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price, if then determined and otherwise the method of its determination.

 

Section 4.02.                          Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.

 

(a)                                 If fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee in its sole discretion deems fair and reasonable (subject to the procedures of DTC or any other Depositary).

 

(b)                                 The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount at maturity thereof to be redeemed. No Notes in amounts of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $2,000. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder

 

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are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

Section 4.03.                          Notice of Redemption.

 

(a)                                 At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address and send a copy to the Trustee at the same time.

 

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

 

(1)                                 the redemption date;

 

(2)                                 the redemption price, if then determined and otherwise the method of its determination;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(6)                                 that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest, if any, on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

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

 

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

 

(b)                                 At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however,  that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, as provided in Section 4.01, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph. The notice, if mailed in the manner provided herein shall be presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.

 

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Section 4.04.                          Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 4.03, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price.

 

Section 4.05.                          Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

(a)                                 Prior to 1:00 p.m. New York Time on the Business Day that is the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

 

(b)                                 If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on any Notes or portion of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Holder in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 5.01.

 

Section 4.06.                          Notes Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered. No Notes in denominations of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

 

Section 4.07.                          Optional Redemption.

 

(a)                                 On or after June 1, 2020, the Company may redeem, at any time, all or, from time to time, a portion of the Notes, at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on June 1 of the years indicated below:

 

	
Year
    	
 
    	
Redemption Price
    	
 
    
	
2020
    	
 
    	
102.813
    	
%
    
	
2021
    	
 
    	
101.875
    	
%
    
	
2022
    	
 
    	
100.938
    	
%
    
	
2023 and thereafter
    	
 
    	
100.000
    	
%
    


 

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(b)                                 At any time and from time to time prior to June 1, 2018, the Company may, at its option, on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture with the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings at a redemption price of 105.625% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided, that (1) at least 65% of the original principal amount of the Notes issued on the Issue Date remains outstanding after each such redemption; and (2) the redemption occurs within 180 days after the closing of the related Equity Offering.

 

(c)                                  The Company may, at its option, also redeem, in whole or in part, at any time prior to June 1, 2020, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date). In connection with any redemption pursuant to this Sub-Section 4.07(c), the Company will (i) calculate the Treasury Rate as of the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date and (ii) prior to such redemption date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

 

(d)                                 The Company may also redeem all of the Notes as provided in Section 5.15(j).

 

(e)                                  Any redemption pursuant to this Section 4.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through 4.06.

 

Section 4.08.                          Mandatory Redemption.

 

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

 

Section 4.09.                          Application of Trust Money.

 

All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.05 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

ARTICLE FIVE
 COVENANTS

 

Section 5.01.                          Payment of Notes.

 

(a)                                 The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the

 

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Company or one of its Subsidiaries, holds as of 1:00 p.m. New York Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes then due. If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

 

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

 

Section 5.02.                          Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

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

 

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

 

(c)                                  The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 3.04 of this Indenture.

 

Section 5.03.                          Reports.

 

(a)                                 Whether or not the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to the extent not prohibited by the Exchange Act, the Company will make available to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes without cost to any Holder, the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and applicable to a U.S. corporation within the time periods specified therein with respect to an accelerated filer.

 

(b)                                 If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the financial information required by Section 5.03(a) above will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted

 

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Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

(c)                                  The Company shall be deemed to have furnished such reports to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes if it has filed such reports with the SEC using the EDGAR filing system or on the Company’s website and such reports are publicly available.

 

Section 5.04.                          Compliance Certificate.

 

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

 

(b)                                 The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, notify the Trustee on or before the 30th day after it has knowledge of the occurrence and continuance of any Default and on or promptly thereafter, deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 5.05.                          Taxes.

 

The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, any material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

Section 5.06.                          Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

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

 

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Section 5.07.                          Limitation on Indebtedness and Preferred Stock.

 

(a)                                 The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Company may Incur Indebtedness and any of the Subsidiary Guarantors may Incur Indebtedness and issue Preferred Stock if on the date thereof:

 

(1)                                 the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is at least 2.25 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of proceeds); and

 

(2)                                 no Default would occur as a consequence of, and no Event of Default would be continuing following, Incurring the Indebtedness or its application.

 

(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:

 

(1)                                 Indebtedness under one or more Credit Facilities of (a) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to this Section 5.07(b)(1) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $1.5 billion or (ii) the sum of $500.0 million and 25.0% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of the date of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving effect to the application of the proceeds therefrom;

 

(2)                                 Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; provided that in the event such Indebtedness that is being Guaranteed is a Subordinated Obligation or a Guarantor Subordinated Obligation, then the related Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee to at least the same extent as the Indebtedness being Guaranteed, as the case may be;

 

(3)                                 Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that (a)(i) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the obligee is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with respect to the Notes and (ii) if a Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor of such Indebtedness and the obligee is neither the Company nor a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee and (b)(i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this Section 5.07(b)(3);

 

(4)                                 Indebtedness represented by (a) the Notes issued on the Issue Date and all Subsidiary Guarantees, (b) any Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness described in Sections 5.07(b)(1) or (2) or subclause (a) of this Section 5.07(b)(4)) outstanding on the Issue Date and (c)

 

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any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in respect of any Indebtedness described in this Section 5.07(b)(4), Section 5.07(b)(5) or (7) or Incurred pursuant to Section 5.07(a);

 

(5)                                 Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness and Non-Recourse Purchase Money Indebtedness;

 

(6)                                 Indebtedness in respect of (a) self-insurance obligations, bid, appeal, reimbursement, performance, surety and similar bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and any Guarantees or letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing bonds or obligations and (b) obligations represented by letters of credit for the account of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in order to provide security for workers’ compensation claims (in the case of subclauses (a) and (b) of this Section 5.07(b)(6) other than for an obligation for money borrowed);

 

(7)                                 Indebtedness represented by Capitalized Lease Obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not Incurred pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions), mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, Incurred  in connection with the acquisition, construction, improvement or development of real or personal, movable or immovable, property, in each case Incurred for the purpose of financing, refinancing, renewing, defeasing or refunding all or any part of the purchase price or cost of acquisition, construction, improvement or development of property used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, provided that after giving effect to any such Incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this Section 5.07(b)(7), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 5.07(b)(4) in respect of such Indebtedness, and then outstanding does not exceed $35.0 million; and

 

(8)                                 in addition to the items referred to in Sections 5.07(b)(1) through (7) above, Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this Section 5.07(b)(8) and then outstanding, will not exceed the greater of $150.0 million or 2.5% of the Company’s Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, determined as of the date of Incurrence of such Indebtedness after giving effect to such Incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom.

 

(c)                                  For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this Section 5.07:

 

(1)                                 in the event that an item of that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 5.07(a) or (b), the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of Incurrence and, subject to Section 5.07(c)(2) below, may later classify, reclassify or redivide all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this covenant;

 

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(2)                                 all Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this Indenture under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement shall be deemed Incurred on the Issue Date under clause (1) of Section 5.07(b);

 

(3)                                 Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit supporting, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included;

 

(4)                                 if obligations in respect of letters of credit are Incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility and are being treated as Incurred pursuant to clause (1) of Section 5.07(b) and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included to the extent of the underlying letter of credit;

 

(5)                                 the principal amount of any Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, will be equal to the greater of the maximum mandatory redemption or repurchase price (not including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium) or the liquidation preference thereof;

 

(6)                                 Indebtedness permitted by this Section 5.07 need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Section 5.07 permitting such Indebtedness; and

 

(7)                                 the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d)                                 Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the amortization of debt discount or the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock and unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 5.07.

 

(e)                                  The Company will not permit any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Incur any Indebtedness, or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock, other than Non-Recourse Debt. If at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be Incurred as of such date under this Section 5.07, the Company shall be in Default of this Section 5.07.

 

(f)                                   For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such

 

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refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company may Incur pursuant to this covenant shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

(g)                                  Nothing contained in this Indenture is intended to treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (2) senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

 

Section 5.08.                          Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

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

 

(1)                              pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on or in respect of the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiaries’ Capital Stock (including any payment or distribution in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) except:

 

(A)                               dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock but including options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock of the Company); and

 

(B)                               dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and if such Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, to minority stockholders (or owners of an equivalent interest in the case of a Subsidiary that is an entity other than a corporation) so long as the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution;

 

(2)                                 purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than in exchange for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock));

 

(3)                                 purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations (other than (x) Indebtedness permitted under clause (3) of Section 5.07(b) of this Indenture or (y) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement); or

 

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(4)                                 make any Restricted Investment in any Person;

 

(any such dividend, distribution, purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, other acquisition, retirement or Restricted Investment referred to in Sections 5.08(a)(1) through (4) shall be referred to herein as a “Restricted Payment”), if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

 

(A)                               a Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom);

 

(B)                               the Company is not able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 5.07(a) of this Indenture after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment; or

 

(C)                               the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments declared or made subsequent to the 2019 Notes Issue Date would exceed the sum of (the “Restricted Payment Basket”):

 

(i)                                     50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) from January 1, 2011 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which internal financial statements are in existence (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit);

 

(ii)                                  100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds and the Fair Market Value of property or securities other than cash (including Capital Stock of Persons engaged primarily in the Oil and Gas Business or assets used in the Oil and Gas Business), in each case received by the Company from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or other capital contributions subsequent to the 2019 Notes Issue Date (other than Net Cash Proceeds received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to (x) Persons indicated in clause (5)(a) of Section 5.08(b) or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds have been used to make a Restricted Payment pursuant to clause (5)(a) of Section 5.08(b), (y) a Subsidiary of the Company or (z) an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust (to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust is financed by loans from or Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary unless such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination));

 

(iii)                               the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries is reduced on the Company’s balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to the 2019 Notes Issue Date of any Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (less the

 

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amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of any other property (other than such Capital Stock), distributed by the Company upon such conversion or exchange), together with the net proceeds, if any, received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon such conversion or exchange; and

 

(iv)                              the amount equal to the aggregate net reduction in Restricted Investments made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Person after the 2019 Notes Issue Date resulting from:

 

(A)                               repurchases, repayments or redemptions of such Restricted Investments by such Person, proceeds realized upon the sale of such Restricted Investment (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company), repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets (including by way of dividend or distribution) by such Person to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(B)                               the redesignation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries (valued in each case as provided in the definition of “Investment”) not to exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, the amount of Investments previously made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, which amount in each case under this Section 5.08(a)(4)(C)(iv) was included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; provided, however, that no amount will be included under this Section 5.08(a)(4)(C)(iv) to the extent it is already included in Consolidated Net Income; and

 

(C)                               the sale by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of all or a portion of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (whether any such distribution or dividend is made with proceeds from the issuance by such Unrestricted Subsidiary of its Capital Stock or otherwise).

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 5.08(a) shall not prohibit the following actions:

 

(1)                                 any Restricted Payment made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan or similar trust is financed by loans from or Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary unless such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination) or a substantially concurrent cash capital contribution received by the Company from its stockholders; provided, however, that (a) such Restricted Payment will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments and (b) the Net Cash Proceeds

 

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from such sale of Capital Stock or capital contribution will be excluded from Section 5.08(a)(4)(C)(ii);

 

(2)                                 any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations of the Company or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Refinancing Indebtedness or any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Guarantor Subordinated Obligations made by exchange for or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of Refinancing Indebtedness that, in each case, is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 5.07 of this Indenture; provided, however, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(3)                                 any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Disqualified Stock of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that, in each case, is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 5.07 of this Indenture; provided, however, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(4)                                 dividends paid or distributions made within 60 days after the date of declaration if at such date of declaration such dividend or distribution would have complied with this covenant if it had been made on such date; provided, however, that such dividends and distributions will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments; and provided further, however, that for purposes of clarification, this Section 5.08(b)(4) shall not include cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares included in Section 5.08(b)(9) below;

 

(5)                                 so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, (a) the repurchase or other acquisition of Capital Stock (including options, warrants, equity appreciation rights or other rights to purchase or acquire Capital Stock) of the Company held by any existing or former employees, officers or directors of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or their assigns, estates or heirs, in each case pursuant to the repurchase or other acquisition provisions under employee stock option or stock purchase plans or agreements or other agreements to compensate officers, employees or directors, in each case approved by the Company’s Board of Directors; provided that such repurchases or other acquisitions pursuant to this subclause (a) during any calendar year will not exceed $2.5 million in the aggregate (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years); provided further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

 

(A)                               the cash proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Capital Stock of the Company to any existing or former employees, officers or directors of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or their assigns, estates or heirs that occurs after the 2019 Notes Issue Date (to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale

 

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of such Capital Stock have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of Section 5.08(a)(4)(C), plus

 

(B)                               the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the 2019 Notes Issue Date, less

 

(C)                               the amount of any Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 5.08(b)(5)(A) and (B); provided further, however, that the amount of any such repurchase or other acquisition under this subclause (a) will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments and the proceeds received from any such transaction will be excluded from Section 5.08(a)(4)(C)(ii) for purposes of calculating the Restricted Payment Basket; and

 

(b) loans or advances to employees, officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, in each case as permitted by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the proceeds of which are used to purchase Capital Stock of the Company, or to refinance loans or advances made pursuant to this subclause (b), in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $2.5 million at any one time outstanding; provided, however, that the amount of such loans and advances will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(6)                                 purchases, repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements for value of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants, rights to acquire Capital Stock or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof, and any purchases, repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements for value of Capital Stock made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any exercise or exchange of warrants, options or rights to acquire Capital Stock; provided, however, that such acquisitions or retirements will be excluded from subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(7)                                 the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Obligation (a) at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Obligation in the event of a Change of Control in accordance with provisions similar to Section 5.15 or (b) at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the principal amount thereof in accordance with provisions similar to Section 5.11 of this Indenture; provided that, prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Company has made the Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer, as applicable, as provided Section 5.15 or Section 5.11, as applicable, and has completed the repurchase or redemption of all Notes validly tendered for payment in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer; provided, however, that such acquisitions or retirements will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(8)                                 payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law or 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; provided, however, that any payment pursuant to this Section 5.08(b)(8) shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

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(9)                                 cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares; provided, however, that any payment pursuant to this Section 5.08(b)(9) shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(10)                          the payment of scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class of or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company issued on or after the 2019 Notes Issue Date in accordance with Section 5.07, to the extent such dividends are included in Consolidated Interest Expense; provided, however, that any payment pursuant to this Section 5.08(b)(10) shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

 

(11)                          the payment of dividends on the Company’s Common Stock in an aggregate amount not to exceed $20.0 million in any calendar year; provided, however, that the amount of such Restricted Payments will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments; and

 

(12)                          Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed $30.0 million in the aggregate since the 2019 Notes Issue Date; provided, however, that the amount of such Restricted Payments will be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments.

 

(c)                                  The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any cash Restricted Payment shall be its face amount and the Fair Market Value of any non-cash Restricted Payment shall be determined in accordance with the definition of that term. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment in excess of $15.0 million that will be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this covenant were computed.

 

(d)                                 If a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the exceptions described in clauses (1) through (12) of Section 5.08(b) above or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 5.08(a), the Company shall, in its sole discretion, subdivide and classify, and may later reclassify, such Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this Section 5.08.

 

(e)                                  For the purpose of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investment.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to Section 5.08(a) or under clause (12) of Section 5.08(b), or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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Section 5.09.                          Limitation on Liens.

 

(a)                                 The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien (the “Initial Lien”) other than Permitted Liens upon any of its property or assets (including Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries), including any income or profits therefrom, whether owned on the date of this Indenture or acquired after that date, which Lien is securing any Indebtedness, unless contemporaneously with the Incurrence of such Liens effective provision is made to secure the Indebtedness due under the Notes or, in respect of Liens on any Restricted Subsidiary’s property or assets, any Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, equally and ratably with (or senior in priority to in the case of Liens with respect to Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, as the case may be) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien for so long as such Indebtedness is so secured.

 

(b)                                 Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to Section 5.09(a) above shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Initial Lien.

 

Section 5.10.                          Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3)                                 sell, lease or transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

(b)                                 However, Section 5.10(a) will not prohibit:

 

(1)                                 any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to or by reason of an agreement in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date, including, without limitation, this Indenture as in effect on such date;

 

(2)                                 any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Person pursuant to or by reason of an agreement relating to any Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred by a Person on or before the date on which such Person was acquired by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary (other than Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide

 

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all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Person was acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or in contemplation of the transaction) and outstanding on such date; provided, that any such encumbrance or restriction shall not extend to any assets or property of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property so acquired;

 

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

 

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

 

(5)                                 with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary incorporated or organized outside the United States, any encumbrance or restriction contained in the terms of any Indebtedness or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness was Incurred if either (a) the encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such Indebtedness or agreement or (b) the Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive;

 

(6)                                 any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement effecting a refunding, replacement or refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clauses (1) through (5), clause (12) or this clause (6) of this Section 5.10(b) or contained in any amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, supplemental, refunding, replacement or refinancing of an agreement referred to in clauses (1) through (5), clause (12) or this clause (6) of this Section 5.10(b); provided, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such agreement taken as a whole are no less favorable in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refunded, replaced or refinanced;

 

(7)                                 in the case of clause (3) of Section 5.10(a) above, any encumbrance or restriction:

 

(A)                               that restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease (including leases governing leasehold interests or farm-in agreements or farm-out agreements relating to leasehold interests in Oil and Gas Properties), license or similar contract, or the assignment or

 

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transfer of any such lease (including leases governing leasehold interests or farm-in agreements or farm-out agreements relating to leasehold interests in Oil and Gas Properties), license (including, without limitation, licenses of intellectual property) or other contract;

 

(B)                               contained in mortgages, pledges or other security agreements permitted under this Indenture securing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such encumbrances or restrictions restrict the transfer of the property subject to such mortgages, pledges or other security agreements;

 

(C)                               contained in any agreement creating Hedging Obligations permitted from time to time under this Indenture;

 

(D)                               pursuant to customary provisions restricting dispositions of real property interests set forth in any reciprocal easement agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(E)                                restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(F)                                 provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in operating agreements, joint venture agreements, development agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements that are customary in the Oil and Gas Business and entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(8)                                 any encumbrance or restriction contained in (a) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations permitted under this Indenture, in each case, that impose encumbrances or restrictions of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 5.10(a) on the property so acquired;

 

(9)                                 any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary (or any of its property or assets) imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the direct or indirect sale or disposition of all or a portion of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the property or assets that are subject to such restriction) pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

 

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

 

(11)                          encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

 

(12)                          encumbrances or restrictions contained in agreements governing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be Incurred pursuant to an agreement entered into subsequent to the Issue Date in accordance with Section 5.07; provided, that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness are not materially less favorable to the Company taken as a whole, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, than the provisions

 

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contained in the Senior Secured Credit Agreement and in this Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(13)                          the issuance of Preferred Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof; provided, that issuance of such Preferred Stock is permitted pursuant to Section 5.07 and the terms of such Preferred Stock do not expressly restrict the ability of a Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such Preferred Stock prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock);

 

(14)                          supermajority voting requirements existing under corporate charters, bylaws, stockholders agreements and similar documents and agreements;

 

(15)                          restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(16)                          any encumbrance or restriction contained in the Senior Secured Credit Agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date, and in any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancing thereof; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the Senior Secured Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Section 5.11.                          Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock.

 

(a)                                 The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:

 

(1)                                 the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Disposition at least equal to the Fair Market Value (such Fair Market Value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition) of the shares or other assets subject to such Asset Disposition; and

 

(2)                                 at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, from such Asset Disposition and all other Asset Dispositions since the 2019 Notes Issue Date, on a cumulative basis, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents or Additional Assets, or any combination thereof.

 

(b)                                 The Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition may be applied, within 365 days from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash, by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be:

 

(1)                                 to prepay, repay, redeem or purchase Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Company (including the Notes) or a Subsidiary Guarantor or any Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Stock) of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case, excluding Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company); provided,

 

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however, that, in connection with any prepayment, repayment, redemption or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to this Section 5.11(b)(1), the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid, redeemed or purchased; or

 

(2)                                 to make capital expenditures in the Oil and Gas Business or to invest in Additional Assets;

 

provided, that pending the final application of any such Net Available Cash in accordance with clause (1) or clause (2) of this Section 5.11(b), the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may temporarily reduce Indebtedness or otherwise invest such Net Available Cash in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

(c)                                  Any Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions that is not applied or invested as provided in Section 5.11(b) will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” Not later than the 366th day from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition or the receipt of such Net Available Cash, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer (“Asset Disposition Offer”) to all Holders of Notes and, to the extent required by the terms of other Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of other Pari Passu Indebtedness outstanding with similar provisions requiring the Company to make an offer to purchase such Pari Passu Indebtedness with the proceeds from any Asset Disposition (“Pari Passu Notes”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and any such Pari Passu Notes to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Company was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof) of the Notes and Pari Passu Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any (or in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Indebtedness), to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture or the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes, as applicable, in each case in minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof and other Pari Passu Notes surrendered by Holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Notes. To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to the Articles Five and Six of this Indenture. Upon completion of such Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

(d)                                 The Asset Disposition Offer will remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Asset Disposition Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period (the “Asset Disposition Purchase Date”), the

 

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Company will purchase the principal amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes required to be purchased pursuant to this Section 5.11 (the “Asset Disposition Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, all Notes and Pari Passu Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn in response to the Asset Disposition Offer.

 

(e)                                  If the Asset Disposition Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no further interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer.

 

(f)                                   On or before the Asset Disposition Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Asset Disposition Offer Amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes or portions of Notes and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, or if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, all Notes and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, in each case in minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 5.11 and, in addition, the Company will deliver all certificates and notes required, if any, by the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes. The Company or the paying agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder of Notes or holder or lender of Pari Passu Notes, as the case may be, an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes or Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn by such holder or lender, as the case may be, and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon delivery of an Officers’ Certificate from the Company, will authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided, that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. In addition, the Company will take any and all other actions required by the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes. Any Note not so accepted will be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Disposition Offer on the Asset Disposition Purchase Date.

 

(g)                                  The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 5.11, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of its compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

 

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(h)                                 For the purposes of clause (2) of Section 5.11(a) above, the following will be deemed to be cash:

 

(1)                                 the assumption by the transferee of Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Obligations or Disqualified Stock) of the Company or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Guarantor Subordinated Obligations or Disqualified Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor) and the release of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from all liability on such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition (in which case the Company will, without further action, be deemed to have applied such deemed cash to Indebtedness in accordance with Section 5.11(b)(1)); and

 

(2)                                 securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days after receipt thereof.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 75% limitation referred to in clause (2) of Section 5.11(a) above shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any Asset Disposition in which the cash or Cash Equivalents portion of the consideration received therefrom, determined in accordance with the foregoing provision on an after-tax basis, is equal to or greater than what the after-tax proceeds would have been had such Asset Disposition complied with the aforementioned 75% limitation.

 

(i)                                     The requirement of clause (2) of Section 5.11(b) above shall be deemed to be satisfied if an agreement (including a lease, whether a capital lease or an operating lease) committing to make the acquisitions or expenditures referred to therein is entered into by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiary within the specified time period and such Net Available Cash is subsequently applied in accordance with such agreement within six months following such agreement.

 

Section 5.12.                          Limitation on Affiliate Transactions.

 

(a)                                 The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, make, amend or conduct any transaction (including making a payment to, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service), contract, agreement or understanding with or for the benefit of any Affiliate of the Company (an “Affiliate Transaction”) unless:

 

(1)                                 the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are not materially less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could reasonably be expected to be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate; and

 

(2)                                 either: (a) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate consideration in excess of $20.0 million but not greater than $50.0 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction satisfies the criteria in Section 5.12(a)(1) above, or (b) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate consideration in excess of $50.0 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction satisfies the criteria in Section 5.12(a)(1)

 

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above and that the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company having no personal pecuniary interest in such transaction.

 

(b)                                 Section 5.12(a) shall not apply to and does not prohibit:

 

(1)                                 any Restricted Payment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 5.08 or any Permitted Investment;

 

(2)                                 any issuance of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock), or other payments, awards or grants in cash, Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment or severance agreements and other compensation arrangements, options to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, restricted stock plans, long-term incentive plans, stock appreciation rights plans, participation plans or similar employee benefits plans and/or insurance and indemnification arrangements provided to or for the benefit of directors and employees approved by the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

(3)                                 loans or advances to employees, officers or directors in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

 

(4)                                 advances to or reimbursements of employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(5)                                 any transaction between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries, and Guarantees issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary for the benefit of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 5.07;

 

(6)                                 any transaction with a joint venture or similar entity (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary owns, directly or indirectly, an Equity Interest in or otherwise controls such joint venture or similar entity;

 

(7)                                 the issuance or sale of any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to, or the receipt by the Company of any capital contribution from its stockholders;

 

(8)                                 indemnities of officers, directors and employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted by bylaw or statutory provisions and any employment agreement or other employee compensation plan or arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(9)                                 the payment of reasonable compensation and fees paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers or directors of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(10)                          the performance of obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted

 

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Subsidiaries is a party as of or on the Issue Date, as these agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended or renewed from time to time; provided, however, that any future amendment, modification, supplement, extension or renewal entered into after the Issue Date will be permitted only to the extent that its terms are not materially more disadvantageous, taken as a whole, to the Holders of the Notes than the terms of the agreements in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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

 

(12)                          transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a Restricted Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in such Person; and

 

(13)                          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 company 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.

 

Section 5.13.                          Future Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

The Company will cause any Restricted Subsidiary that is not already a Subsidiary Guarantor that Guarantees any Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor under a Credit Facility to execute and deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after such Subsidiary Guarantees such Indebtedness a supplemental indenture (in substantially the form specified in Exhibit C to this Indenture) pursuant to which such Subsidiary will unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on a senior basis.  Any such Subsidiary Guarantee will be subject to the release and other provisions of Article Eleven.

 

Section 5.14.                          Business Activities.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business activity other than the Oil and Gas Business, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

Section 5.15.                          Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control.

 

(a)                                 If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Company has previously or concurrently exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.07, each Holder will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple

 

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of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

(b)                                 Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Company has previously or concurrently exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.07, the Company shall mail a notice (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, stating, among other things:

 

(1)                                 that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require us to purchase such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date) (the “Change of Control Payment”);

 

(2)                                 the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(6)                                 that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Company to purchase such Notes, provided, that the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter complying with the requirements of Section 5.15(f) below;

 

(7)                                 that if the Company is repurchasing a portion of the Note of any Holder, the Holder will be issued a new Note equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered, provided, that the unpurchased portion of the Note must be equal to a minimum principal amount of $2,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000; and

 

(8)                                 other procedures determined by the Company, consistent with this Indenture, that a Holder must follow to have its Notes repurchased.

 

(c)                                  On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

 

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(1)                                 accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes (in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer and not properly withdrawn;

 

(2)                                 deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes accepted for payment, provided, however, that the funds once deposited are to be uninvested until disbursed pursuant to this Section 5.15; and

 

(3)                                 deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

(d)                                 The paying agent will promptly mail or deliver to each Holder of Notes accepted for payment the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided, that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

 

(e)                                  If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no further interest will be payable to Holders who tender their Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.

 

(f)                                   A tender made in response to a Change of Control Offer may be withdrawn if the Company receives, not later than the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter, specifying, as applicable: (1) the name of the Holder; (2) the certificate number of the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted; (3) the principal amount of the Note (which shall be $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) delivered for purchase by the Company as to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted; (4) a statement that such Holder is withdrawing such Holder’s election to have such principal amount of such Note purchased; and (5) the principal amount, if any, of such Note (which shall be $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) that remains subject to the original Change of Control Offer and that has been or will be delivered for purchase by the Company.

 

(g)                                  The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall return to the Company, upon its request, any cash that remains unclaimed for two years after a Change of Control Payment Date together with interest or dividends, if any, thereon (subject to Section 8.01(f)), held by them for the payment of the Change of Control Payment; and the Holder of such tendered and accepted Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such cash, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Company comply with the SEC Regulation 17AD-17 as it applies to lost bondholders; provided, further however, that (x) to the

 

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extent that the aggregate amount of cash deposited by the Company pursuant to Section 5.15(c)(2) exceeds the aggregate Change of Control Payment of the Notes or portions thereof to be purchased, then the Trustee shall hold such excess for the Company and (y) unless otherwise directed by the Company in writing, promptly after the Business Day following the Change of Control Payment Date the Trustee shall return any such excess to the Company together with interest, if any, thereon (subject to Section 8.01(f)).

 

(h)                                 The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 5.15, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 5.15 by virtue of such conflict.

 

(i)                                     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer (i) upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (ii) if notice of redemption for 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to Section 4.07, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

 

(j)                                    If Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender their Notes and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company pursuant to Section 5.15(i) above, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn 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 Change of Control Offer described under this Section 5.15, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price in cash equal to the applicable Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

 

(k)                                 A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

 

Section 5.16.                          Termination of Covenants.

 

In the event that at any time an Investment Grade Rating Event has occurred, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the provisions of this Indenture described under Sections 5.07, 5.08, 5.10, 5.11 and 5.12. In addition, the Company will no longer be subject to the financial test set forth in Section 6.01(a)(3).  Following the termination of the covenants listed in this Section 5.16, the Company may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

 

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ARTICLE SIX
 SUCCESSORS

 

Section 6.01.                          Merger and Consolidation.

 

(a)                                 The Company will not consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in one or more related transaction to, any Person, unless:

 

(1)                                 the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”) is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Company) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture;

 

(2)                                 immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Successor Company as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(3)                                 either (A) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the Successor Company would be able to Incur at least an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 5.07(a), or (B) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four quarter period, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio of the Company is equal to or greater than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transaction;

 

(4)                                 if the Company is not the Successor Company, each Subsidiary Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions above, in which case Section 6.01(a)(1) above shall apply) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations in respect of this Indenture and the Notes shall continue to be in effect; and

 

(5)                                 the Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

 

For purposes of this Section 6.01, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

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(b)                                 The Company shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with or merge with or into, and will not permit the conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor to, any Person (other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor) unless:

 

(1)                                 (a) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and such Person (if not such Subsidiary Guarantor) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by such Person or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture; or

 

(2)                                 the transaction will result in the release and discharge of the Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under this Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee after and upon compliance with Section 11.04.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding Section 6.01(a)(3), (x) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company and the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to a Subsidiary Guarantor and (y) the Company may merge with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction; and provided further that, in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary that consolidates with, merges into or transfers all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, the Company will not be required to comply with Section 6.01(a)(5).

 

(d)                                 Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 6.01(a), the Successor Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person has been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interests on the Notes and all other covenants and obligations under this Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE SEVEN
 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 7.01.                          Events of Default.

 

An “Event of Default” shall occur if:

 

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

 

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

 

(c)                                  there shall be a default in the performance or breach of the provisions of Article Six;

 

(d)                                 there shall be a failure by the Company to comply for 30 days (or 180 days in the case of a Reporting Failure) after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, with any of its obligations under Sections 5.07 through Section 5.15 (in each case, other than a failure to purchase the Notes which will constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(b) above and other than a failure to comply with Article Six, which is covered by Section 7.01(c));

 

(e)                                  there shall be a failure by the Company to comply with any agreement in this Indenture (other than an agreement, a default in or failure to comply that is specifically dealt with elsewhere in this Section 7.01) and continuance of such default for 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

 

(f)                                   there shall be any default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, which default: (1) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (and any extensions of any grace period) (a “payment default”) or (2) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $30.0 million or more;

 

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(g)                                  the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary, or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(1)                                 commences a voluntary case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent;

 

(2)                                 consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding or to the commencement of any case or proceeding;

 

(3)                                 files a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Bankruptcy Law;

 

(4)                                 consents to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or the taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any substantial part of its property; or

 

(5)                                 makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or the admission in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due;

 

(h)                                 a court of competent jurisdiction enters a final order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(1)                                 is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

 

(2)                                 adjudges the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary a bankrupt or insolvent;

 

(3)                                 approves as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

 

(4)                                 appoints a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of their property;

 

(5)                                 orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary’s, affairs,

 

and the final order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

 

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(i)                                     the failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid or discharged, and there shall be any period of 60 consecutive days following entry of such final judgment or decree during which a stay of enforcement of such final judgment or decree, by reason of pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

 

(j)                                    any Subsidiary Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms of this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or group of Subsidiary Guarantors that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or its Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(f) above shall have occurred and be continuing, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration (to the extent not in violation of any applicable law or in conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction) shall be automatically rescinded if (i) the Indebtedness that is the subject of such Event of Default has been repaid, or (ii) if the default relating to such Indebtedness is waived by the holders of such Indebtedness or cured and if such Indebtedness has been accelerated, then the holders thereof have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness, in each case within 20 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto

 

Section 7.02.                          Acceleration.

 

(a)                                 If an Event of Default (other than as specified in Sections 7.01(g) or (h)) shall occur and be continuing with respect to this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare all unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on all Notes to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders of the Notes) and upon any such declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 7.01(g) or (h) occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

 

(b)                                 After a declaration of acceleration, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, on behalf of the Holders of Notes, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.03.                          Other Remedies.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.04.                          Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding, by written notice to the Trustee and the Company, may on behalf of the Holders of all outstanding Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default under this Indenture and its consequences, except a continuing Default or Event of Default (1) in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note (which may only be waived with the consent of each Holder of Notes affected), or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision which under this Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected by such modification or amendment.  In case of any such waiver, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under the Notes, respectively. This Section 7.04 shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture and the Notes, as permitted by the TIA. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Section 7.05.                          Control by Majority.

 

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

Section 7.06.                          Limitation on Suits.

 

Subject to Section 7.07 and Section 8.01, no Holder of any of the Notes has any right to institute any proceedings with respect to this Indenture or any remedy thereunder, unless (1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (2) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have made written request to the Trustee to institute a proceeding or pursue a remedy, (3) such Holders have offered reasonable security or indemnity to the Trustee to institute such proceeding or pursue such remedy as Trustee under the Notes and this Indenture, (4) the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding or pursue such remedy within 60 days after receipt of such notice and such offer of security or indemnity, and (5) the Trustee, within such 60-day period, has not received directions inconsistent with such written request by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

 

Section 7.07.                          Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

 

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

 

Section 7.08.                          Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(a) or (b) above occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of overdue principal of, premium, if any, interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and to the extent lawful, interest on overdue principal, premium, if any, and interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

Section 7.09.                          Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its

 

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property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other securities or property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 7.10.                          Priorities.

 

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

 

First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 8.07, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

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

 

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

 

(b)                                 The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 7.10.

 

Section 7.11.                          Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 7.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 7.07, or a suit by Holders of more than ten percent in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

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ARTICLE EIGHT
 TRUSTEE

 

Section 8.01.                          Duties of Trustee.

 

(a)                                 If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(b)                                 Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(1)                                 the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2)                                 in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(c)                                  The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(1)                                 this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 8.01;

 

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

 

(3)                                 the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 7.05.

 

(d)                                 Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 8.01.

 

(e)                                  No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(f)                                   Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds and need not be held in an interest-bearing account, in each case except to the extent required by law

 

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or by any other provision of this Indenture. The Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it hereunder unless the Trustee otherwise agrees in writing with the Company.

 

Section 8.02.                          Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

(a)                                 The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

(b)                                 Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

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

 

(d)                                 The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(e)                                  Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

 

(f)                                   The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. In no event shall the Trustee be liable to any Person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits) for any action it takes or omits to take, even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.

 

(g)                                  The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of such event is sent to the Trustee in accordance with Section 13.02, and such notice references the Notes.

 

(h)                                 Subject to Section 8.01(b)(2), the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

 

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(i)                                     The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

 

Section 8.03.                          Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may become a creditor of, or otherwise deal with, the Company or any of its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as described in the TIA while any Default exists, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, request from the SEC permission to continue as Trustee with such conflict outstanding or resign as Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 8.10 and 8.11.

 

Section 8.04.                          Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

Section 8.05.                          Notice of Default.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after the Trustee gains knowledge of the Default or Event of Default unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 8.06.                          Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

 

(a)                                 Within 60 days after each May 15, beginning with May 15, 2016, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA Section 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA Section 313(c).

 

(b)                                 A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are

 

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listed in accordance with TIA Section 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.

 

Section 8.07.                          Compensation and Indemnity.

 

(a)                                 The Company shall pay to the Trustee (in its capacity as Trustee, and, to the extent it has been appointed as such, as Paying Agent and Registrar) from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder in accordance with a written schedule provided by the Trustee to the Company. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services, except those resulting from its own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

(b)                                 The Company shall indemnify the Trustee in its capacity against any and all losses, liabilities or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 8.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by either of the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may elect to have separate counsel defend the claim, but the Company will be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel only if the Company fails to assume the Trustee’s defense or there is a conflict of interest between the Company, on the one hand, and the Trustee, on the other hand, with respect to the claim, as reasonably determined by the Trustee. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(c)                                  The obligations of the Company under this Section 8.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

(d)                                 To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 8.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

(e)                                  When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Sections 7.01(g) or (h) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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Section 8.08.                          Replacement of Trustee.

 

(a)                                 A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 8.08.

 

(b)                                 The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

 

(1)                                 the Trustee fails to comply with Section 8.10;

 

(2)                                 the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(3)                                 a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(4)                                 the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

(c)                                  If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

(d)                                 If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(e)                                  If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least three months, fails to comply with Section 8.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(f)                                   A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided, that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 8.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 8.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 8.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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Section 8.09.                          Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another Person, the successor Person without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 8.10.                          Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has (or its corporate parent shall have) a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 310(b).

 

Section 8.11.                          Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

ARTICLE NINE
 DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 9.01.                          Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 9.02 or 9.03 be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Nine.

 

Section 9.02.                          Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 9.01 of the option applicable to this Section 9.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to this Indenture and all outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged with respect to their obligations under this Indenture and the Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes and Guarantees, respectively, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 9.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 9.02, and shall be deemed discharged from the payment and performance of all other obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the

 

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same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from Funds in Trust (as defined in Section 9.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section) payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) subject to clause (a) of this Section 9.02, the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article Three and Section 5.02, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (d) this Article Nine. Subject to compliance with this Article Nine, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 9.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 9.03.  If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option pursuant to this Section 9.02, the Subsidiary Guarantees will terminate with respect to the Notes, and payment of the Notes may not be accelerated pursuant to Section 7.02 because of an Event of Default.  Subject to compliance with this Article Nine, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section 9.02 applied to any Notes notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 9.03 applied to such Notes.

 

Section 9.03.                          Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 9.01 of the option applicable to this Section 9.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04, be released from its obligations, and each Restricted Subsidiary shall be released from its obligations, under the covenants contained in Sections 5.07 through 5.15 and the limitations set forth in Section 6.01(a)(3) with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 9.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes to the extent permitted by GAAP). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 7.01, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 9.01 of the option applicable to this Section 9.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04, (i) Sections 7.01(f), (g) and (h) (clauses (g) and (h) with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), and Sections 7.01(i) and (j) shall not constitute Events of Default and (ii) payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 7.01(d), (e), (f), (g) or (h) (clauses (g) and (h) with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), or Sections 7.01(i) and (j) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 6.01(a)(3).

 

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Section 9.04.                          Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 9.02 or 9.03 to the outstanding Notes:

 

(a)                                 the Company must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee, in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof (“Funds in Trust”), in such amounts as, in the aggregate, will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking firm, to pay and discharge the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity (or the applicable redemption date), if at or prior to electing either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an irrevocable notice to redeem all of the outstanding Notes on such redemption date, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to Stated Maturity or to a particular redemption date);

 

(b)                                 in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel in the United States having expertise in matters of United States federal income tax law that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(c)                                  in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel in the United States having expertise in matters of United States federal income tax law confirming that the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(d)                                 no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than an Event of Default or Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens securing such Indebtedness, all or a portion of the proceeds of which will be applied to such deposit);

 

(e)                                  such deposit shall not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound or if such breach or default would occur, which is not waived as of, or for all purposes, on or after, the date of such deposit;

 

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(f)                                   the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Notes or any Guarantee over the other creditors of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or others; and

 

(g)                                  the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

 

Section 9.05.                          Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Section 9.06, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 9.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 9.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(b)                                 The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 9.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

(c)                                  Anything in this Article Nine to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 9.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, investment bank, or appraisal firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 9.04(a)), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Section 9.06.                          Repayment to the Company.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being

 

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required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Company comply with the SEC Regulation 17AD-17 as it applies to lost bondholders.

 

Section 9.07.                          Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 9.02 or 9.03, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations to make the related payments under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 9.02 or 9.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 9.02 or 9.03, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company make any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE TEN
 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 10.01.                   Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

(a)                                 Notwithstanding Section 10.02, the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee may modify, supplement or amend this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note to:

 

(1)                                 cure any ambiguity, omission, defect, mistake or inconsistency;

 

(2)                                 provide for the assumption by a successor of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture;

 

(3)                                 provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code);

 

(4)                                 add guarantors with respect to the Notes, including Subsidiary Guarantors, or release a Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee and terminate such Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that the release and termination is in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

(5)                                 secure the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees;

 

(6)                                 add to the covenants of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

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(7)                                 make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder; provided, however, that any change to conform this Indenture to the “Description of Notes”  in the Prospectus Supplement will not be deemed to adversely affect such legal rights;

 

(8)                                 comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(9)                                 provide for the succession of a successor Trustee, provided that the successor Trustee is otherwise qualified and eligible to act as such under this Indenture.

 

(b)                                 Upon the request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 13.04 and Section 10.06, the Trustee shall join with the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 10.02.                   With Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

(a)                                 Except as provided below in this Section 10.02, the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes); provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby:

 

(1)                                 reduce the percentage in principal amount of such outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment or supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver or compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)                                 reduce the stated rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

(3)                                 reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Note;

 

(4)                                 reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed pursuant to Section 4.07 hereof; it being expressly understood that this does not apply to (i) modifications of Sections 5.11 and 5.15 or provisions relating thereto, or (ii) provisions relating to minimum notices required for redemption of Notes described in Article Four or in the terms of the Notes;

 

(5)                                 make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note;

 

(6)                                 waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium on, the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders

 

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of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration) or impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

 

(7)                                 modify the Subsidiary Guarantees in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes; or

 

(8)                                 make any change to or modify the ranking of the Notes that would adversely affect the Holders.

 

(b)                                 The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or its duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect.

 

(c)                                  Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 10.06 and Section 13.04, the Trustee shall join with the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

(d)                                 It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 10.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

(e)                                  After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 10.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

Section 10.03.                   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

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Section 10.04.                   Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

Section 10.05.                   Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

(a)                                 The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

(b)                                 Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 10.06.                   Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.

 

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture or Note authorized pursuant to this Article Ten if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture or Note, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 8.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN
 SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

 

Section 11.01.                   Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

(a)                                 As of the Issue Date, the Notes will not be guaranteed by any of the Company’s Subsidiaries. The following provisions of this Article Eleven shall apply to any Restricted Subsidiary that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Issue Date. Subject to this Article Eleven, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally, guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful (subject in all cases to any applicable grace period provided herein), and all other monetary Obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be

 

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promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other Obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

(b)                                 The Subsidiary Guarantors agree that, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Subsidiary Guarantor. Subject to Section 7.06, each Subsidiary Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(c)                                  If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

(d)                                 Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Seven for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Seven, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Subsidiary Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under its Guarantee shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Subsidiary Guarantor, in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor determined in accordance with GAAP, so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.

 

(e)                                  In respect to its obligations under its Guarantee, each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to be bound to, and hereby covenants, with respect to itself, the covenant set forth in Section 5.06.

 

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Section 11.02.                   Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor Liability.

 

Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor, and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Article Eleven, will result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law. Until such time as the Notes are paid in full, each Subsidiary Guarantor waives all rights of subrogation or contribution, whether arising by contract or operation of law (including, without limitation, any such right arising under federal Bankruptcy Law) or otherwise by reason of any payment by it pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven. Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under its Guarantee will be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Section 11.03.                   Execution and Delivery of Notation of Guarantee.

 

(a)                                 To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, a Subsidiary Guarantor shall execute a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form included in Exhibit C hereto and a notation of such Guarantee substantially in the form included in Exhibit B hereto endorsed by an Officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor by manual or facsimile signature on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

 

(b)                                 Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Guarantee.

 

(c)                                  If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the notation of Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which a notation of Guarantee is endorsed, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

 

(d)                                 The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Section 11.04.                   Releases of Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

(a)                                 A Subsidiary Guarantor will be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all of its obligations under its Guarantee without any further action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes:

 

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(1)                                 in connection with any sale or other disposition of (i) all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor or (ii) all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation), in each case to one or more Persons that are not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale or other disposition, as applicable, does not violate Section 5.11;

 

(2)                                 if such Subsidiary Guarantor is a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company properly designates such Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or the Subsidiary no longer meets the definition of Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3)                                 if the Guarantee was required pursuant to the terms of Section 5.13, the release or discharge of the guarantee that required such Guarantee (except a release or discharge by or as a result of payment under such Guarantee);

 

(4)                                 upon a satisfaction and discharge or a legal or covenant defeasance of the Notes in accordance with Article Nine or Article Twelve; or

 

(5)                                 upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

(b)                                 Any Subsidiary Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article Eleven.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE
 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 12.01.                   Satisfaction and Discharge.

 

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes and as otherwise expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes issued under this Indenture when:

 

(a)                                 either:

 

(1)                                 all such Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid or Notes whose payment has been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust as provided for in this Indenture) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(2)                                 all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (a) have become due and payable by reason of the giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise, (b) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or (c) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company;

 

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(b)                                 the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking firm, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest at such Maturity, Stated Maturity or redemption date;

 

(c)                                  the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums due and payable under this Indenture by the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(d)                                 the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with; and

 

(e)                                  the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee hereunder to apply any deposited money described in clause (b) of this Section 12.01 to the payment of the Notes at Stated Maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

Section 12.02.                   Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Section 12.03, all money and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 12.02, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 12.01 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the above, the Trustee shall pay to the Company from time to time upon its request any cash or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Section 12.02 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect a satisfaction and discharge under this Article Twelve.

 

Section 12.03.                   Repayment to the Company.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall

 

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thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Company cause to be published once in The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal (national edition) or send to each Holder entitled to such money, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 13.01.                   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 13.02.                   Notices.

 

(a)                                 Any notice or communication by either of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, or the Trustee on the other hand, to the other is duly given if in writing in the English language and delivered in Person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

If to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

 

SM Energy Company

1775 Sherman Street, Suite 1200

Denver, Colorado 80203

Facsimile: (303) 861-8140

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

If to the Trustee:

 

U.S. Bank National Association

950 17th Street, 12th Floor

Denver, Colorado 80202

Facsimile: (303) 585-6865

Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services

 

(b)                                 The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

(c)                                  All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (ii) five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (iii) when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; (iv) and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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(d)                                 Any notice or communication to a Holder (i) of a Global Note shall be given in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary, and (ii) otherwise shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA Section 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

(e)                                  If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

(f)                                   If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Section 13.03.                   Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

 

Section 13.04.                   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 shall furnish to the Trustee: (1) an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and (2) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel (who may rely on such Officers’ Certificate as to matters of fact), all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

 

Section 13.05.                   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:

 

(1)                                 a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(2)                                 a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(3)                                 a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

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(4)                                 a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

Section 13.06.                   Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 13.07.                   No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

 

No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary under the Notes, this Indenture or the Guarantees to which they are a party, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

Section 13.08.                   Governing Law.

 

THIS INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 13.09.                   Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA Section 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

 

Section 13.10.                   Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01 or 11.04.

 

Section 13.11.                   Severability.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 13.12.                   Counterpart Originals.

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture, and each party hereto may sign any number of separate copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and

 

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delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 13.13.                   Acts of Holders.

 

(a)                                 Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by the Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing, and may be given or obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, outstanding Notes; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company if made in the manner provided in this Section 13.13.

 

(b)                                 The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such witness, notary or officer the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 13.13, the principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Holder, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar as provided in Section 3.04.

 

(d)                                 If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of the Notes any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith or the date of the most recent list of Holders forwarded to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 3.06 and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the then outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,

 

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consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the then outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

 

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

 

(f)                                   Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so itself with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

(g)                                  For purposes of this Indenture, any action by the Holders which may be taken in writing may be taken by electronic means or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Section 13.14.                   Benefit of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Registrar and its successors hereunder, and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 13.15.                   Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

[Signature page to follow]

 

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In witness whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be executed by their duly authorized representatives, effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

	
SM   ENERGY COMPANY
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   David W. Copeland
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
David   W. Copeland
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Vice President, General
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Counsel   and Corporate Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
U.S.   BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Leland Hansen
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:   
    	
Leland   Hansen
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    	
 
    


 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

 












 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Face of Note]

 

[THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.10 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.](1)

 




(1)  For Global Notes only.

 

Exhibit A - 1











 

CUSIP:              

	
No.                       
    	
Principal Amount:   $                    
    


 

SM ENERGY COMPANY

 

5.625% Senior Notes due 2025

 

SM Energy Company, 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 [    ] ($[    ]) UNITED STATES DOLLARS [(or such other amount as may be set forth on the attached Schedule of Exchanges of Interests)] on June 1, 2025.

 

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2015.

 

Regular Record Dates: May 15 and November 15 of each year.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.

 

 

SM ENERGY COMPANY,

a Delaware corporation

 

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    


 

Exhibit A - 2











 

(Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication)

 

This is one of the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2025 described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee

 

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    


 

Exhibit A - 3











 

[Reverse Side of Note]

 

SM ENERGY COMPANY

 

5.625% Senior Notes due 2025

 

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1. Interest. The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 5.625% per annum until maturity.  The Company shall pay interest semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on the Notes (or one or more Predecessor Notes) or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the date of original issuance; provided, that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be December 1, 2015.(2)  The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate then in effect on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If any payment date with respect to the Notes is not a Business Day, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

 

2. Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest, if any) to the Persons in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on May 15 or November 15 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 3.13 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided, that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 




(2)  For Additional Notes, insert the appropriate Interest Payment Date for those Additional Notes.

 

Exhibit A - 4











 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of May 21, 2015 (the “Base Indenture”) by and between the Company and the Trustee, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture of even date therewith (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, being called the “Indenture”). The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Indenture pursuant to which this Note is issued provides that an unlimited amount of Additional Notes may be issued thereunder, subject to compliance with the covenants therein.

 

5. Optional Redemption.  The Notes shall be redeemable at the option of the Company as provided in Article Four of the Indenture.

 

6. Mandatory Redemption. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

7. Repurchase at Option of Holders.

 

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder may require the Company to purchase such Holder’s Notes in whole or in part in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, at a purchase price in cash in an amount equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the rights of Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date), pursuant to a Change of Control Offer in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

(b) Under certain circumstances described in the Indenture, the Company will be required to apply the proceeds of Asset Dispositions to the repayment of the Notes and/or Pari Passu Indebtedness.

 

8. Selection and Notice of Redemption. If fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee deems fair and reasonable (subject to the procedures of DTC or any other Depositary).

 

9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate

 

Exhibit A - 5











 

endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes or other governmental charges required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented only as provided in the Indenture.

 

12. Defaults. In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization specified in the Indenture, 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 not less than 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare all unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on all Notes to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders of the Notes) and upon any such declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable immediately. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all outstanding Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default of Event of Default (1) in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note (which may only be waived with the consent of each Holder of Notes affected) or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected by such modification or amendment.

 

13. Trustee Dealings with the Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

14. 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 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.

 

15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

Exhibit A - 6











 

16. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be place only on the other identification number placed thereon.

 

17. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

 

SM Energy Company

1775 Sherman Street, Suite 1200

Denver, Colorado 80203

Facsimile: (303) 861-0934

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Exhibit A - 7











 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint                                                                                                                                  to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Signature:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(Sign   exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
    
				


 

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 




*                                         Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

Exhibit A - 8











 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5.11 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

	
o   Section 5.11
    	
o   Section 5.15
    


 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5.11 or Section 5.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

	
$                           
    


 

	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Your   Signature:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Sign   exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Tax   Identification No.:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Signature   Guarantee*:
    	
 
    	
 
    
					


 




*                                          Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

Exhibit A - 9











 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

	
Date of Exchange
    	
 
    	
Amount of
   Decrease in
   Principal Amount
   at Maturity of this
   Global Note
    	
 
    	
Amount of
   Increase in
   Principal Amount
   at Maturity of this
   Global Note
    	
 
    	
Principal Amount
   Maturity of this
   Global Note
   Following
   such Decrease (or
   Increase)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    


 

Exhibit A - 10












 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

 

For value received, each Subsidiary Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture, dated as of May 21, 2015 (the “Base Indenture”), among SM Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture of even date therewith (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, being called the “Indenture”), and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes (as defined in the Indenture), whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal, premium, and interest, to the extent permitted by law, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Eleven of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee. This Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Insert   Name of Guarantor]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    
				


 

Exhibit B - 1











 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF GUARANTOR SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
 TO BE DELIVERED BY GUARANTORS

 

GUARANTOR SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Guarantor Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of                              , among SM Energy Company (the “Company”), the Company’s Subsidiaries listed on Schedule A hereto (each, a “New Guarantor”), the Company’s Subsidiaries listed on Schedule B hereto (each, an “Existing Guarantor”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

 

WITNESSETH

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee are parties to an Indenture dated as of May 21, 2015 (the “Base Indenture”) by and between the Company and the Trustee, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture of even date therewith (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, being called the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the Company’s 5.625% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 10.01 of the Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders, the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may modify, supplement or amend the Indenture to add a Guarantor or additional obligor under the Indenture or permit any Person to guarantee the Notes and/or obligations under the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, each New Guarantor wishes to guarantee the Notes pursuant to the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Indenture, the Company, the Existing Guarantors, the New Guarantors and the Trustee have agreed to enter into this Guarantor Supplemental Indenture for the purposes stated herein; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make this Guarantor Supplemental Indenture, when executed and delivered by the Company, the Existing Guarantors and each New Guarantor, the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, the Existing Guarantors and each New Guarantor, in accordance with its terms.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, each New Guarantor, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

(2) Guarantee. Each New Guarantor hereby guarantees the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes related thereto pursuant to the terms and conditions of Article Ten of the Indenture, such Article Eleven being incorporated by reference herein as if set forth at

 

Exhibit C - 1











 

length herein (each such guarantee, a “Guarantee”) and such New Guarantor agrees to be bound as a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture as if it had been an initial signatory thereto; provided, that the New Guarantor can be released from its Guarantee to the same extent as any other Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

(3) GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTOR SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(4) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Guarantor Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

(5) Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

(6) The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantor Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company, Existing Guarantors and the New Guarantors.

 

Exhibit C - 2











 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Guarantor Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SM   ENERGY COMPANY,
    	
 
    
	
a   Delaware corporation
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
EACH   GUARANTOR LISTED ON
    	
 
    
	
SCHEDULE   A HERETO
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
EACH   GUARANTOR LISTED ON
    	
 
    
	
SCHEDULE   B HERETO
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
U.S.   Bank National Association, as Trustee
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    	
 
    
					


 

Exhibit C - 3